Page 66 of Savage Truce

“You fucking dare attack my home!” I shout at him as I lift myself into a standing position.

The woods suddenly open onto a wide stretch of untouched snow, and taking a chance, I launch myself from the machine.

Tackling the bastard off his snowmobile, we both slam fucking hard into the ground and roll several times. The impact sends pain tearing through my left shoulder, but I ignore it and jump to my feet.

Letting out a roar, I lunge at Sokolov, and grabbing the front of his coat, I punch him. My glove cushions the fucking blow, only pissing me off even more.

His head still snaps back, but he manages to rip his coat free from the shitty grip of my glove and tries to scramble to his feet.

I get up, and when Sokolov keeps slipping on the snow, I deliver a brutal kick to his gut, which makes him roll a couple of times before coming to a groaning stop.

Again, he tries to get up, but he’s too weak.

“How the fuck did you expect to be the pakhan if you can’t even get up and fight me?” I sneer, disgust thick in my voice.

By his third attempt, he’s breathing heavily, and I’m done watching him struggle.

“You’re embarrassing yourself, Oleg.”

He finally stops and slumps onto his knees.

“This is where it ends for you,” I say as I crouch in front of him while pulling off my gloves. “Give my regards to Yegor when you see him in hell.”

The old man lets out a tired chuckle, blood running from his nose and covering his mouth and chin before dripping onto the snow.

“We’ll wait for you.” His mouth pulls into a grim smile. “You and your best friend will join us soon enough.”

Wrapping my fingers around his neck, I look him dead in the eye as I strangle him.

Instinct overrides his pride, and he begins to slap at my arms and face while gasping and gagging.

Others might have mercy and snap his neck, but not me.

I savor every second as he fights for air, his lips blue and his eyes bulging. Finally, his body jerks and his arms slip to his sides, and when the life drains from his face, I let him drop onto the snow.

Picking up my gloves, I put them on as I climb to my feet. Because my snowmobile crashed, I grin at Andrei as I walk to him, saying, “You’re riding bitch, brat.”

CHAPTER 21

Anastasia

Pacing a hole in the floor, I wring my hands while worry for Rodian makes me spiral more and more.

When I woke up, I got dressed and went looking for him in the main cabin, but stepping out of the bedroom, I was met with a group of scary-looking guards.

To say I had a slight panic attack would be an understatement. The instant Sergei stepped in my direction, I darted back into the bedroom and slammed the door shut.

My breaths rush over my lips, and I’m unable to fight the memories as they creep into my mind.

Flashes of my uncles being beaten shudder through me, and they’re followed by the hell I endured. The endless days of hunger and pain become too much, and crouching down, I press my hands to my ears and squeeze my eyes tightly shut.

It’s okay. You’re not there anymore.

It feels as if something is squeezing the air from my lungs and crushing my ribs, but then the sound of applause and cheers gets through to me, and my head snaps up.

I rush to the door, and just as I reach for it, it opens. Rodian smiles when he sees me, but it quickly drops from his face, and he pulls the door shut behind him before asking, “What happened?”

“You said you would wake me up!” I cry, and darting forward, I throw my arms around his neck. “I was so worried.”