My brothers stand nearby, none of them interfering. They all understand this is mine.
The only sound filling the room right now is this man’s ragged breathing and the slow hiss of the blowtorch sitting in my grip. The small blue flame flickers to life with a sharp click, and Timur’s head jerks upward instantly, his eyes widening with raw panic as he realizes what’s coming next.
“I told you…p-p-please,” he sobs. “I told you I don’t know anything!”
I move in until the heat from the torch reflects faintly in his irises.
“You work for Eli.” I remain composed even though everything in me bleeds for revenge. “You had to be there when they took my sons, or at the very least know where they are.”
His head shakes wildly. “I don’t know where he’s keeping them! I-I swear.”
The flame licks his shoulder, and he screams. The smell of burning flesh twines with the air, his entire body jerking violently against the chains as he tries to wrench away.
I hold it there a moment longer before pulling it back. “Still don’t know?”
His chest heaves as tears mix with sweat on his face.
“P-p-p-please,” he gasps, barely able to form the word.
The torch drifts slowly downward along his ribs, the metal tip hovering just close enough that he can feel it.
“Talk.”
“I swear…I don’t know!”
I burn him again, right on the welts across his back, and he howls. Stepping forward, I shut off the torch before grabbing his hair, jerking his head back until his eyes are forced open again.
“My sons. Where are they?”
His mouth parts, but nothing comes out at first except a strangled whimper. The torch flares again, drifting to his chest this time.
“No, no, please—” The flame devours his skin, and his entire body convulses as another shriek breaks free. “I’ll…I’ll tell you… Please. Stop. I’ll tell you.”
Finally.
“There…there’s a cabin,” he pants, every syllable labored. “Near Briar State Park. It’s his grandmother’s, b-but he uses it for things. That’s where they are.”
I glance at my brothers. “We move now.”
Pulling the pistol from my holster, I aim it at the man’s head.
“No, no, plea?—”
The shot cuts him off. One round to the skull, and he’s dead on impact.
“I’ll gather the men.” Konstantin is already barking orders to the others while I lower the gun and head for my car.
“Where are you going?” Aleksei calls after me.
“To the hospital. I’ll be back soon.”
I need to see her before I leave. Sloane needs to know we may have found them. And that very soon, this will all be over.
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
SLOANE
I’mgrateful I’m not alone right now, because if Emilia and Fiona weren’t here, I’m not sure I’d still be holding myself together.
