Page 103 of Twisted Embrace

Vicious thoughts formed in the back of my mind, images of torture so heinous that it would make the blood of most humans curdle. But I wasn’t like anyone else and had never been. I’d been forged into a monstrous creature capable of acting on savage needs. My sister used to call me crazy when we were both much younger, spouting off her hatred for whatever evil deed she’d caught me doing.

My mother had insisted I was special, her beautiful angelic boy who’d change the world. Then there was my father, the reason I’d turned into an unhinged force of nature who’d had no qualms about murdering the man who’d sired me.

Blood and violence had been the only methods of soothing me. And now? I wasn’t so certain.

Where I’d been completely focused on acting on the need for revenge a good portion of my life, the emotions drifting through me on the star-filled night created a strange, almost frantic need. My hunger for Joy had begun to fracture another portion of my mind.

Then there was the love that continued to build, spiraling almost out of control. How many times had I almost shoved it aside? Enough to know it wasn’t possible.

I craved her. I required being with her.

That’s why the war would be finished tonight.

When my phone rang, every man inside the room tensed. Noticing Misha had finally decided to return my call provided a sense of eagerness instead of dread.

I was elated. “What did you find?”

“Whatever you did to infuriate Volkov, you better be ready to face his wrath,” he hissed.

“You underestimate me, my friend. The last time someone did that, I hung him by his ankles, carving a cross into his chest. Then I watched rats devouring every inch of him while enjoying a bottle of French champagne.”

“You’re a sick fuck, Enzo. I did what you asked.”

“Not so fast. I asked for a specific piece of information.”

“What you offered isn’t enough,” the Russian huffed.

“Tell me what I want to know.”

I noticed a red light on one of the cameras and smiled as I walked closer. Mattia noticed what I was doing, taking long strides in my direction. Romano wasn’t far behind. A second light appeared on another screen. The compound was being surrounded. The old geezer had taken the bait.

“Then I want a safe place to live in your country for my family,” Misha insisted.

The man was attempting to alter our deal now? I thought about his request and would ordinarily deny it. However, I was in a damn good mood. I was about to be married. I was about to end two Russian kingdoms. And I was about to move into a new house.

“Why not, Misha. I have a house you might like that I’ll sell you for a song. That is if it’s standing at the end of the night. It comes with a recently renovated kitchen, a pool and sauna. Ten bedrooms and eleven baths.” I looked around wondering what else I should describe to him about the old house.

He hesitated. “What’s the catch?”

“Only that you tell me what I need to know.”

“You drive a hard bargain.”

“Oh, somehow I think you’re getting the better end of the deal.” Or was I?

“Fine. You have a deal but do not break it, Italian,” he said. I wasn’t surprised at his attempt to threaten me. In fact, it made me smile.

“The woman you’re protecting is very important to the Volkov.”

“Because she’s Igor Petrov’s daughter. I know that.”

“What you don’t know is that she’s also Grigori Volkov’s niece.”

I almost laughed from hearing the news. A slightly incestuous relationship, given the two men were cousins. “What happened to her mother?”

“You don’t want to know.”

Perhaps this was the one time he was right. “Make your way to Italy, Misha. I want proof.”

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