Page 77 of Tainted Empire
Cursing again, I force myself to move down the stairs, my grip tightening on the cane. The tension is unbearable; every second feels like an eternity.
As I reach the living room, my worst fears are realized. Gabriette is there, tied to a chair, bloodied, with tape around her mouth. She sees me and lets out a muffled scream, her eyes wide with terror.
Ignoring the pain shooting through my leg, I rushed to her, my only thought was to free her from the tape. But as I reach her, her eyes, filled with fear, scream a silent warning.
“Look behind you!” she screams as I tear the tape away.
Heart pounding, I spin around, gun raised, ready to face whatever – or whoever – is lurking in the shadows of our home. My blood runs cold when I see Alexei, grinning as he walks towards me.
But this isn’t the Alexei I know; his eyes are cold, bloodthirsty. His hands are covered in blood, and he’s pointing a weapon at Gabriette.
“What the fuck is going on, Alexei?” I demand, my voice a mix of anger and disbelief.
Alexei chuckles darkly, a sound that curdles my blood. He points his weapon at Gabriette. “Does the name Petrov still send a shiver up your spine, Mikhail?”
I frown, confusion giving way to a cold realization. Dasha’s last name. As the pieces click into place, my heart sinks. “You son of a bitch,” I hissed.
“There we go,” Alexei says, his chuckle turning into a sinister laugh. “Finally catching on, are you?”
I can’t believe what I’m seeing, what I’m hearing. How the fuck could this be after all this time? His background was clean, he came from people who recommended him. How the fuck…?
“You’ve been playing us this whole fucking time? For over ten years, Alexei?” I ask, referring to how long he’s been working for me. “Was this your plan?”
He nods, his grin widening. “Directing you on this wild goose chase, making an innocent man seem guilty. It was too easy, especially for someone with no history like Devon.”
I fucking knew Berlin was a ruse. Everything came too easily and now I’m being proven right in the worst possible way.
“Did you plan the crash too?” I ask, struggling to keep my voice steady.
Alexei’s scoff is cold and devoid of any remorse, his weapon still trained on Gabriette. “The car chase, the crash... that was Anatoly trying to take you out. I already dealt with his wife for that little stunt.”
He smirks, the look in his eyes chilling. “Although, I take no pleasure in beating a man when he’s down. But I will take what he holds dear.”
My grip on the gun tightens, my mind racing. “You won’t get away with this, Alexei. You think you can just waltz in here and take everything from me?”
Alexei’s expression darkens. “I already have, Mikhail. You’ve been dancing to my tune for years.”
His words are like a knife, twisting in my gut. Betrayal, anger, disbelief – they all crash over me like a tidal wave. Alexei, someone I trusted, someone I considered part of my inner circle, has been orchestrating my downfall all along. And now, he’s here, threatening what I value most.
“You won’t lay a finger on her, you fucking traitor. I’ll kill you first.”
His laughter echoes in the room, a sound filled with madness and malice. “Let’s see who’s really in control, shall we?”
As Alexei stands there, weapon trained on Gabriette, my mind races for a way out. I need to keep him talking, and buy some time. Every second counts.
“So, getting Gabriette to trust you was part of your plan?” I ask, my voice edged with anger and a hint of desperation.
Alexei’s smile is cold and calculating. “That was the easy part. She’s too trusting, too open. I guess I have to thank Anatoly for the crash in that regard. Made it simpler to get close to her, to earn her trust.”
His confession sends a wave of fury through me, but I keep my emotions in check. I need to be smart about this.
“But why now, Alexei? Why act now?” I probe, trying to keep him talking.
He shrugs, a nonchalant gesture that belies the gravity of the situation. “She started asking questions about my tattoo. I realized she was getting too close to the truth and if she spoke to you about it, you would know. I had to act, had to accelerate my plans. She’s smarter than I gave her credit for. Started piecing things together. Couldn’t have that, could I?”
I glance at Gabriette, who’s watching the scene unfold, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. I need to protect her, to get her out of this. My grip on the gun tightens.
“Let her go, Alexei,” I growl, trying to keep my voice steady. “This is between you and me. Don’t drag her into your fucked up revenge plot.”