Page 62 of Caught By the Bratva Boss

I open my mouth and wiggle my lower jaw to make sure it isn’t broken. “What kind of dickhead beats up on a woman half his size?”

His dark eyes narrow, and I suck in a quick breath when I see his fists tighten. “Mikhail needs to teach his woman some manners.”

“Mikhail is man enough to not hit me,” I yell in his face, knowing I’m scraping the very bottom of my courage bucket. At some point, I’m going to run out. Maybe I’ll get lucky and pass out before then.

“Hitting you isn’t the only thing I’m going to be doing to you, sweetheart,” he says in a low voice that has goosebumps rising all over me.

Please, baby, please just tell him everything,Mikhail begs in my ear.

I almost give in and do it, but then his fists start to hit me, and all I can think about is protecting my face and head. I hear Mikhail’s anguished groan as Antonio pulls screams and pained whimpers from me with every hit until I’m curled into a ball and he’s switched to kicking me.

I have no idea how long it lasts. Time disappears. Everything disappears except for the burning, searing pain that’s running through every part of my body. I’ve never been so damn scared in my life, and when I feel a wet heat spill down my thighs and realize I’ve pissed myself, I don’t even have the strength to feel embarrassed. I’m sobbing and shaking, and I know I can’t hold out much longer. I can’t even remember why in the hell I’m being so damn stubborn about it now.

Antonio gives me one last kick to the ribs that pulls another scream from me as I hear something crack inside me. Every breath is like a razor cutting across me, and I’m guessing he just broke a rib. His heavy breathing fills the room as the bastard catches his breath.

“You think a little piss is going to stop me from taking what I want?” he yells at me. He gives my face another smack when darkness starts creeping into my vision. “No passing out, little fiancée. I don’t want you to miss any of this.”

We’re here, Charlie. Stay awake, sweetheart. I want you to watch me kill that motherfucker.

His words give me a strength that I felt sure had deserted me. My left eye is swollen shut, but I can see him well enough with my right. I can hear the muffled sounds of death in my ear. Blades hitting flesh, gurgled gasps of air, and startled grunts, and I know Mikhail is coming for me. I give Antonio a smile, even though it pulls on my split lip.

“What the fuck are you smiling at?” he growls, reaching for his belt.

“You’re a fucking dead man,” I say with a laugh, because I’m clearly at the end of my sanity rope. “I’m going to watch you die, you motherfucker.”

He pulls his belt out, and in one quick motion brings it down, smacking it across my bare thigh and leaving a deep, red welt. He manages to get in one more sharp smack before the door is thrown open and a dark shadow fills the doorway. My whole body slumps in relief when I see Mikhail’s face. He’s covered in blood and angrier than I’ve ever seen him, and it’s the best damn sight I’ve ever seen.

“I’m fine,” I say, using the last of my strength to sit up against the back wall. “Just kill him and make it fucking hurt.”

Mikhail looks at me, and the pain in his eyes when he sees what Antonio has done to me is something I’ll never forget.

“Please just kill him,” I beg, wanting him to end this so we can get the fuck out of here.

Mikhail gives me a slight nod before turning his attention back to Antonio who’s suddenly not looking all that brave anymore. He drops the belt and tries to reach for a weapon, but Mikhail is much faster and he has a mountain of rage on his side. The knife in his hand is long and sharp and already covered in blood and when he swipes it across Antonio’s stomach, the man lets out a shocked groan as he falls to his knees. His hands go to the wide wound as his white dress shirt turns crimson. He clutches at his stomach, trying like hell to keep his insides where they belong.

“That’s for daring to lay a hand on what belongs to me, you fucking piece of shit,” Mikhail growls at him before throwing a hard punch as the loud crack of his jaw being broken echoes off the walls.

I thought I’d feel repulsed at seeing his death, but I feel nothing except a sense of relief that he can’t hurt me or anyone else ever again. Mikhail punches him again, making him fall over. He still clutches his stomach, gasping for air and pleading at us with his eyes to spare him. We ignore him. Mikhail rushes to my side. The anguish on his face has me starting to cry again.

“Is Yuri alive?”

“He’s alive, baby. Artyom is with him in the next room.” He runs his hands over my body, the softest of touches because he’s terrified of causing me any more pain, but when he gets to my ribs, I can’t help but wince and let out a moan.

“I’m getting you out of here, sweetheart. Jack is already waiting for us.”

When he starts to pick me up, I grip his forearm. “He made me pee my pants,” I say, choking on the words.

“I’m so sorry, baby.” He leans closer, carefully cupping the least battered side of my face, but even then it’s just a whisper of a touch. “I’m so fucking proud of you. You did so good, baby.”

Antonio lets out another moan, but we both ignore him. Death is minutes away for him, and neither one of us gives a shit. Mikhail pulls his T-shirt off and very carefully slips my dress over my head before removing my soaked panties. My face heats up in embarrassment, but Mikhail’s sweet touch tells me there’s nothing to be ashamed of. He pulls the shirt over me, helping me get it on before tossing the soiled clothes aside.

Scooping me into his arms, he holds me against his bare chest, making sure his shirt is under his arm so my naked body is completely concealed, and slowly walks me out of the room. When Artyom sees me, he winces and says something to Mikhail in Russian. Turning to me he says, “Damn, Charlie. You’ve got balls of steel.”

I give him as big of a smile as I can manage and rest my head on Mikhail’s shoulder, suddenly more exhausted than I’ve ever been.

“Yuri?” Mikhail asks.

“He’s fine. Took a beating, but he’ll live.”

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