Page 8 of Brutal Unionn

“Hmmm, interesting.” Aleksandr hums, rising from his chair and strolling over to Emil. “Rebecca, let me.”

Rebecca immediately steps away from the dining table. I fix my gaze on Emil, noting his shallow breaths and the way his gaze flickers anxiously around the room. Aleksandr looks at me one more time, and like any Queen of a crumbling empire; I nod.

Aleksandr grips his shoulder, kneading it with too much pressure to be soothing. “You see, I think Sho got his hands on youlike this.” Aleksandr grabs his uninjured arm, applying pressure to his shoulder while twisting his wrist in the opposite direction.

Emil sucks in a sharp breath, his tongue lolling from the pain. The pained look in his eyes makes my stomach turn, but it’s not like I am not used to it. It’s not like I am not trained. I just didn’t think I would ever be the head of an army. I never thought I would be making the calls.

“And then I think hepulled and twisted like this.” Aleksandr wrenches his arm into an unnatural angle, and he lets out a choked cry.

“Is he correct?” I coo, leaning forward so my face is level with his.

“Fuck, stop, Alek!” he snarls, trying to jerk away—but Aleksandr, all 250 pounds of pure Russian muscle keeps him in place.

“I think you tapped out. Is that what happened?” I whisper in his ear, just as Aleksandr yanks his arm from its socket and swings the limp limb downward in a sharp motion.

“Didn’t you?” I repeat louder.

“Yes, Mistress,” he whines, using his broken wrist to clutch at his useless arm.

Emil whimpers, his body curling inward like a wounded animal. His breath ragged as pain radiates through him, as he avoids my eyes, focusing on his patheticness.

I crouch down, balancing on the balls of my feet, my elbows resting on my knees as I tilt my head at him. “You think that’s the right of a soldier?” I muse, reaching out to tap his cheek lightly. “Did you really think lying to me--your queen--was worth this?”

He flinches at my touch but doesn’t answer, his jaw clenched so tightly I half-expect his teeth to crack.

I sigh, feigning disappointment as I look over at Nikolai.

Nikolai clears his throat. “Well, since you’re such a brave little soldier, I suppose you won’t need Rebecca to reset those bones.”

His head snaps up, eyes wide. “No?—”

I press a finger to his lips. “Ah, ah, ah,” I chide. “I only tend to those loyal to me, Emil. You are not loyal”

His chest heaves, his panic barely contained beneath his pained grimace. “Please,” he forces out, voice tight.

“Stop begging,” I snap. “You’re lucky I don’t allow my brothers to take your head.”

Rebecca hums thoughtfully from her corner, adjusting her thick rainbow glasses. “He’ll pass out soon. Shock is a bitch.”

I glance at her, then back at Emil, watching the sweat bead along his hairline. “Then I suggest you take the next couple of minutes to reflect on your life choices, because once you wake up, you have no place in the Bratva.”

Then I walk out with Aleksandr and Nikolai on my heels, and the echoes of sobs from another fallen soldier. We make our way out of the building in silence. My mind is running. I can hear the deep vibrato of my heart pounding against my ribcage. This power is consuming me.

We make our way out of the building into the middle of downtown.

A warm hand wraps around my forearm jerking me out of my and nods towards Aleksandr. He keeps walking, disappearing around the corner. Nikolai clears his throat and forces me to make eye contact with him.

“You did good,” he whispers.

I am nodding, looking at a black smudge on the concrete.

“Believe me Nadi.” He repeats and I bite the inside of my cheek, not responding. “Nadi?”

“I believe you.” I look over his shoulder, avoiding his gaze. “I have to go.”

“Nadia-”

“I know where he is. I have to go, Nik.” I snap, my eyes finally locking with his.