Page 87 of The Bratva's Bride
I felt empty as I looked at him with dead eyes. All the adrenaline and rage I had felt moments earlier was all gone—just like that. I should be murderous towards him, give him his dues, get my revenge, redeem myself and whatnot. But I couldn’t. Not after hearing his reason behind things. Well, don’t get me wrong, I was still resentful towards him, but I wasn’t feeling murderous right now.
“Wha? I... How?” Michael looked around all confused before his eyes landed on me and the empty revolver I threw to the ground by his feet.
“You’re right. I don’t kill. Besides, even if I were to kill you, it wouldn’t be with a damn bullet. That would take away my fun.” I couldn’t help but crack a crazed smile and small laugh as I watched his face twist from terror, confusion, defeat, and back to anger.
“They were all blanks. There was never a live one in there.” I wanted to watch him suffer with each pull of the trigger. I wanted to see the fear and terror form in his eyes as the bullets counted down, knowing the next could be his maker.
“But, answer me: do you know why I don’t kill?” I repeated my question as I leaned down, placing my arms on top of his that were tied to the armrests. “Answer me darling.”
“You don’t like death, you never did, that’s why you always try to save everyone who came through those emergency room doors.” It wasn’t a lie. I did tell him that when we were dating after a particularly rough shift. But that wasn’t the real reason behind why I never killed if I could help it.
Taking a deep breath, I dug my nails into his forearms until I drew blood. “True, but the real reason why I don’t kill is because I see death as a mercy. There is no suffering with death. I don’t give a shit what the devil dishes out when those fuckers go down to hell, but I believe that they should suffer in the land of the living as well. Killing ends things too quickly. Here one second, then gone the next. There is no dues for their crimes.”
Again, call me a twisted bitch, I’d already accepted it a long time ago. But that was my stance on killing. It wasn’t that I viewed it as a heinous act; I just hated how the perpetrator would never suffer.
“God you’re a twisted bitch. How the hell are you a nurse if you’re such a psychopath!? You’re not any better than those monsters out there.” His head flew at me, making me pull away to avoid the headbutt.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. That’s just rude. If I were a psychopath or a monster like the sick men under my stepmother’s employment then you’d be half way dead by now. Fortunately for you, I have this thing called empathy and sympathy. I am not going to kill you.” He didn’t deserve the torture I had in mind, not after knowing his reason behind attacking me.
I planned on making him suffer though. I was vengeful enough to inflict some pain on him.
With a deep breath, I walked back over to the table and picked up the KA-BAR knife, twirling it in my hand as I walked back over to him. Leaning down, I cut the ropes that bound his ankles to the chair before cutting the ones on his wrist.
Rubbing his red wrists, he looked up at me with a confused expression. “What? You’re just going to let me go?” He was wary, as he should be.
Giving him a saccharine smile, I reached down and took his hand, holding it softly and stroking the back of it briefly before gripping it and pulling him downward onto the floor with a grunt. Quickly, I climbed atop of him, pressing my knee into his back and leaning my full weight onto him to keep him pinned under me.
The anger that had subsided came back full force, only this time it wasn’t explosive like earlier. “Yes, and no. Though I understand your revenge, it was all wrong. Then your stupid taunts. You couldn’t fucking leave me alone, just had to make me relive that shit every month with your stupid little notes about being around the damn corner. My body and mind is scarred because of you. My lungs never fully recovered from all the scar tissue, so I can’t ever breathe at full capacity ever again. I couldn’t let anyone touch my back without flipping out and getting some kind of flashback for the longest time. I couldn’t even let my own fucking husband touch me because of you.”
Ripping the back of his shirt up, I brought the knife down between his ribs after aiming very carefully. “An eye for a fucking eye.” After pulling the knife out, I stabbed him five more times in a calculated manner to how he stabbed me. On the last hit, I left the knife embedded in him.
Breathing heavily, I got off of him, went over to the door, and opened it. “Go on, you can leave now.” I said with a twisted smile and nod of my head towards the hallway.
“Wait, what—” Lev was cut off by Alexei’s hand on his shoulder.
No doubt Alexei knew. I didn’t hit any major arteries or his heart, but six stabs to his lungs at such a depth was a death sentence in itself unless he got medical attention right away.
The chances of him surviving long were slim, but not nil. If someone were to take pity and give him medical attention or if he somehow got lucky and survived enough to get to a hospital then he’d live. If he succumbed to his injuries then oh well. Not like I killed him outright. I couldn’t help it if he succumbs to his injuries or not.
“Tik tok Mikey, you have a chance of surviving if you hurry.” I taunted with a smirk as I walked back over to Nikolai, wrapping my arms around one of his and leaning against him. “I would also get moving before my dear husband decides to take matters into his own hands for your insults towards me earlier. Unlike you, he doesn’t put up with people calling me names.” I could see the murderous storm that darkened Nikolai’s typically vibrant eyes as he stayed rooted to his spot.
With a pained groan, Michael got up and quickly stumbled out of the room, leaving a trail of blood behind him.
“You’re really going to let him walk out of here?” Nikolai did not sound happy when he leaned down to ask me in a low voice.
“His chances of surviving are near none. Unless there’s an ambulance waiting outside, he’ll probably drop at the front door or way before then. He’s going to drown in his own blood more than likely.” I was shockingly calm, and it kind of scared me considering how I just went psychobitch not too long ago. Although, maybe I just needed to release the pent of trauma to fully reset myself.
“Remind me to not play Russian roulette with you.” Nikolai chuckled, wrapping his arms around me and holding me tightly.
Frowning, I pushed myself away from Nikolai. “Don’t push your luck mister, I am still half tempted to slap you right now for blindsiding me like that.” Having him pop the can of worms and throw it in my face was the last thing I wanted today after everything.
I thought getting his Aston blown up was bad, but this was a hundred times worse in my opinion.
“Someone’s in the doghouse tonight.” Arseny teased with a snicker.