I strode towards him, my body strumming with the need to transform the silence into his screams.
Roman scuttled backwards like a cockroach until his back was up against the wall. I slowed my steps, enjoying the way his body twitched each time my footsteps echoed through the cavernous room.
I’d savor wringing each and every scream out of his throat.
“Wait, Dmitri,” Alisa said, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I turned, memorizing the cuts marring her skin and silently vowed to etch scars into identical places on Roman.
“Y-you can’t kill Roman… as much as I want you to.”
“Kill?” Roman said, his voice jumping up three octaves. His words melded into an off-kilter laugh. “Obviously, Dmitri’s not going to kill me.”
My lips curved into a smile, and Roman flinched.
“Roman, do youreallythink it’s a good idea to tell me what to do?” I said.
Roman swallowed, and I mentally outlined all the ways I’d make him choke on his words.
“Listen,” Roman said. “I understand you’re upset I took her, but let’s be rational. I’ll transfer over some funds-”
His words stuttered to a stop when he caught my expression.
“Money?” I said, my voice cold. “You think you can just pay me off after youkidnapped her.”
Alarm pierced Roman’s eyes. “Along with all the favors you want. Any kills you want, I’ll make them happen. Just say the word.”
Violence pulsed in my vision. I visualized all the ways I could snuff the light out of this asshole’s eyes. First, I’d play with my food, let the reality slowly soak in before I really made him scream…
Any thoughts of early restraint fled my body the moment Roman’s eyes roamed over Alisa and a self-satisfied smirk flashed across his face. This cockroach really thought I was considering forgiving him in exchange for a few favors.
I slammed my fist into Roman’s face, enjoying the crunch of bone. That insufferable smirk disappeared as his head cracked against the concrete floor.
“The only person I want dead isyou,” I growled.
“Dmitri, you can’t. You know it’s against the rules,” Alisa said. “The Pakhan will kill you.”
She kept saying that, but the pulsing of blood in my veins told a very different story.
When I didn’t respond, her voice grew panicked. “Please, I can’t lose you.”
The plea in her voice pulled me like a string. It reduced the blood raging in my veins long enough for me to turn my gaze away from the man who’d hurt her. A tear streaked down her face.
I reached over and stroked the liquid off her cheek. I’d do everything in my power to make sure no one else would ever make her cry again.
“Don’t worry, kitten. I’llhandleeverything.”
My tone unlocked something in Roman. Still on the ground, he started scuttling away like the fucking bug he was. I slammed my foot down on his leg and savored the sickening crunch echoing through the warehouse.
A smile spread across my face when I spotted his thigh bone stabbing through the skin.
Ignoring his screeches, I turned my attention back to Alisa.
“What did he do to you?”
I slammed my foot back on Roman’s leg when his screams let up for a moment. They pierced louder through the room, and the bloodlust within me swelled higher. I neededmore.
“He…”
