Chapter 25
25
Ivan
“T he quicker you answer my questions, the sooner this will be over,” I assured Boris as I tossed the knife into the air, catching it by the blade without even nicking myself. “First order of business, Boris.” I pressed the knife beneath his chin again, letting the tip press into his throat just enough to make a trickle of blood run down his neck. “Who did you pay to drug my pilot and my flight attendant?” I asked.
Boris spat on me instead of answering my question. Sighing, I wiped the spit off my shirt, and then, just as I promised, I grabbed his hand and shoved the blade of the knife under his fingernail. He screamed, doing his best to free himself, but he could barely move due to his restraints. I popped the nail of his index finger off, letting it fall to the floor. Tears ran down his cheeks as I straightened back up.
“Didn’t I promise to take a fingernail every time you disrespected me, Boris?” I asked calmly, cocking my head to the side the slightest bit. I pointed my now bloody knife at Ninel, not bothering to actually look at the traitorous bitch. “I’m cutting off a chunk of her ear next if you don’t give me the answer I’m looking for,” I promised. Ninel made a panicked sound in the back of her throat. “This knife is very sharp, Boris. Adrian takes very good care of his weapons just for occasions like this.”
“Wait!” Ninel cried, and it took everything in me not to fucking grin. She’d played right into my hands, just as I knew she would. I didn’t have time to pussy foot around. I was hungry and tired, and I just wanted to get my man upstairs in his bed and fuck him until the sun came up. And then, I wanted to crash for a good twelve fucking hours.
“Yes?” I asked, looking at her with a frown.
“I did it,” she rushed out. I arched a brow because I hadn’t been expecting that. She wasn’t the type to get her own hands dirty. “Boris was going to hire some incompetent asshole who could barely even understand the instructions he was being given. So, when your pilot went to take his last bathroom break before your flight, I paid your flight attendant to slip you the tea with the drug in it, along with the pilot.” She huffed. “I heard she died. Stupid bitch must have drunk the wrong damn tea.”
“Well, that sure was out of character for you, Ninel,” I drawled. “After all, you were always so quiet and docile. What happened?”
“ You happened,” she spat at me. “It should have been my husband taking the Pakhan position. Not you . You’re just the bastard son of the consigliere. You did nothing to earn it, yet my husband stood at Adrik’s side his entire life. We even gave up our daughter for the old man’s own fucking gains!” she yelled.
I scoffed. “You didn’t give a fuck about Inessa,” I retorted. “Don’t even try to play that card with me. Your relationship with your daughter was so toxic, she happily allowed Jaxon to end all communication between you and the rest of your fucked up little family months ago, and she’s been happier for it.”
“Fuck you,” she snarled.
I hummed. “So, what was the grand plan here?” I asked. “Take me out. Take the Jacksons out. And then…. what? Somehow rise to power? You really think the Bratva would allow that, Ninel? Those men respect me, and they respect Adrik’s decision to name me as the Pakhan. We are flourishing . Taking me out would have just signed your death certificate.”
“You’re going to burn in hell,” she growled.
I winked at her. “Don’t worry, Ninel. I’ve got a one-way ticket there already.” I flipped the knife between my fingers. “Now, one more thing before I end this little party. I’m getting tired.” I yawned dramatically just to piss her off more. “Who else are you working with?”
“No one,” she told me, fury lacing her words. “We were doing everything on our own. Less of a chance of a fuck up.”
Adrian barked out a laugh. “So much for that,” he muttered from his still-slouched position in the chair he’d had his ass parked on since we got these two dimwits in the basement.
“So, taking care of you two eliminates the problem?” I shook my head and gave a pitiful sigh. “Damn, you two really made this too fucking easy.” And then, without warning, I jabbed my knife into Boris’s neck. When I yanked it out, he choked on his blood, the crimson, almost black liquid spilling down his chin. I turned to Ninel next and grabbed her hair, my grin cold as it split my face.
“Save some love for me for when I get to hell.” I gave her a little air kiss, then slit her throat, leaving her to gurgle and choke on her own blood.
I hadn’t even heard him move, but suddenly, Adrian was spinning me around, and his mouth was on mine. With a growl, I dropped the knife to the floor, then gripped the back of his neck, taking control of the kiss and thrusting my tongue into his mouth.
“Upstairs,” I growled, already impatient to have him beneath me.
He shook his head. “Right here,” he panted, dropping to his knees and working open my belt. Christ . He was such a slut for my cock, and I loved it. “In the blood of our fucking enemies.”
My head dropped back on my neck, and I groaned long and low.
Fuuuuuck .