Page 61 of Unholy Tsar

“Malyshka can be perceived as ‘baby girl,’ but it also has another meaning,” Maksim says softly through my earbud. “Little girl.”

Little girl. I smile, my heart swelling in my chest. I don’t know why, but I like his interpretation better.

My kidnapper catches my smile in the rearview mirror and mutters psycho under his breath. While he does that, I finally manage to cut through my restraints.

I do all I can to hold back my triumphant grin.

Keeping my newly freed hands hidden behind my back, I try to sneak a peek out the front window. I already have no idea where we are. A few minutes later, he takes another sharp turn onto a dark street.

My belly twists when I spot the shattered streetlights. For the first time, I wonder if we might be the ones walking into a trap.

No. This is Maksim’s territory. No one can outsmart him here.

The man finally slows the car in front of an old, rundown house. He drives around to the back, behind some unkept bushes. When he turns off the engine and gets out, I take the opportunity to talk to Maksim.

“Are you still with me?” I whisper.

“Always.”

The door beside me opens, and I brace myself for the inevitable. But before I can be dragged out, a soft popping sound cuts through the air. The man falls to his knees, a muffled cry of pain dribbling from his lips.

And just like that, Maksim materializes in the darkness behind him, looking like an angel of death. His hard gaze meets mine, softening just a little as I blink up at him. “You okay?”

“Yes, sir,” I respond, relief flooding through me.

“Stay in there.” With my safety assured, he shifts his attention back to my kidnapper and grabs him by the scruff. “Let’s go inside.”

The fucker opens his mouth to bite back but quickly reconsiders when Maksim’s gun kisses his temple.

Together, they limp to the crumbling back door and disappear inside. Five of Maksim’s men follow closely behind them, while the rest form a protective ring around the car, shielding me from any potential threats.

Silence falls for a few minutes. Then, a blood-curdling scream tears through the darkness. It’s quickly joined by others. The whines of pain and agony seem to merge together, along with the unmistakable thud of bodies smashing into hard surfaces and the sickening crunch of bones.

I can’t help but flinch at each new cry.

My body chills as the nightmarish sounds continue for what feels like an eternity before they finally fade and an even worse sound takes over. Grown men weeping. Heart-wrenching sobs that almost make me feel sorry for them. Almost.

Then, everything becomes eerily silent again.

My head drops solemnly and a sense of dread washes over me as I come to terms with what’s most likely happened. At least they’ve been put out of their misery…

Suddenly, the back door swings open and Maksim walks out, flanked by his men. In that moment, the moon seems to break free from the clouds, casting a pale light on him. His eyes are so cold and hard, and blood stains his chin, neck, and fists.

His once grey suit is now a dark black.

An angel of death? No. More like a demon of vengeance.

Those eyes meet mine and transform, the fierce intensity giving way to a tender warmth that makes my heart turn over in my chest.

He went in there and tortured those men because of me. He killed them for me.

I must be losing my mind because why the hell else would I find that oddly romantic?

Finally leaving the safety of the car, I make my way toward him. “Is it over?”

Ripping off the torn piece of my shirt, I use it to wipe the blood off his nose and chin. I go to do the same for his neck, but he grabs my wrist.

“Who did this?” he growls, glaring at a point on my wrist. I glance down and sigh when I see the small wound from when the knife nicked me while I was trying to untie myself.