Page 106 of The Pakhan’s Accidental Bride

"Keep him here for now," I finally say. "We'll decide later."

Luca nods and leaves to make the arrangements.

I take one last look at Arnie, still tied to the chair, still terrified. Then I walk out of the interrogation room and lock the door behind me.

The rest of the day passes in a blur of business.

I keep Kiera locked in her room. She pounds on the door a few times, demanding to be let out. I ignore it.

Around three in the afternoon, Luca appears in my office doorway.

"We have a problem," he says.

"What kind of problem?"

"One of the casino managers. We think he's been stealing."

I lean back in my chair. "Bring him in."

Twenty minutes later, the man is standing in my office. He's in his forties, balding, with a nervous twitch in his left eye. He's wearing a cheap suit that doesn't fit quite right.

"Do you know why you're here?" I ask.

"No, Pakhan. I swear, I don't know⁠—"

"Don't lie to me." My voice is quiet. Deadly. "We've been watching you. We know about the missing money."

His face goes pale. "I can explain⁠—"

"Save it." I stand up. "Luca, take him downstairs."

The man's eyes widen with panic. "Please, Pakhan. I have a family. I have kids⁠—"

"You should have thought about that before you stole from me."

Luca grabs the man's arm and drags him toward the door. He's crying now, begging, but I don't care.

We take him down to the interrogation room. Arnie is still there, slumped in his chair, barely conscious.

When the casino manager sees him, he starts to hyperventilate.

"Sit," I tell him, gesturing to a second chair that Luca has brought in.

He sits. He doesn't have a choice.

I spend the next hour extracting the truth from him. How much he stole. Where he hid it. Who else was involved.

He resists at first. Tries to deny it. But pain has a way of loosening tongues.

I use my fists. My boots. Whatever's necessary.

And I take pleasure in it.

All the frustration from the past few days, all the anger and confusion and desire, it all pours out of me with each hit. The satisfying crack of bone. The wet sound of flesh splitting. The screams that echo off the concrete walls. It helps. Not much, but a little.

Finally, he breaks and confesses everything. He names others involved and begs for mercy.

I look at Luca and nod.