Page 66 of Bratva's Captive

"I would never lie to you, Nikolai."

Tatyana's eyes well up with tears. I reluctantly release my grip on her.

"You are to remain within the compound. My soldiers will keep a close watch on you. I will deal with you once I have finished interrogating Maxim."

I take the stairs down to the basement. When I step into the dimly lit basement, my eyes lock on Maxim, who completely naked and bound to a chair. The room is filled with palpable tension, the air thick with the smell of sweat and fear. My knuckles are white as I clenched my fists.

Maxim's face is bruised and bloody, and his eyes are swollen shut from the beating he had received from Misha. I move closer to him, my movements slow and deliberate. I lean in, my voice low and menacing. I know the little shit will be easy to break.

“Who the fuck are you working with for your sex slave business?”

Maxim's lips twist into a sneer as he spits at my feet.

My fist shoots out like lightning, connecting with Maxim's jaw with a sickening crack. Maxim howls in pain, but I show no mercy. I continue to beat him, each blow fueled by the rage of him kidnapping Adalina.

Blood sprays across the room as my fist connects with Maxim's face and body. Maxim screams and pleads for mercy, but I am relentless. I want answers, and I won’t stop until I get them.

I keep questioning Maxim, but he continues to stonewall me. I walk over to the table of tools laying on a table in the corner of the basement. I grab a pair of pliers. Time to pull out some fingernails. Now I can really enjoy myself. Let the fun begin!

When Maxim sees the pliers, the little fucking weasel glares at me. “You can’t do this,” he pleads. “I have been by your side since you came to Chicago. I am a member of the Bratva!”

I shake my head. “You’ve been working against me the whole time,” I say. “You’re lucky I don’t kill you right now.”

“You can’t kill me.”

My eyes narrow. “I can do anything I want.”

“You’re a smart man, Nikolai. You know that if you kill me, you’ll never be able to get away with it. The Bratva will make you pay.”

“You’re done,” I tell him. “You’re finished in the Bratva. Who are you working with?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Maxim stammers.

I slam my fist into his nose. Blood sprays everywhere.

“Don’t lie to me! Who helped you buy the motel you are using for your sex slaves? You are too fucking stupid to operate anything on your own. I found the papers, Maxim. I know you’ve been working with someone here in Chicago. Now fucking tell me who it is!”

Maxim swallows hard, and his eyes dart around the room. He knows he’s in trouble. I lean over and hold one of Maxim’s hands that are zip-tied to the arms of the chair. I pull out two fingernails in quick succession.

Maxim screams. Then he starts sobbing. Fucking baby.

“The next thing I pull off is your tiny cock!” I am kind of hoping he doesn’t break. I would very much enjoy pulling off his cock with pliers.

Frustration boils inside of me as I pace back and forth in front of Maxim, waiting for him to compose himself.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Maxim crumbles. His face turns pale as the realization of being caught sinks in. Gasping for air, tears stream down his face. He struggles against the zip-ties one last time, but it is no use. Finally, he gives in and confesses to everything.

There's a moment of hesitation before Maxim confesses, "Mario Alfonso"

My blood runs cold at the revelation. I had suspected something like this, but to hear it confirmed is a devastating blow. The rage I feel almost consumes me.

"You went behind my back and contacted Mario Alfonso of the Outfit? Why?" I scream unable to contain my fury.

“No. He contacted me. He wanted to get into the sex slave business. He wanted to make money. He offered to be my silent partner. He bought the motel. I know I shouldn't have, but the money was too good to pass up. And Mario promised that we would both profit from this. He fronted the money for the entire operation. I just couldn't resist," he explains, his voice shaky.

"Why did you kidnap Adalina?" I demand.

"It was Mario's idea," Maxim reveals. "Angel Gaito owed a lot of money to one of Mario's casinos. Knowing Gaito's gambling addiction, Mario proposed a deal: He would forgive the debt if Gaito arranged a marriage for him. Gaito promised Mario that he could have Adalina, one of his virgin daughters. When Mario discovered that you were fucking her, he ordered me to kidnap Adalina and sell her as a sex slave. He thought her disappearance would make you and the Vincenzio brothers appear weak. He said the Outfit would declare war on the Bratva. Once you and the Vincenzio brothers were out of the way, Mario could take over the Outfit and he promised me I could take over the Chicago Bratva.”

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