Page 120 of Scarred Redemption

That’s when the ugly lighting in the room managed to catch a reflection, offering a glint that I hadn’t seen before. While he was still talking, my attention was drawn to his hand, which I could now clearly see. More so to his ring finger.

And to a large gold ring exactly as Isabel had described, with snakes on the band. The one that had caught her on her cheek, causing her pain. The man sitting in front of me had beaten her along with being her captor.

“He’s going to kill me if you don’t help me. I told you the truth. He wants to fuck with you. He has plans on taking your family and making it his.”

“Does he now? And why?” I offered Sergei a look, lifting my ring finger so he knew what I was referring to.

Sergei’s eyes opened wide.

“Because you took his. You don’t understand. He makes anything you or I have done appear as child’s play. I will help you get him, but I need your protection or I’m going to die.”

If he believed a Hail Mary would work, he was wrong. I wasn’t in the mood to hand out charity.

Another carefully crafted choice of words.

At least I hadn’t forgotten everything I’d been taught by both Sergei and my father. Only I’d need to admit to Sergei later than he’d been right and coming here was at best a pipe dream and the worst highly reckless.

Potentially deadly.

I saw the Blade’s hand edging toward the cushion. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Zane.”

“You don’t understand what’s at stake.”

Before he had a chance to grab the weapon under the cushion of the chair, I had the barrel of mine pointed at his head. “Oh, I think I do. Sadly, you’re not a very good actor., willing to give your life to a man for what reason? Not that I care. Did you not think Isabel would describe the monster who kept her and my daughter prisoner? The man who hit her, forcing her to record messages to me? From a dead woman. Mr. Gallows. Right?”

Zane looked away briefly. “I did what was required.”

“Then that makes you a dead man. Why would you risk all that you had coming against me?”

“Because he has my daughter, Maxsim. I lost one child. I refuse to lose another. Revenge is painful. Isn’t it, Maxsim? You killed someone who was very important to the man known as the Butcher.”

“He already had a wife and family.”

“Maybe so, but love is often found when we’re not looking. My daughter doesn’t even know I exist. Her mother kept her from me and kept my existence a secret. Secrets and lies will always ruin a family. But you already know that very well. A mistake that cost me everything, much like it did for the man you killed all those years ago.” His exasperation was real.

But I didn’t give a shit.

“How would you know?”

“Because he told me when he offered me this deal. Help bring you to your knees and she would be allowed to live. It was an easy choice for me. My life for hers, as you would do.”

My rage was at the tipping point. I walked closer, but he wasn’t fearful in the least. He’d been prepared to die. The deal he’d made with the devil had been to bring me here.

“If you tell me his identity, I’ll ensure I secure her safety.”

“I already closed the deal, Maxsim. I brought you here. Now, she gets to live.”

“Then you’re a fool, Zane. He won’t allow your daughter to live any more than he will with mine.” Although I was beginning to understand why Isabel had been kept alive and why Mina had been taken as well. My daughter had been used as a bargaining chip to keep Isabel compliant. With her escape, the Butcher’s plan of torture had been foiled.

He was out for blood at all costs.

My fucking God. What the hell was wrong with me?

“Tell me his fucking name. I’m the only one who can save her.”

“How do I know I can trust you?”

“I guess you need to ask yourself which man burned a woman alive with no guilt whatsoever, Zane. I killed a man who betrayed my father. He killed my wife and has plans to do so with my fiancée and my child. What kind of monster hurts a child?”