Page 75 of Dark Seduction
The motel is a relic, shadows clinging to the dark broken windows, but one room breaks the pattern with a flicker of light. That has to be where they're holding her.
My mind churns with questions and possibilities as I slam the car to a stop and get out, gravel crunching underfoot.
As I approach the lone lit room, my heart pounds a relentless beat. Why drag her all the way out here? What's their endgame?The chill night air does nothing to cool my simmering rage. My hand instinctively rests on the gun at my side, ready for whatever might come.
I'm at the door, every nerve alight with a mix of fear and fury. Tonight, I'll face whoever thought they could use Dalia to get to me. They're going to regret waking this beast.
As I reach for the doorknob, ready to burst into the room and take control of the situation, a familiar voice stops me cold.
"Lev!"
It's Vladimir.
My mind reels as I spin around to face him.
"Vlad? How the hell did you get here? How did you know where to find this place?"
But I already know the answer.
Vladimir just grins, a smug, knowing smirk that makes my skin crawl.
“You?” I ask my once trusted ally.
My gut tightens, the betrayal slicing through me like a knife. Without a second thought, my hand flies to my weapon, intent on ending this deceit here and now. But before my fingers can even brush the handle, I feel the cold, hard press of a gun barrel against the back of my head. I freeze, my heart hammering in my chest.
Turning slightly, I catch sight of a hulking hitman stepping out from the shadows of the room. He moves quickly, shutting the door behind him before I can catch a glimpse of Dalia inside.
"Be smart, Lev. Take your hand off the gun," Vladimir advises, his voice eerily calm. "After all, this won’t be any fun if I have to kill you before I even get to explain my plan."
Rage swirls within me as I slowly raise my hands, the reality of the situation sinking in. I'm utterly powerless at the moment between these two men.
Shock courses through me, freezing me in place for a split second.
"Vladimir, how could you do this?" I manage, my voice low and incredulous. "How could you betray me like this? And for what?"
Vladimir's response is a harsh bark of laughter, cold and devoid of any comradeship we once shared.
"And for what?" he mocks, his eyes alight with a bitter fire. "Are you truly such a damn fool? Because your father killed my father, Lev. That’s why."
The accusation hits like a physical blow, and I wince, the old family grievances resurfacing like a festering wound.
With my hands still raised in a forced gesture of surrender, I try to reason with him. "Vladimir, there were reasons for what happened to your father. You know this."
He laughs again, louder this time, and it’s filled with scorn. "The arrogance of the Ivanovs will be your undoing.”
I press on. It’s clear he doesn’t know the full story. "What did your brother tell you? What have you been led to believe?"
As Vladimir’s face hardens, I realize that finding common ground might be farther out of reach than I thought.
Vladimir's face contorts with rage as he clenches his teeth, a muscle in his jaw twitching. "My brother told me everything," he spits out, his voice laced with bitterness. "He said your father killed ours out of jealousy. He saw my father as a threat, a rising star in the organization about to eclipse him. So he took him out, executed him in cold blood, without any warning."
I wince at his words. "Vlad," I start, my voice steady despite the dismal situation, "your brother lied to you, or at the very least, he didn't tell you everything."
Confusion flickers in his expression, overtaking the anger for just a moment. "What the hell are you talking about?" he demands, his grip on his gun tightening as if preparing to brace for a blow.
Taking a slow, calculated breath, I choose my words carefully, knowing the next few moments are critical.
"Your father wasn't just a rising star; he was involved in dealings that would have destroyed the organization. My father acted to protect us all—not out of jealousy, but necessity. It was never about personal power, it was about survival, about safeguarding the future for all of us, including you."