Chapter 33
Mikhail
Knowing Grace is currently being groped and fucked by some asshole ally of the Morozovs has me on edge.
The smile I give Anton is sharper than usual, but the stupid fuck doesn’t seem to notice as he offers me another beer.
We’re sitting in the mansion’s common room, a place where enforcers and other employees currently not on duty hang out.
The Morozovs spare no expenses on their people, so there’s food, drinks, TVs, video games, and plenty of other things to keep everyone occupied, because nothing is worse than bored, disgruntled men.
Fostering loyalty is cheaper than sniffing out traitors and hiring new people, and the bosses realize that.
I used to like that about them, but they fucked me over by expanding the Doll operation, which I built from nothing, without even telling me.
Then they took Grace away from me. Either of those things warrants death, but handing my Doll to some random asshole is what made me act.
“It’s good to see you out of that basement, synok. You could use some sunlight,” Anton says, sipping his beer. “I’m glad you’re not moping over that Doll. You always get too attached to them.”
You have no fucking idea, Uncle, I think to myself but keep up a smile.
In the kitchen attached to the common room, the expensive coffee machine whirs to life, spitting out the first cups of coffee for people returning from their daily duties or waiting for evening shifts to start.
It’s mostly guards and enforcers here, but some of the non-combat staff visit as well.
A maid laughs at something the enforcers say.
Her cup of coffee is almost empty, but she is still yawning. She’s pretty. Too bad she has to die.
“I do love my Dolls,” I confirm. “Every single one of them.”
“Eh.” Anton waves a hand at the maid. “You! Bring me a fucking coffee. Now!”
She’s off the clock but knows better than to refuse someone as powerful as my uncle, and soon enough a steaming cup sits on the table between us.
Rubbing her eyes, the girl retreats before Anton can demand anything else.
A few of the guards are yawning, and one of the senior enforcers seems to be asleep on the couch.
Anton smirks. “It’s dead here today. How about we hit a bar in town? There’s nothing to fuck here. The last batch of pussy was already sent off, and the new ones aren’t coming for a week. Though with the new deal with Chernov, the shipments should be more frequent.”
That’s a deal Vasilij Morozov sweetened with my Grace. I barely hold back a snarl, only calming down when Anton drinks from his cup. A crash comes from the back of the room as someone passes out, followed by a weak call for a doctor. A few people stumble around, panicking.
“What the fuck is happening?” Anton tries to stand up, but I push him back into his seat. His pupils are blown as he frowns at me. “Mikhail?”
“You’re an asshole,” I tell him, raising my voice so he can hear me over the sounds of vomiting.
Interesting. I was told the shit would just knock people out, but some of them react differently.
“You’ve always been an asshole, but you took me in after my mother died, so I suppose I at least owe you a quick death. ”
“What the fuck did you do?”
Anton reaches for his gun, but his movements are sluggish, and I easily knock it out of his hand.
“Sedatives,” I explain, pointing at the people in various stages of unconsciousness around us.
“I know, poisoning coffee machines and water coolers is melodramatic and cowardly, but I don’t give a shit.
You wanted to keep my Doll away from me, and you know what, Uncle?
This,” I say, pointing at the tattoo on my forearm, the one stating that Dolls are not for me.
Once this shitstorm dies out, I will have to visit Cameron and have him change the words.
“It’s a lie. This Doll is for me. Grace is mine, and you shouldn’t have fucking taken her. ”
This situation could have been easily avoided. I served the Morozovs faithfully for nearly two decades. I single-handedly built and ran their most profitable venture. One would think I’d deserve a reward. All they had to do was let me keep one Doll.
Before I met Grace, I would have settled for any of my Dolls because I really loved every single one of them.
Maybe not to the same extent as I love Grace, but it was still love.
How could I not? I knew them inside and out, their deepest fears and desires.
They cried and screamed for me, giving me their tears and their pleasure.
I stood by their side as their world changed, and I held their hands through their pain and fear.
I broke them and put them back together so that they could finally be what they were always meant to be.
Beautiful Dolls. And then the Morozovs took them away from me and sent them to assholes who never appreciated the beauty I created.
The Morozovs are no better than my mother, and they deserve the same fate.
“They will kill you,” Anton says, still struggling to get up even as his head lols from side to side. “The family—”
“The family will burn with the rest of you. You think I only placed the poison here? Please, Uncle. You taught me better. Always go for the head, isn’t that right?
Well, the head will die tonight, along with the arms, legs, and fucking intestines or whatever you are in this metaphor.
Actually, doesn’t intestines fit? Because you’re full of shit. ”
He doesn’t laugh. He’s always been a sour bastard.
“You’ve lost your mind, Mikhail. All this for a piece of cunt?”
I shake my head. Men like my uncle will never understand true love.
“All this for my Doll. I will burn the fucking world down for her, and then I will take her and bury myself in her cunt because, yeah. She has a great cunt. Anyway, I have to get going. I’ve got places to be.
Thank you for raising me, Uncle. Any last words? ”
“You—”
The blade flies from my hand and sinks into his eye socket with a wet crunch. Anton twitches once before his body goes slack. “Yeah. Didn’t think so. See you in hell, Uncle.”
I lock the door behind me as I leave in case anyone gets the bright idea of running away.
Not that many people are even awake at this point.
Besides, I’ve already activated the mansion’s lockdown protocols, including the phone jammers.
Can’t have the firefighters here before the fire consumes everyone inside the building.
Everyone has to burn. They will be a fiery offering to my eternal love for Grace.
Once the fires die down, I will hunt the survivors to make sure no one bothers us as Grace and I start our new life together.
Then I will collect my Doll, who should be getting rescued right about now.
I hate that I won’t be the one to save her from Chernov, but taking him on would probably get me killed, and I don’t intend to die yet, so I have employed others to do the rescuing for me. It’s their job, after all.