Paying The Bratva’s Debt

they turn the wood-chipper on. The face of the man in front of me instantly turns to horror. He and the others start screaming and crying through their gags. But I have not a single drop of pity. I think of the children next door, who I’ve saved from whatever hell these monsters had planned for them. My eyes narrow on the crew leader.
“This one first.”
He screams and screams as they drag him across the floor. Lev stands next to me, both of us with our arms crossed. The metallic whine of the chipper screams hungrily over and over while we watch in silence, smiling thinly.
It’s not much. But piece by piece, a little evil leaves this world.

11 Fiona
This time, I’m aware of her presence before I open my eyes. I groan, sensing Nina watching me as I slowly wake.
“Oh my God, are you going to make a habit of doing this?” I mutter into my pillow.
“Only if you’d like me to.”
My heart flips. I gasp as I sit bolt upright in shock. It’s not Nina. It’s Viktor, sitting in a chair across the room from my bed. I blink quickly, feeling my pulse race. I hold the sheets up around myself, even though I’m fully clothed beneath them. The full night of endless dreams involving him, me, and some very dirty fantasies, comes rushing back to me. I blush, eying him warily.
“I didn’t mean to startle you,” Viktor growls quietly.
“Just to watch me sleep?”
“Yes,” he answers plainly, with a shrug.
I run my tongue quickly over my lips, still eyeing him. “How was your work thing last night?”
“Fine.”
“Great,” I retort quickly.
Viktor smirks slightly. “Did you wait up for me?”
My nose wrinkles. I glare at him. “No.”
Viktor’s grin widens slightly, but he says nothing. We sit in silence for a few seconds before he takes a breath.
“There’s coffee next to you, on the bedside table.”
I arch a brow and turn. Sure enough, there’s a steaming mug of straight black coffee, just how I like, sitting next to me. I pick up the mug and inhale the scent, perking up a little.
Viktor drums his fingertips on the armrest of the chair as he watches me sip. “I was hoping to show you something today.”
“Okay.”
“Would you like that?”
“Do I have a choice?”
Viktor frowns. “Of course.”
“Are you sure? I thought I was your prisoner,” I snap.
“You’re my… guest.”
“Your guest,” I say dryly. “Really. Like your ‘guests of honor” last night?”
His mouth curls at the corners. Mine thins.
“Huh. So, have fun with them? What were their names? Or do you even know? Is it even exciting if they’re not locked in your house?”
Viktor’s smiling when I’m done with my little tirade. “Are you finished?”
“Sure,” I hiss.
“Last night was not what you apparently think it was,” he growls. “Not that I owe you an explanation.”
“You’re right, you don’t,” I snap back.
He frowns. “Well, I’d like to show you something.”
“You’re the boss. Or should I say jailor.”
He rolls his eyes. “You’re not my prisoner, Fiona.”
“No? The guard outside of my locked bedroom door suggests otherwise,” I retort.
“It’s for your protection.”
I bark a laugh. “My protection? Seriously?”
Viktor says nothing.
“Well, you can save the reasonings. Nina already confirmed it anyways.”
He smiles curiously. “And what did she confirm for you?”
“That I’m a prisoner here. Not your ‘guest,’ I’m not your ‘intern,’ or your non-licensed land attorney, Viktor. I’m your prisoner. That what you call someone being held somewhere against their will.”
Viktor runs his tongue over his teeth, eying me with a hint of amusement. It’s both infuriating and flirtatious at the same time. His brow arches. “Nina is…”
“A bitch?”
He frowns. “She’s part Russian, you know. So it’s also a cultural thing. She’s a little black and white with things.”
“Oh, is she?” I smile sarcastically. “And what else is she? To you, I mean.”
He frowns. “What you’re intimating is incorrect.”
“What I’m intimating?” I glare at him. “What I’m intimating is wondering if she’s ever gotten one of your little poolside massages.”
He starts to chuckle, and my temper flares.
“Or is it the just a ‘cultural thing’ I don’t understand.”
Viktor grins. “No, she hasn’t,” he sighs. “That isn’t what Nina, my employee, is to me.”
I smile thinly. “Well, I’ve seen how you like to be with your pretend attorneys. So I guess I’m skeptical.”
“Toying,” he growls.
I swallow. “Toying?”
Viktor stands. I tremble as he slowly steps closer to the bed.
“You think I’m toying with you.”
Heat floods my core. “Aren’t you?”
He steps even closer, until he’s right next to the bed, looming over me. His lips curl into a hungry grin. “Do you want me to toy with you, little girl?” he growls thickly.
My breath catches, audibly. I gasp, and my body blooms with heat beneath the sheets. Viktor reaches out and plucks the coffee from my hands. He sets it down before his hand reaches for me again. This time, I tremble when his hand cups my jaw.
“Maybe you’re just dying to be…” his lips curl. “Toyed with,” he growls.
I breathe quickly, my heart racing. “Or I’m helpless to say yes or no, seeing as I’m your prisoner,” I croak in response.
“Ahh, but maybe that’s part of it for you,” he growls. “Maybe you like the removal of choice—that I can do with you…” Viktor leans close, taking my breath away as his lips pause maybe an inch from mine. “That I can do with you as I fucking please.”
I desperately wish for a witty response—something snappy to take him down a peg. Except all my brain and my mouth manage to do is whimper. I freaking whimper, inches from his lips. Viktor smirks, his eyes piercing mine as he lingers with his lips so close to mine. For a second, I think he’s going to kiss me again. For that same second, I find myself wishing he would.
But then he pulls away, grinning. He’s smirking at me as I glare right back, throbbing with desire. And I’m so wet.
“When can you be ready to leave?”
I swallow, trembling all over. “W—what?”
“The thing