upted deep

my heels against t

ttle of chain

rained whimpe

the tunnel-like structure leading into the

ld hostage by the same man, I was familiar with that evil smirk plastered across his lips, I was familiar with the stench of blood and human fe

way my heart almost leaped with

with the way my a

neral, the man had expressed his satisfaction-he had gently kissed my knuckles like a gentleman, an

his associates finally acknowledged my abilities. There

an Bratva could shake my hand, the heads of othe

reputable member of the crime

ability pay. The look in the Pakhan's eyes when my eyes connected his was

wer that I trembled with fear. He continued speaking whilst I listened with wide eyes. "How did you make it i

know, and he expressed the

p with a blade until it was bleeding profusely." I shook when the memories of my initiation

my own blood. I bled out too much that night-so much my skin paled, and my body almost gav

e corners. "I see now why you're so different," he began, "but

ou already s

akhan agreed. "Of course I did. But wou

w and completely understood what The Pakhan

ement at the opportunity. "I can't." I mu

hter rippling out of him. "Do y

ing at my sides. "This isn't me refusing you, Don Viktor." I drawled. "Yo

f smoke. "But still, I've become too old for this. I've l

reathed gently, "

know. I see

t, there'll be

ing you an opportunity to embrace your t

s lost-Within a matter of seconds, I felt possessed and controlle

e the monster in me but it had already gone rogue. "Cut him loo

ll's eyes when I crouched down with an axe. Hooking the axe beneath his

to make it out of this tunnel, I'll pardon you, take you back home, and compensate you for your troubles. But if

ted squeal erupted in my throat, my palm crashing against his face. "Don't pass

able to form words out of his severe

Pakhan was seated, a chuckle

o, Maxwell. Get up and start run

ne. He began running-or tried to-dragging

rt-I was after all a

and my sense of sight became extremely sharp. I began noting the smell of Maxwell's blood

my fingers curled around his hair, dragg

ce was in a monotone, my knee against his throat, holding steady his thrashing

throat was that of terror-the same te

nd his eyes held deep excitement, darkness ev

ng man. "Go for it again, and be sure not to make it

that I took his life. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of a simple

in. He stood and ran, and in the same manner as the first time, I caug

until he couldn't run anymore, he breathed until he couldn't breathe anymore, he cried until he couldn

ne on both sides of his throat, easing my blade into his skin, and making sure to avoid

of here was going to come with a consequence. I promised to rip ou

une of Maxwell's scream as I tore open his flesh, dug my finger into

ll over me. My breath quickened. My blo

twenty four years, I f

it all. I took all the pain, grooming evil inside of me. And

. My consciousness awakened and I felt it. The disgust, the guilt, the pain. My throat tighte

screaming, and crying frantically. I shook my head multiple t

s was unreal. His monstrous voice continued to taunt me. "An animal on a leash finally release

ir from the lack of oxygen. "It-it was

njoyed this every second of the way. I saw a girl who came alive at the suffering of another. I

d mine before I could protest, holding

d out, thrashing myself, attempting to get o

on't hurt you, but I need to know how far you can go." He murmured, as if intending to calm my ragi

on my neck. And slowly, ever so

d with the Pakhan o

appeared the moment my eyes shot open the day afte

es, and he would sit in a dark corner, watching me. Each time, he

had already g

rned about the business, a

my scars tattooed o

able, but the time had come when I needed t

I worked s

n had urged me to coerce mio padre into giving up the legal businesses under his

to the Pakhan, not wanting

lt task he had for me. He was not a simple man. "A week from today, the Sanchez's are expected to be

find the right words to refuse him. "We're not al

ated his anger towards my need to follow rules. I

him any further, I a

on how to hijack a shipment t

Suicide

iosity had gotten the best of me, the question e

usiness strategist and a master manipulator. If you make contact with him, do not make the mi

ed, "I understand. I have to lea

out to b