Chapter 6 Dimitri
DIMITRI
My cheek is throbbing where she hit me, and I can't stop the grin that spreads across my face as I walk back to my office.
The sting is a satisfying reminder that Katya Volsky is not the type to roll over and take orders without pushing back.
Most people in her position would've crumbled by now, begged or cried or tried to bargain their way out.
But not her.
She slapped me, and the defiance in her eyes was real.
I reach up and touch my cheek, feeling the heat there, and my grin widens.
She's strong, feisty, angry, smart, and hot as hell.
Every part of her is exactly what I want, and pinning her against that wall nearly made my dick hard.
The way her breath caught when I tightened my grip, the way her body went still under mine—I wanted to push further, to see how far I could take her before she broke.
But I held back.
Barely.
When I told her I'd use her for whatever purpose suited me, I wasn't talking about running errands. I meant something far more personal, far more visceral.
I meant keeping her in my bed, making her scream my name, bending her over every surface in this place until she understands exactly who she belongs to.
But I don't have time for that right now, no matter how badly I want it.
I push open the door to my office and cross to the desk, pulling out my phone.
I scroll through my contacts and find Rodion's number, then type out a message.
Dimitri 4:47 PM: Office. Now.
I set the phone down and pour myself a drink, vodka straight, and I down it in one swallow.
The burn clears my head, and I pour another before moving to the window.
The yard is quiet this afternoon with a big race tomorrow.
Horses are being rested and trainers are probably indulging themselves in whatever guilty pleasures they enjoy.
Rodion is going to die tonight.
I've known it since Katya came back with the information, but hearing her say it out loud solidified the decision.
He's been selling us out to the Radich crew, leaking our security details, our schedules, our weaknesses.
And now he's trying to make money off a stranger who walked into the card room asking questions.
He's greedy, stupid, and disloyal, and there's no coming back from that.
I hear footsteps in the hallway, and a moment later, there's a knock on the door.
I turn away from the window and call out for him to enter.
Rodion walks in, his face pale, his eyes darting around the room before settling on me.
He's nervous, and he should be.
"Close the door," I say.
He does, and I gesture for him to sit.
He lowers himself into the chair across from the desk, his hands gripping the armrests, and I can see the sweat beading on his forehead.
I pour him a drink and slide it across the desk.
He takes it, his fingers trembling slightly, and he throws it back in one gulp.
"Relax," I say, leaning against the desk.
"I just want to talk."
"About what?"
His voice is tight, strained.
"Business. The operation. Things have been off lately, and I'm trying to figure out why."
I down my second drink, then cross my arms, watching him.
"You've been here a while. You see things. Hear things. I'm curious whether you've noticed anything strange going on around the stables."
He shakes his head quickly, too quickly.
"No. Nothing."
"Nothing at all?" I tilt my head.
"Because there's been a rumor going around. Someone's been sharing security information with outsiders. Racing secrets too. Details about fixes, schedules, which horses are going to tank. That's the kind of information that could make someone a lot of money if they sold it to the right people."
Rodion swallows hard, and I see his Adam’s apple bob in his throat.
"I don't know anything about that."
"You sure? Because if there's a leak in this operation, I need to know. It's putting everyone at risk. The Radich crew is watching us, waiting for an opening, and every piece of information they get makes them stronger."
"It's probably one of the newer recruits," he says, and he tries to laugh, but it comes out strained.
"You know how it is. People get desperate, they make mistakes."
I nod slowly, as if I'm considering his words.
Then I pull out my phone and scroll through the messages until I find the one I need.
I hold it up so he can see the screen.
"Funny you mention that," I say.
"Because we've got you on camera today. Talking to a woman in the card room. My men flagged it. Who is she?"
His face goes even paler, and he opens his mouth, then closes it again.
He's scrambling for an answer, and I let him sweat.
"She's nobody," he says finally.
"Some whore asking for a man so she can eat tonight. I told her to get lost."
His comment pisses me off and I feel the rage flare in my chest.
The sudden protective feeling I have for her is new, but not unwelcome.
But seeing my angry expression, Rodion shrinks back in his chair as I pull out my phone again, sending a quick text to Gavriil, because I have something in mind for this sick bastard that I can't do without the proper tool.
Dimitri: 5:03: Office. Bring a crowbar.
I slip the phone back into my pocket and pour myself another drink.
Rodion's watching me now, his eyes wide, and I can see the fear starting to take hold.
Good.
He should be afraid.
"You know what the problem is with liars?" I say, turning back to face him.
"They always think they're smarter than everyone else. They think they can talk their way out of anything, that they can spin a story and people will believe it. But the truth always comes out eventually."
"Dimitri, I swear, I don't know what you're talking about—"
"Shut up."
The words come out sharp and he stops mid-sentence.
I move closer, standing over him, and I see the realization dawn in his eyes as I stare at him.
Like sunrise over the mountains, the revelation causes changes in the landscape of his appearance.
"Boss…" he mutters as I down my vodka and glare at him.
He's crossed me for the last time, and thanks to my new little pet, I can finally put at least one of my problems to bed.
The door opens, and Gavriil steps inside.
He's holding a crowbar, and he looks at me, then at Rodion.
Even Gavriil knows what's coming as I hold out my hand, and he passes me the crowbar without a word.
I turn it over in my hands, feeling the balance.
Rodion is frozen in the chair, his breath coming fast and shallow, and I see the moment he considers running.
But he doesn't.
He knows it's too late.
"You know, Rodion, it's said that liars have their place in the lake of fire, but I picture them all toothless…"
My eyes shift from the metal in my hand to the pale, pasty skin of his face.
Then I nod at Gavriil who shuts the door and stands there like a sentry, ready to aid me if Rodion fights back.
"Open your mouth," I tell him, and he whimpers.
"Now, Boss, I swear—"
"Open your fucking mouth!" I scream, shaking the bar at him so hard I almost hit him with it prematurely.
"Shit," he whimpers, now sweating like a fucking pig.
"Shit, Boss…" he says before opening his maw like he's seeing the dentist.
I press the bar into his mouth hard, pushing his cheeks back until his teeth stick out comically along the metal, then I tell him, "Bite down."
He mumbles something unintelligible, but I'm already moving.
One hand is balled in a fist, on its down swing toward the fucker who thinks he can lie to me.
One hard blow and several teeth break, but it isn't until I drive my knee upward into his jaw that something snaps.
Blood gushes from his lip and tongue, oozes through the gums where multiple teeth break off and skitter across the floor.
Rodion resorts to screaming and covering his face, spitting the crowbar out at me.
He's sobbing, but he's not fighting back.
"That's what I do to liars, Rodion. Now would you like to tell me what secrets you sold?"
He's too panicked, shaking and bleeding so badly, I'll need a professional cleaner to get this shit out of the pissy carpet in this office.
"Stand up," I order, but he doesn't move.
"I said stand up!"
He pushes himself out of the chair, his legs shaking, and he takes a step back, still spitting blood.
I follow, closing the distance, and I see the panic in his eyes.
"Dimitri, please—" he mumbles, but it's barely intelligible.
The first blow catches him in the ribs, and I hear the crack of bone.
He doubles over, gasping, and I bring the crowbar down again, this time on his shoulder.
He collapses to his knees, and I walk around him, circling slowly.
Gavriil watches on like a good soldier, not interfering.
He knows if he says a thing, he's next.
"You've been selling us out," I say, my voice calm.
"You failed my test, Rodion. I'm not happy with you."
"I didn't—I swear—"
Another blow, this time to his leg, and he screams.
The sound is raw, desperate, and it fills the small room.
Gavriil stands by the door, his face pale, but he doesn't look away.
He's learning, and this is the lesson.
"And then you called her a whore," I say, leaning down so my face is close to his.
"You disrespected her. You disrespected me. And that's unforgivable."
I raise the crowbar one last time, and I bring it down hard.
The blow connects with the back of his skull, and the sound is wet and hollow like striking a melon when it's fully ripe.
Rodion crumples to the floor, his body going limp, and I move back, letting the crowbar hang at my side.
The room is quiet except for my breathing, and I look down at the body on the floor.
I have zero regret.
He brought this on himself.
I turn to Gavriil, who's still standing by the door.
His face is ashen, but his eyes are steady.
He understands.
"Get rid of him," I say, tossing the crowbar onto the desk.
"Make sure no one finds him. And spread the word. Anyone who thinks about crossing me ends up the same way."
"Boss," Gavriil says, and I know it's his acknowledgement of my orders.
He'll do as I say because he fears me, and that’s the best position for any one of my men to be in right now.
They will respect me or they will all learn the same lesson.
I walk out of my office, rubbing the sweat from my palms onto my slacks.
Rodion was the leak.
Now he's gone, and the operation is secure again.
But there's more work to do.
The Radich crew is still out there, still circling, and they'll come harder now that they've lost their source.
And not only that, when they learn that I'm the one who ended the flow of information to their runners, they'll be doubly pissed.
They've never forgiven me for killing their precious crewman after he stole from me, and I can't count the number of times I've had to fend off some sort of attack from a man known to associate with them.
I spend most of my days working hard here, inside the secure perimeter, but if they had the chance, they'd take me out as a revenge killing and I know that.
Now it's my time to act first, and I've got momentum moving my direction.
If I can figure out how to harness Katya's skills to my advantage, even better.
And now that this is done, I have time for her.
I smile to myself as I head for the door.
She's strong, defiant, and completely unaware of how much I want her.
But she'll learn soon enough.
And when she does, she'll understand exactly what it means to belong to me.