He smirked at my involuntary response.
What was he playing at? Dmitri could’ve just lifted me off the ground, and strangled me until I was unconscious. My eyebrows knitted together as I glanced over his muscular body.
As much as I hated to admit it, he could’ve knocked me unconscious inany numberof painful ways.
So why hadn’t he?
Dmitri’s smirk deepened as he took in my expression.
“Did you have fun at The Parlor?” he asked.
My body froze. That was the bar where I’d ignored his warning to leave.
This wasn’t mercy.
Dmitri was about to punish me.
My mind screamed to run, but my feet stayed rooted to the mat.
“I don’t enjoy cleaning up your messes,” he tsked.
“What are you talking about?” I said on the off chance I could talk my way out of this.
“Don’t play stupid with me. You’re too smart for that.”
“Aidan died of a heart attack. It’s not my fault the bar looks the other way when it comes to cocaine.”
Maybe, I’d assisted in said heart attack. After I’d noticed my mark’s dilated pupils and the sprinkling of white powder on his nose, I’d offered him a sip of my drink… with contents that sped up his heart rate.
He couldn’t prove it anyway; all of my poisons were untraceable.
Dmitri’s steel eyes bored into mine. “I warned you, kotenok.”
I took a step back. At least he couldn’t kill me. The Pakhan had made that clear when he stopped him from murdering Mikhail on the mat. But he could still break one of my bones orworse.
I’d made the mistake of openly defying Dmitri. There were a lot of mangled bodies that testified to what happened when people did that.
“Come here, and take your punishment. Unless you’d rather… submit.”
I swallowed unsteadily. If I yielded, then I’d appear weak in front of the Pakhan and all my other competitors. Plus, the Pakhan had warned us that if we yielded on the mat then we’d lose a ton of points.
The only correct options were to give pain or receive it. No in between.
I rolled my shoulders. I could handle some pain.
Unlike my father, Dmitri’s punches were definitely strong enough to knock me out in one swing. We’d see if he’d be that merciful.
I stared into his darkening eyes.
Doubtful.
Well, here goes nothing. Even if I got one hit off on him before he pulverized me, I’d be happy.
As I launched towards him, he watched me with an unreadable expression. This time I jabbed my elbow at his throat. Before it could connect, Dmitri grabbed my arm and swung me around. My back crashed into his hard abs.
“Such a bloodthirsty little kitten,” he tsked in my ear.
I threw my head backwards, but he was so tall that I only hit his pecs. He didn’t even grunt. It was like there was a damn wall behind me.
