Chapter 15

Chapter

Fifteen

"The human body is the best work of art."

― Jess C. Scott

Volk

Anger surged through me, unstoppable, as I looked at Edik's lifeless body sprawled on the muddy ground, surrounded by a scatter of colorful leaves and fallen pinecones.

Three bullet wounds—one in the leg, one in the chest, and one in the head—oozed blood, painting a gruesome picture.

Soon, he would be discovered by scavenging animals or, if fate was kinder, by his grieving family.

Now, I needed to dig deeper to find answers about Vlad's whereabouts.

Dve and I had initially searched the small cabin for Edik. Inside, the warmth from a large fireplace contrasted sharply with the cold outside. Nearby, a black and blue-eyed cat curled up on a chair, seeking comfort from the chill.

The cabin exuded rustic charm, with wooden walls and a sloping roof. The crackling fire in the large stone hearth bathed the room in a warm glow, and the scent of burning wood permeated the air. The well-worn armchair by the fireplace cradled the contented cat, its sleek fur and bright eyes reflecting a serene comfort.

The living room was simple but functional, with a few pieces of wooden furniture scattered about and a couple of framed paintings hanging on the walls.

I called out Edik's name several times before deciding to check the bedroom.

The room was small and filthy. Empty beer cans, bags of chips, and used condoms littered the floor. Water damage had stained the sloping roof, leaving dark patches on the ceiling. The lone window was grimy, with cobwebs festooning the corners.

The bed was an old metal frame that groaned with each touch, the bedding stained and musty. The pillows were lumpy and worn, and the blanket was thin, frayed at the edges. The bedside table was cluttered with old magazines, empty bottles, and discarded wrappers. The lamp on the table had a flickering bulb, casting a sickly yellow light that made the room feel oppressive and unwelcoming.

Needless to say, his place was even worse than a slum.

" Protivnyy ublyudok Nasty bastard. "

Dve chuckled, but I barely noticed, my attention fixed on a family photo by the bed. I recognized only one face.

Impatient, I returned to the living room where the small cat still lounged nearby. I absentmindedly scratched its ears.

Where the hell are you, Edik ?

Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the silence, and the cat hissed in alarm.

What the fuck?

I locked eyes with Dve, confusion written on my face.

Then it hit me: Sofiya wasn't here.

She hadn't followed us, which explained the eerie silence. No nagging, no complaints—just an unsettling peace.

Another scream echoed, and I raced to find its source.

When we arrived, nothing could have prepared me for the sight: fucking useless Edik groping Sofiya, who was crying out in terror, her body covered in mud and leaves. It was as if she were living her final moments.

I gritted my teeth and halted Dve and signaled him to lower his gun.

He caught on immediately, nodded and then stood a few paces away to escort Sofiya back to the car.

This was mine to fix.

Initially, I didn't want to kill him.

One leg should have been enough, but seeing the distress in her eyes and the hunger in his made me lose any remaining sense of reason.

So, I pulled the trigger, giving him an ultimatum: tell me where Vlad was, why he started doing business with him, and how much money his death cost him.

His whimpers, sadly for him, weren't the right answer.

Edik's voice was strained and shaky, his breaths coming in short, sharp gasps. He winced as he shifted his weight, clearly in pain from his wounds.

His eyes darted nervously around the forest, never lingering on one spot for too long.

"He tripled your price," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "And promised me a house in Moscow. Two bedrooms with a view of Novospassky lake." He swallowed hard, his throat dry and scratchy. "Please, I didn't know she was your whore. I swear, I didn't know." He crawled to my feet, squeezing my ankles, looking up at me with fear. "I thought she was a spy."

"A spy, huh?"

"V-Volk, I promise," he cried, despair clouding his features. "You have to believe me. I didn't mean to cross you."

"What were you about to do to that spy ?" I glanced down at him, clenching my fists. "Rape her before shooting her?" I kicked him hard in the stomach, freeing myself from his grip. "Sliding your nasty cock in her before leaving her for dead?"

His scream tore through the forest. It started as a sharp intake of breath, cut short by the impact of the first bullet in his right leg.

Then it exploded into a guttural roar of pain and terror, the sound ripping from his throat with a force that shook the leaves on the trees.

"You are more stupid than I thought, Edik."

The scream was full of desperation and disbelief, as if he couldn't comprehend what had just happened. There was raw agony in his voice, every nerve in his body on fire. He cried out again and again as the second bullet ripped through his rib cage, his voice rising and falling in a tortured cadence that was almost musical.

Fuck, I love this kind of music.

As his scream continued, it became more ragged, his strength ebbing away. His words jumbled and incomprehensible, his cries turning into moans of pain and gasps for breath.

Finally, the scream tapered off into a gurgling whimper before fading away into silence as I shot the last fatal bullet in his head.

Touch something that's mine, I'll take something that's yours.

But fuck. She wasn't mine!

She was just a pawn in Igor's mind games to fuck with my brain, I reminded myself as I pressed harder on the handkerchief, now covered in blood, on her knee.

"Ouch! What the hell?" She yelped, pushing my hand away, which only made me tighten my grip around her leg.

Some of her strands stuck to her face, mixed with her now-rosy, dry cheeks. Her plump lips opened, and my eyes dropped to them, making it hard not to move closer and take possession of them, silencing her in the process.

"That's for not listening to me."

Gently, I pulled the torn half of her tights to cover the exposed knee and thigh.

Leaning forward, I blew softly on her wounded knee before meeting her gaze.

She looked back at me, unsure and hesitant, then reached out to touch my cheek with her cold fingers.

The warmth of her touch sent a shiver down my arms.

"I'm sorry."

"I doubt that," I snorted.

"I am," her voice shook, tears filling her eyes as she coughed to ease her knotted throat. "Really."

With a delicate touch, I pressed the lacy fabric against her skin, feeling the warmth of her body through the material.

As I raised my head, I gazed upon the curves of her thigh, admiring the smoothness of her skin and the gentle curve of her muscles. Dropping my lips onto her flesh, I felt her body react immediately, shivering, goosebumps spreading like stars across her skin .

Feeling her hand on the nape of my neck, her nails digging into my skin.

Overwhelmed, I could no longer resist the temptation to explore further, dropping my lips an inch higher and kissing her skin through the dark, smooth fabric of her tights.

Leaning in close, I whispered into her ear, "Now baby, be a good girl and shut the fuck up."

Her lips trembled as she tried to suppress any sound.

After tying the handkerchief tightly around her wounded knee, I carefully placed her leg in my lap.

Instructing Dve to return home, I pulled out my phone and called Marina to join us for dinner.

I didn't want Marina to meet Sofiya, but I had no choice. This girl was so troublesome that I couldn't leave her alone for even a moment without risking her getting hurt.

As I made the call, I heard Sofiya whisper "asshole" under her breath, hoping I wouldn't catch it.

Dve let out a chuckle, and I shot him a glare through the rearview mirror, causing him to cough a few times and reach for the radio to turn up the volume. The upbeat rhythm of an Usher song filled the car as I put my phone back in my pocket.

I reached for Sofiya's left hand and grasped it tightly, pressing it against my crotch.

She yelped and struggled to break free, but I held her firmly.

"If I hear another insult coming out of your filthy mouth," I turned to face her, my face menacingly close to hers, "I swear nothing and nobody," I released her hand and seized the back of her neck, drawing my lips to her ear, "will keep me from shoving my dick down your throat to silence you."

Stepping back, I saw the disgust in her eyes, but a hidden part of her seemed to find it exciting. I knew I was playing with fire, but I couldn't help myself.

Running my fingers along her warm cheek, I traced her lower lip, then trailed down her throat, feeling her pulse quicken and her heart race as I drew closer to her chest. I studied her rosy lips, inching closer, my nose catching the scent of wood and jasmine. I let out a hot breath on her neck, and a small whimper escaped her.

Biting her earlobe, I blew a cold breath over it.

"I'm sure you want it," I murmured, sensing her shoulders tense. I nudged her neck, brushing away a few strands of hair with my other hand. "Don't fight it."

"I'd rather die," she whispered, grabbing my hand and pushing it away.

"Ouch," I mocked, placing a hand over my heart.

I stepped back and stifled a chuckle, quickly glancing at Dve to make sure he wasn't listening in.

As the road to the house came into view, I made a mental note to update Igor on the promising lead we had discovered and to let him know that his captive was in good hands.

Very good hands.

Lost in thought, I watched the trees blur by as the car moved along the winding road. The path grew darker, and the sound of leaves rustling and twigs snapping under the wheels blended with the engine's soft purr.

The car turned a bend, and Dve braked abruptly, narrowly avoiding a family of deer. I instinctively put my arm in front of Sofiya to stop her from crashing into the front seat. I made sure she was okay before letting her go.

Her tense body slowly relaxed, but her expression remained cold. I shouldn't have pushed her, but there was something about her that drew me in .

As much as I tried to deny it, I was undeniably attracted to her.

But fuck, she's Igor's daughter, for fuck's sake!

Dve apologized and resumed our journey.

I found Sofiya curled up, her shaky arms around her legs, head against the window.

I slid down my window and let the scent of pine and damp earth fill the car.

As we reached our destination, the trees thinned, and the house appeared.

"Look at me."

My voice echoed in the car which was quiet except for the engine and tires.

Sofiya stared out the window, ignoring me.

Frustration crept up my spine as I gently grabbed her chin, turning her head to face me.

"I said, look at me."

"I don't have to do anything you say," she snapped.

I tightened my grip around her chin.

She brought her hand over mine, her nails digging into my knuckles.

"Listen carefully," I said. "You really don't wanna disobey me. Got it?"

She nodded slowly, afraid to speak, her big brown eyes locked on mine.

"Good," I whispered and released her.

She sighed, crossing her arms.

"Tonight, we're having a guest," I continued, my voice calmer. "You better behave. Don't speak unless spoken to, and don't do anything without my permission."

The car stopped, and Dve got out, leaving us alone.

"Is that fucking clear?"

"Yes," she whispered .

"Good girl."

I stepped out of the car, anticipation building inside me.

Tonight would be a night to remember. I could already feel it.

" Pomoch' yey. U neye ranena noga. Help her. Her leg is injured. " I told the guards before opening the main door. " Yesli ty prikosnesh'sya k ney nepodobayushchim obrazom, ya pererezhu tebe gorlo. If y'all touch her inappropriately, I will cut your throat. "