Page 145 of Sinful Lord

“Nothing,” I shake my head, quickly catching myself. “It… it just feels like we’re running out of time.”

“We’re not far from where my contact said the devil is hiding out.”

“Your contact, huh?” I huff. “You mean the fucker you tortured to death to get this information?”

“I did what needed to be done. Unfortunately, Timo’s men weren’t nearly as afraid as they should have been after what happened to their boss. The stubborn fools actually tried to put up a fight. It would have been fun if there wasn’t so much at stake.”

“And you’re sure your methods are sound? How can we trust that we’re heading the right way?”

“Because I got a hold of one of the very spies that our dearly departed friend Timo sent to track the devil. The fucker had physical evidence. Photographs. Timestamps. Coordinates. It was enough to afford him a swift death… eventually.”

“You sick old fucker,” I grunt, not hiding the growing speck of admiration I have for the grizzled Russian.

I thought he was far past his prime, but I guess he’s still got some fight left in him… or maybe he’s just called on the reserves for Melina’s sake.

Shit.

Melina.

“This way,” Maksim grumbles.

My heart kicks and screams as we cautiously turn down a tighter tunnel.

The way she looked at me before I left, it was like all that we’d been through had vanished and all she could see was the monster I truly am.

She wanted to believe me, I could feel it, but I gave her no choice.

Love be damned, she’s not mine yet. And that fucking hurts—but it’s also my fault. I won’t stop working until I’ve made it up to her.

“How many fucking tunnels are down here?” I sneer.

Up ahead, this path branches out into four more.

“It’s hard to say,” Maksim explains. “These were all built in secret, during the cold war. No official record exists. If it did, I’m sure our little devil would have been much easier to find.”

“I’m going to make him pay,” I growl, thinking of all he’s put Melina through.

“Easy now, young buck,” Maksim warns. “You keep that weapon ready, but don’t let it go off until we’re sure Melina is safe.”

My gut churns.

Poor old man, he thinks we’re actually getting close to his lost niece.

I almost feel bad for him.

“I’ve been through this kind of shit before,” I remind him.

“Not as many times as I have.”

If things weren’t so serious, I might laugh at that.

In another life, I could see myself actually developing a friendship with the Kilpatrick consigliere. Hell, that could still happen. But with the way I left things between Melina and I, a happy ending to this mess seems like a stretch.

No. I won’t let this end poorly.

“Third to the left,” Maksim whispers.

I lead the way through an even smaller tunnel as we prepare ourselves for a dog fight. Down here, there’s no room to hide, no option to run. When we find this devil fucker, it’s going to be sink or swim. And I’m not ready to drown yet.