Chapter 33
CHAPTER 33
TITUS
I left Tia to sleep in my bed while I headed for the guest wing. I meant what I said. Until we are married, I will not lay one hand on her. She will cease to exist the second I place my ring on her finger and I will walk back down the aisle with a woman I will be proud to call my wife.
I’m not an ogre. If her future includes dance, then I am not about to take that away from her, but it will be on my terms. We will never be apart. Not one night will separate us and so touring with the Bolshoi is not an option unless I am there too. It’s a possibility. I have many businesses all over the world and if my wife wants to dance, then I am happy to travel. However, if my plan worked, she will be too busy raising our family to worry about her career and I am surprised how desperate I am to watch her perfect figure swell with my child. Our child . The next generation of the Romanov dynasty and she will be kept extremely busy with that because I am used to a large family and want no different for my own.
But before that is one important part of our history.
Revenge for the past.
The wedding preparations are complete. Simeon has worked tirelessly on our plan and mama has liaised with the Kremlin to put on a show that will be written about in our great nation’s history.
I am ready. My brothers are ready along with my sister and my bride had better be ready because what happens tomorrow is destiny in a deadly form.
Today is all about preparation though and safe in the knowledge that Tia’s diary is crowded with wedding plans, I am left to catch up with Simeon in my den. My brothers are setting their own parts of the revenge in place and I have no doubt they will not fail.
Ana is responsible for making sure Tia shows up and is kept from harm until she joins me at the altar. There is still the matter of a very loose cannon that goes by the name of Nadia Solomin, and that is the first item on the agenda as Simeon sits opposite me with a dark gleam in his eye.
“We’ve found her.”
My entire soul rests as a huge wave of relief hits me.
“Where is she?”
“The house.”
“Poetic justice.”
He grins. “Exactly what I thought.”
“Is she talking?”
“I suspected you would like to conduct the interrogation.”
He knows me so well and as I nod slowly, my evil grin causes his own expression to mirror my own.
“Arrange the car. We have a passenger.”
He arches his brow. “Is that such a good idea?”
I don’t care that he has questioned my decision. He is right to do so and I shake my head, a deviant smile accompanying my words.
“It’s about time she met the devil she lies beside at night.”
“Of course.” He accepts my probably unwise decision, but I’m curious to witness the unveiling of the rose-colored glasses Tia wears around me. There will be no secrets in our marriage and she is about to learn an invaluable lesson that will make her—or break her. Either way, it won’t change the fact she will be my wife by the close of business tomorrow.
I text Ana to deliver Tia to the car, suitably dressed for interrogation, with none of the details.
Her return text causes me to chuckle softly.
You’re a fucking bastard, Titus.
I leave her on ‘read’ because I can’t argue with her. I am.
Tia is nervous. I knew as soon as she met me at the front of the house, Ana glaring at me behind her. I ignore my sister at my peril and expect I’ll experience the force of her anger when we return. None of my family understands how my mind works. Not even I do sometimes, and only Simeon has the balls to call me out on my decisions. Sometimes I listen, but then do what the fuck I want anyway.
My decision to bring Tia into my madness is for one reason only. When she walks down the aisle to join her soul to mine, she must accept me for who and what I am. I want her to understand while she has the chance to back away from the deal, at least she will consider she has that option. She won’t. I have planned accordingly and her agreement is desired but not necessary.
She is dressed as instructed. A black ensemble of a hoody and sweatpants, sneakers on her feet, her blonde hair tied in a ponytail behind her. She is pale, ashen even as she senses danger.
Her hand is clasped tightly in mine as we ride through unfamiliar streets—to her, anyway.
This is my dark home. The one where I unleash the monster who lives inside me. The one where I am most at home. The one where the devil controls my soul.
We pull up outside the suburban house that is dressed in darkness.
“What is this place?” She says in a frightened whisper and I turn to face her, my black soul evident in my eyes.
“It’s where I interrogate my prisoners.”
“Your what?” She snatches her hand away and I grip her hand and tighten my hold.
“The people who attempt to take what’s mine. To cause pain and suffering to my business—to my family. The scourge of our society who believe they stand a chance against me and this one is more personal than most, Tia, because this is your revenge.”
“My what?” Her eyes widen and as Simeon opens the door, I say with a twisted smile, “We found Nadia.”
A shocked gasp accompanies her as I pull her reluctantly from the car and as I walk fast, dragging her behind me, I caress the burning ball of retribution inside me that I love so much.
This will be interesting. I can’t wait to begin and at the end of it Tia will understand exactly what she has signed up for.
My men stand watching, their grave expressions set behind mirrored shades despite the gloomy lighting in the dingy slum.
Cockroaches scuttle away from us, the last sign of life in a desolate landscape and as we enter the room, I gaze with satisfaction on the hooded figure tied to the chair. She is sobbing, her fear almost palpable as we step inside and Tia gasps, “Oh my God. Nadia.”
She pulls me back and hisses, “Release her. What are you doing?”
“You’ll see.”
I nod to Simeon who moves beside Tia as a security measure to keep her in place and I move across to Nadia and whip the hood away, tears streaking her dirty face; her eyes alight with defeat.
“You bastard.” She hisses and spits in my face, an action that is distasteful but not uncommon, so I grab a tissue from my pocket and wipe it away with a shrug.
“I accept your judgment of my character, but I don’t give a damn what you think of me.”
I point to Tia and Nadia’s eyes widen and she cries, “Tia, oh my God, this is the monster who caused Leo to lose his legs!”
“Titus, no!”
The agony in Tia’s voice rolls off me like a gentle wave and I shake my head. “It is true.”
I turn to Tia and note the tears pouring down her face and I add, “But when I left, we deposited him in the gutter outside. His legs were not unsalvageable. I broke his knees, his ankle and tore some ligaments, but I didn’t pulverize them.”
“Titus please, I’m begging you.” She sobs pitifully.
“To do what, Tia? Release the real reason Leo lost his legs. The real reason you were in danger and the brains behind the trafficking organization that sell dancers to a psychopath for millions. Is that what you really want?”
“Tell me it’s not true.” Tia wipes away her tears with her sleeve and gazes at Nadia with a hopeful expression.
Nadia shakes her head. “He’s deranged, Tia. You must not marry him. He will ruin your life.”
I shrug and nod to one of my men who sets a chair before Nadia, that I sit astride, retrieving my revolver from inside my jacket and cocking the barrel.
“What’s happening?”
The blood drains from Nadia’s face and Tia screams. “No Titus, please God, no!”
Their cries mean shit to me and I say darkly, “Let’s play a game, Nadia. Truth and dare.”
I load one bullet inside the chamber and say casually, “A particular favorite of mine. Russian Roulette.”
I spin the barrel and whisper, “I’ll go first. A question for a bullet from the gun.”
Nadia is shaking and I say roughly, “I will ask you a question and if I’m satisfied with the answer, I will take the first bullet. If I die, you will be released and free to go.”
“Titus!” Tia is openly sobbing. “Please don’t do this. I can’t watch you kill yourself or Nadia.”
I ignore her and concentrate on Nadia’s frozen expression, noting the dark gleam of resignation mixing with the fear.
“Go on, ask your question.” She spits and I say casually, “Tell me what happened the night Leo died.”
She shakes her head and laughs, a chilling sound that causes silence in the room.
“I followed him. I saw your men drag him into a car when I was outside waiting for Tia. He was supposed to bring her to me so I could make the delivery.”
She glances past and sneers at Tia. “You’re a fool. They are all fools. They deserve what they get and so do I.”
She is not wrong about that and she sneers. “I followed your car to this place and when I saw Leo cast out into the gutter, I waited until your men left. I ran to help him and he told me he was done. He wouldn’t play his part anymore, so he left me with no other choice.”
“You did it.”Tia gasps and Nadia laughs like a madwoman.
“Yes. I went back to the car, and I drove it straight at his legs that were lying broken in the road. I thought it would do the trick. Poetic justice for daring to believe he could escape our agreement. I didn’t stick around and left him there. When I heard he had survived, I went to the hospital and while he slept, I pulled out his life support. I did what I had to do to protect my business.”
She glares at me. “Take the bullet. Show me you are a man of your word.”
I nod, ignoring Tia’s anguished scream as I place the barrel of the gun against my temple and stare Nadia directly in the eye as I pull the trigger.
Hope turns to despair as the empty click of the chamber reveals it wasn’t the right one and I growl, “Your turn.”
I hold the gun against her head and hiss, “Who is the man you do business with?”
“I don’t know his name.” She shrugs, her throat bobbing as she swallows hard, the fear in her eyes betraying her words.
“He sends me the order and I deliver to the destination. I get the money paid into the relevant account when the order has been safely received.”
“The orders are human beings, you deranged bitch.” I hiss, pulling the trigger, the empty sound of the chamber cracking against the air.
The sweat pours off her face as she breathes a huge sigh of relief and the light returns to her eyes as she hisses, “Your turn.”
It’s almost as if she is enjoying this sick game and I hold the gun to my temple and say with a withering stare, “Who else is involved aside from Leo?”
Her eyes flicker for a second before she shakes her head. “Nobody.”
I say nothing and she shivers under my malevolent gaze.
“I swear. I was approached when we were touring Saudi Arabia. I received a note asking me to call the number. When I did, the voice outlined their wishes and at first I was horrified. I thought about it overnight and realized if I was to have a future – one I deserved – this was my best shot. Leo was messing around with one of the chorus and she was the perfect choice. I never told him the full extent of the order, just that if he arranged to meet her in the car parked outside the theater, I would pay him one hundred US dollars. He didn’t even hesitate and when she stepped into the car, I drugged her.”
She shrugs. “I was instructed that she must wear a tutu, which was why it had to be after a performance. The car was met at the airfield that time and another one was waiting to take me back to the Bolshoi. I saw them carry her to a private plane and never looked back after that. The money was in my account within the hour, and it became an addictive game. He contacted me once a year on the same day and it was easy money.”
Her mouth twists in derision. “I didn’t care about the dancers. They were collateral damage in my desire for a better life, and why not?”
She snarls. “Now pull the trigger, you miserable piece of shit.”
Tia’s agonized sobs are all I hear as I pull the trigger. The empty sound of the chamber causing Nadia to sigh with disappointment and I growl, “Your turn. It’s time to ask me a question.”
Her eyes light as she flicks a gaze at Tia who is barely standing, and she says with an evil sneer. “We are so alike, Mr. Romanov. You don’t love Tia. You have only just met, so what is your reason for marrying her?”
I say simply, “Revenge.” Then I pull the trigger, the fourth bullet missing from the chamber and she gasps, “Two left.”
I press the gun to her temple and whisper, “What are the arrangements for delivering, Tia? I’m guessing they are still in place?”
“Of course.” She stares past me and rolls her eyes.
“He wants her specifically. He wants the best now. He is tired of the faceless dancers; he wants the jewel of them all. The original plan was to make the exchange on the tour, but your engagement changed everything. We made another plan and the day of the wedding is the pick up. He has already arranged the abduction. You see, this time I failed and am no longer part of his plan, but rest assured Mr. Romaonv, he will succeed and your bride will soon be dancing for a different bastard.”
I set the gun against my head and as I pull the trigger, her evil smirk turns to fear as the chamber is empty.
“I win, Nadia.”
I hold the gun to her temple and we all know it will end her life and she shakes, “Please. I’ll help you. I’ll go along with your plan—anything. I’ll contact him and say I can deliver the order. Please let me help you if you spare my life.”
“I thought you said you didn’t know who he is?” I ask, pressing the gun harder into her temple, my finger hovering over the trigger.
“I lied.” She whispers and Simeon says darkly, “His number is programmed into her phone. We have his identity and his name. His jet is due to land tomorrow morning and from what we can gather, he has someone working for him inside the Kremlin. They have assured him the package will be delivered before the wedding takes place, making Russia conclude it’s another defection where no questions will be asked.”
Nadia stares at Simeon with uncontrolled fear as she shakes and her voice quivers. “How?”
I sneer as I press the gun in harder. “We know everything, Nadia, and guess what? We don’t need you anymore.”
I pull the trigger before she can reply and as the contents of her despicable mind coat my face and hands, I relish the sensation of winning.
One threat eliminated—three more to go.