by Lylah James
His steps paused for a second before he continued to our room. Alessio placed me under the comforter before crawling in bed behind me. Pulling me into his arms, he laid out a simple command.
“Sleep, Angel.”
My eyes closed, and safe in Alessio’s arms, I felt asleep. Our baby eventually settled down too.
I felt him shift beside me. With my mind hazy with sleep, I felt Alessio getting out of bed.
I wanted to call out to him, tell him to stay, but sleep was dragging me under. My eyes stayed closed, and my mind drifted off.
The last thought that registered was that Alessio never answered my question.
But now I had his answer.
***
I dried my hair with the towel, making sure my dress didn’t get wet in the process. I woke up to Maddie beside me. Alessio was long gone. He had left just after I fell asleep, and he never returned.
I didn’t catch a glimpse of him at breakfast, either. With a heavy heart, I came back upstairs and spent some time in the tub, letting my mind think of something happy.
A knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. My back straightened, my heart pumping faster.
Even though I knew I was safe, the fear was always there. It was instilled in me.
I wondered how long it was going to be like this. Would I always be this scared? Would my nightmares ever end?
My past kept haunting me—every single memory kept playing in my head. I had a feeling that it wasn’t something I could escape easily.
“Ayla?” I heard Viktor call.
My shoulders sagged in relief, my breath leaving my lungs too fast. “Coming!” I called back. So it was Viktor’s time.
Quickly combing my hair, I let it fall against my back. With a sigh, I opened the door to meet Viktor’s worried gaze.
“You were taking too long,” he said, his eyes raking over me protectively, like he was looking for some sort of injury.
I shook my head and closed the door. “I was just taking a bath. It’s relaxing, especially for my aching back and feet.”
Viktor nodded before stepping back, quickly realizing he was crowding my space. He rubbed his head nervously before clearing his throat.
“What are your plans for today?” he asked, waiting for me to move. How was it possible for them to talk so casually when I knew exactly what he was doing just an hour ago in the basement?
They changed so fast. One moment, a ruthless killer while the next, they looked like a typical man. Someone gentle.
“Nothing really. I think I will just spend it with Maddie.”
And wait for Alessio to come back to me.
My steps faltered when I noticed Lyov coming up the stairs, looking too pale. My eyes widened in surprise, and I quickly lurched forward.
Viktor followed suit, grabbing Lyov by the arms and helping him over the last few stairs. My arm was wrapped around his waist, supporting his other side.
“What are you doing? You should be in bed,” I reprimanded.
Lyov tried to shrug us off. “I’m fine. I was just shot…I’m not an invalid.”
My eyebrows furrowed. “That’s not good, Lyov. Sam said you should be resting. You will tear your stitches if you keep walking around.”
“Am I being scolded?” He chuckled dryly, peeking up at me with a hard stare.
I swallowed hard and grew nervous under his unyielding stare. For a moment, I had forgotten who he actually was.
“No…I didn’t mean—” I stuttered.
“Only my wife scolded me,” he whispered. It wasn’t something he meant for us to hear. But we did. Viktor’s eyes met mine, and we both hid our smiles. He wasn’t angry at me.
Viktor and I helped Lyov to his room. When he was finally settled in his bed, I pulled the bedsheet over him. His breathing was labored, showing sign of pain.
“Should I get you a painkiller?” I asked quietly.
Lyov shook his head. Stubborn man. At least now I knew where Alessio got his traits. They were exactly the same.
“Thank you,” he breathed out.
I froze in shock, and I blinked. And blinked again. Finally, I smiled, patting his hand. “Don’t thank me. Just get well soon.”
I took a step back and saw him wince in pain. He shifted around, looking for a position that was comfortable.
Seeing him in pain brought another thought to mind. My gaze shifted to Lyov, and I finally asked the question that was burning in my head.
“How did you know Alberto was there?” I asked, moving closer. Looking back at Viktor, I waited for their replies.
“I was…watching you and Alessio. My window faces the path to the creek,” Lyov mumbled, breathing harshly through his pain. My eyes went to his windows and saw that he was right.
“After you disappeared into the woods…I saw another shadow. Didn’t see the face. I didn’t…know who it was. I just ran. I just knew I had to get to you both. Isaak and the others saw me running out of the house. They followed, not really knowing why I was running to the creek.”
Lyov paused and looked out of the window. “I didn’t know it was Alberto until it was too late. I didn’t have time to pull out my gun or anything.”
“We’re just glad we got there in time,” Viktor continued when Lyov fell silent. “If something had happened to either of you—the three of you—”
He didn’t finish his sentence, leaving his thoughts hanging. But I knew what he meant.
“Thank you. I don’t know how to properly thank you for this. I will forever be grateful. You saved our lives. If something had happened to Alessio or my baby, I don’t think I would have survived it.”
I knew my words affected both men, because they both looked away. I saw Viktor pinching his eyes closed, his fingers tightening in fists.
I smiled, placing a hand on his arm. “Let’s go. Lyov needs to rest.”
Viktor and I left Lyov to sleep, closing the door behind us. Placing my forehead against the door, I released a sigh. We could have lost so many lives. The thought sat heavy in my heart.
“Alessio is a lucky man to have you.”
My eyes snapped open, and I turned around to face Viktor. “Why do you say that?”
He regarded me for a moment, his eyes turning soft. “You have a kind heart. You see the good in people, even when there isn’t really anything to see. You disregard all the bad and focus on the good.”
My heart fluttered, and I could feel my cheeks heating under his praise. “Maybe it’s because nobody ever cared about me. I don’t want others to feel the same pain I have felt. It slowly eats you alive.”
Viktor stepped forward, moving closer. His hand came up, and I stood frozen, forcing myself not to flinch at this man’s unfamiliar touch.
His fingers caressed my cheek softly. “You’ve been through so much, yet you hold so much strength. He tried to taint you. He tried to break you, but instead you came out stronger.”
“Alessio is my strength,” I whispered back, thinking of him. “If it wasn’t for him, then maybe I wouldn’t have made it out alive. He kept me alive, Viktor. Alessio kept me going.”
Viktor paused at my words, and I saw him swallowing hard. He looked like he was in pain.
Confusion clouded my mind as I stared up at him. “How much to do you love him?” he asked quietly.
“More than I can love myself,” I replied, the truth so easy to speak. “He is everything. You’ve got it wrong. It’s me who is lucky to have Alessio.”
“Maybe.” He chuckled, but the look in his eyes… Why did he look so heartbroken?
“Tell me how much you love him again,” he said, moving even closer.
A shiver ran down my spine, and I licked my lips nervously. Viktor wasn’t acting like himself.
“I love him. He is my reason for living,” I replied, trying to move away from his touch. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, but that didn’t mean his touch was welcomed. Not like this. There was something too intimate in our position.
; “Viktor…what are—” I started but quickly broke off in a gasp when he placed his forehead against mine. He pinched his eyes closed, his chest moving against mine as he tried to control his breathing.
“Say it again,” he demanded. His eyes were still closed, but his fingers continued to caress my cheek, his touch feather-light. I barely even felt it.
“I…love him.”
Viktor opened his eyes, and I saw his gaze drifting toward my lips. My eyes widened, and my heart leaped to my throat.
No. Not this. Please…not this.
“Good,” he muttered.
I stayed frozen against the door, not daring to move a muscle. Was this really happening? Did Viktor have…?
No. He couldn’t.
“Good,” he said again. And then he smiled. “Keep loving him.”
I almost flinched when he moved his head up. When I felt his lips on my forehead, I swallowed hard, waiting for this to be over.
His next words made my heart flutter. “Don’t ever stop loving him. Because no other man is worthy of your love.”
My shoulders sagged, and I let out a harsh breath. Viktor pulled away, his heat leaving me. I stayed against the door, watching him.
“You both deserve each other,” he continued. “I’m just really happy that Alessio found you―”
He paused, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “Or should I say, it was you who found him.”
Viktor winked, reminding me of the time when I first met Alessio. He was right. It was me who found him. Everything started when I got into his car.
“I’ll never let Alessio live that one down. Poor bastard. His woman had to come looking for him while he was wallowing in self-pity.”
His laughter made me feel better, all the tension leaving me. “Hey. That’s not nice.” I swatted his arm. “I don’t think you want to get killed, Viktor.”
He chuckled low. “No. He loves me too much to kill me. Seriously speaking, I’m like his first love.”
Shaking my head, I rubbed my baby bump. When our laughter finally died down, Viktor nodded toward the stairs.
“After you, baby girl.” He smirked with a wink.
This…this was the Viktor I knew. The other one from before…he had confused me. It wasn’t him.
Mumbling a thank you, I walked away, Viktor following closely behind.
“Lucky bastard,” I heard him whisper.
I shook my head but continued moving. There was no use thinking too much into this.
Viktor cared for me. I knew that.
But I also knew he would never betray Alessio.
And he would never betray me, either.
Viktor was Alessio’s brother. The trust they had between them was something that couldn’t be broken. I also trusted Viktor wholeheartedly.
When Maddie pulled me in her arms and Viktor kissed Lena on her cheeks, I smiled.
We were a family.
Sitting on the stool, I watched Maddie and Viktor bicker over small things.
My mind drifted to Alessio. I felt a pang in my chest. I’m waiting, Alessio. I miss you, but I will wait for you.
I just had to wait for my gentle lover to come back.
While I waited for him, I knew he was avenging me in the most horrific way. His thirst for revenge had clouded his mind.
But I didn’t mind.
I loved him either way.
Because just like Alessio said; he was my Monster. Just like I was his Angel.
Chapter 21
Alessio
I felt his bone crunch under the force of my punch. It was so loud that it vibrated through my ears.
I heard his scream, but it only fueled my anger. It only pushed me for more.
Grabbing his hair, I pummeled his face over and over again.
Two days. Two days since the fucking bastard was captured and tortured mercilessly under our hands.
But still my thirst for his blood has not been sated. The fury I felt was still boiling inside of me, threatening to break him.
I was not done. I was not close to being done.
In fact, I was just starting.
I was going to make him bleed. He would pay in the most horrific way.
We had a long way to go until I would be satisfied.
What Alberto didn’t realize was that I was just as deranged as him.
Pushing his head back, I felt it snap against the back of the chair. I released my hold on Alberto, his head falling forward. He groaned in pain, his blood dripping all over him.
Twisting my fingers in his hair, I pulled his head back sharply until he was looking at me. His eyes were so swollen he could barely keep them open. There was a long cut on his forehead. It was deep, the skin peeled back until I could see his bones.
I took my knife and pressed the handle against the deep cut. Alberto thrashed in my arms as I twisted the handle into the wound. He screamed, but his voice was almost gone from the hours of screaming.
He could only whimper in pain, his voice sounding like a baby.
When I saw he was bleeding too much, I pulled back. Nikolay came forward and pushed the towel against the cut, stopping the bleeding.
I couldn’t have him bleed to death.
Not yet.
I still needed him alive.
“How does that feel?” I sneered at him, pouring all my hatred in my words. “Feels good, doesn’t it? It’s refreshing to be on the other end, isn’t it?”
He coughed, heaving forward. I pushed him back, holding my knife against his chest. I didn’t press the blade into this skin.
No, I played with him.
Just like he played with my Angel.
Dragging the knife over his chest, I let him feel the blade. It whispered over his skin but never broke it.
Alberto shuddered in pain, his eyes rolling into the back of his head. He was about to lose consciousness. My palm met his face in a hard slap. “Don’t you fucking dare. I’ll cut your dick off if you do.”
His eyes snapped open, and he regarded me with pure distaste. I laughed at his audacity. He could barely open his eyes, and yet here he was, thinking he stood a chance.
Pressing the blade harder into his chest, I felt him suck in a harsh breath. I still didn’t cut his skin. There were already several cuts over his chest and body. But right now, I had other plans.
The blade traveled up his shoulder, leaving a cold trail. Then down his right arm. Alberto stilled as my knife started to press harder and harder against his skin.
When I reached the back of his hand, I paused. The whole time, my eyes were on his, and I reveled when I saw fear in them.
“Do…n’t…don’t…” he begged.
“Was that how Ayla begged you? She begged you to stop, didn’t she?” I roared, holding his throat in my other hand.
I pressed against his windpipe, feeling his trachea under my fingers. My fingers pressed against his set of bones. I could have easily crushed him.
When his face started to turn red, then purple from suffocation, I released his fragile neck.
“You didn’t stop. Then why should I?” I hissed in his face, holding the knife to his hand. Nikolay came to stand behind him and held Alberto’s arm still.
I held the tip of my spiral knife to the back of his hand. My eyes watched him stare at the knife. I watched him shuddering in fear. I watched him bleed, and I laughed.
I laughed at his agony as I pulled my knife back and drove it down. Hard.
He screamed and screamed, his wails filling the room. It was a song to my ears.
Alberto tried to move his arm away, but I twisted the knife, holding his hand still. I stared down at my handy job, my eyes following the length of my knife. Half of the blade was lodged in Alberto’s hand.
Blood poured around us, but I didn’t care. That was the least of my concerns.
“Do you know why I love this knife?” I asked. “Because it’s the most painful. It hurts like a son of a bitch. Your hand probably feels like it’s going to fall of
f, right?”
Alberto cried out when I twisted the knife again. I could hear the sound of his flesh mashing together, his bones crunching—breaking. The sound of skin and flesh against blood.
“Don’t worry, though. It’s not going to fall off,” I tried to soothed him. “Not yet anyways.”
“Pl…ea…se…”
Tsking at his weak attempt, I pulled back and stared at him. “Aww, poor baby. Are you begging? It’s music to my ears, Alberto. Go ahead. Beg me. Maybe if I like the way you beg, I’ll spare you.”
Watching him writhe under my assault made everything worth it.
“Pl…ea…se…no…more…pl…ease…”
His begging twisted my heart because all I could hear was Ayla begging Alberto to stop. She begged and begged, yet he never stopped. He kept hurting her…over and over again.
“You beg so well. I feel almost bad.” I pulled the knife out of his hand before driving it into his flesh again. “But unfortunately, I don’t like the way you beg.”
“Get me the cutters,” I growled. Phoenix did as I commanded and handed me the red cutters I had sharpened just the night before. A gift for Alberto.
“Those fingers, you hurt my Ayla with them, right? Those disgusting fingers…”
Alberto tried to shake his head, his eyes going impossibly wide. As wide as they could with how swollen they were.
Nikolay held his right arm while I held the cutter to his pinky. “Maybe you should count this one. It might help,” I suggested with a mocked smile.
I didn’t give Alberto time to think.
Pressing the cutter to his pinky, I cut.
I didn’t stop there. No, I sliced off all his fingers. In only one cut. From pinky to his thumb.
In mere seconds, he lost all his fingers on his right hand.
I watched the blood drip as I watched his fingers fall to my feet.
Alberto stared at his hand in shock. And when the pain finally registered, he roared.
Nikolay released his arm, and I stepped back, letting him bask in his newfound agony.
I took the towel and wiped away his blood from my blade and cutter.
The door opened behind me, and Nikolay left. Viktor took his position behind Alberto.
I looked up at Viktor, our eyes meeting. He nodded.
