Page 78 of Lord of Pain
The chopper lands on a pad on top of our office building. The elevator shoots downward and I'm jittering. Everything in me wants to head straight to the underground torture chamber at Gordi's, my favorite butcher. I need Luan Krasniqi tohurt.I need him to suffer the tortures of the damned as he explains to me how they teamed up with the Morales cartel against us.
The parking attendant wordlessly hands me keys to one of the Morozov fleet cars, and I get into the driver's seat. Ivan hesitates for a moment before rounding the car to the passenger side. Pulling out onto the street, I pause.
If I turn left, I go to the clinic.
Turning right takes me to the butcher shop and redemption. The Krasniqi Chief has to pay for what he's done to my family, and I'll start with his son.
My phone rings. It's Violet.
"Roman." Her voice is sweet, but there's no cloying concern. "I've been told that you just landed back in the city. I know you must be so angry that it's hard to think right now. You want to punish whoever's waiting for you at Gordi's. Ava told me about Gordi's place. But I need you to come here, please."
My hands tighten on the steering wheel, knuckles white.
"We need you more." Her voice is softer. "You'll have your time with that guy, but your mother and Dmitri need you here."
I'm about to turn right.
"I need you to come," Violet says. "I need to see you. I love you."
I turn left.
"I'll be right there," I promise.
Violet…
I'm sure we make quite a sight. Three women in bloody and torn wedding gowns. The nextPakhanin line for the Morozov Bratva is looking beat to hell and the nurses tiptoe past us in silence after offers of food and drink are rejected.
Kneeling in front of Rose and Iris, I whisper, "I'm going to get one of Roman's people to take you home. You can have a shower, get out of these horrible dresses."
They must want to go. There's blood flaking off Iris's shoulder and Rose has some horrible stains on her skirt that I don't want to identify. They both shake their heads.
"This is family," Iris says. "We need to be here."
Rose nods, "We can wait."
I sit down next to Dmitri, offer him a bottle of water and this time, he takes it, twisting the cap off and then putting it back on.
"I'm very happy that you and your sisters are safe," he finally says, his voice hoarse.
"And I am so sorry that you were left undefended when all your people came to save us," I say.
He huffs out a humorless chuckle. "This is life in the Bratva. I am disgusted with myself that I didn't consider the possibility of another crime family taking advantage of the moment."
"Well, it's hard to know everything," I say, leaning back with a sigh. "From what Roman tells me, you don't become the omnipotent Master of the Universe until you officially becomePakhan, right?"
He narrows his eyes very slightly, and it is not at all reassuring. "Are you attempting to distract me from the surgery?"
I swallow hard. "Is it working?"
Roman strides through the door. He looks kind of horrifying; covered in so much blood that his pale green eyes are glowing in his filthy face. No one in their right mind would get near him, but I'm on my feet and running to him before I can think.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I say, "You came. Thank you, I love you. Playtime can wait."
For a moment, I think I've overstepped and then I feel his body shake in silent laughter. "Is this where you tell me torturing Krasniqi will be delayed gratification?"
"Why don't you view this as like, dinner before dessert?" I suggest.
Pulling back, he arches a brow at me. "I'm not sure that analogy works, sweet Violet.”
