Page 21

It took a while after the police arrived to get them out the door with a somewhat satisfactory lie. It wasn’t that they doubted our story—Alexandra and I were convincing. It was simply that they weren’t confident they’d find who did it. It seemed that while a neighbor heard shouting, they didn’t check to see what was happening outside their apartment. The resident called 911 and minded his own business.

Our only worry was if they questioned the other nearby neighbors, and one of them saw all of us enter and then most exit with Reef. While we talked to one of the officers, two more knocked on doors to ask if anyone saw anything. When they returned, it was to say most of the apartments’ inhabitants weren’t home. And of the few who were, they reported not seeing or hearing anything.

When the police left, they assured us that if they heard anything, we’d know. In the meantime, we’d board up the window until it could be replaced, and the alarm system would be activated. Alexandra sheepishly told them she struggled to remember to do it, but she’d remember after this.

Knowing our plans for the day were shot, we locked up after they left. We had something more pressing to do than pack. In the worst-case scenario, we’d have to wait until next weekend to do it. Before anything else, I took her home. She’d been through an ordeal, whether she admitted it or not. She was holding up courageously, but I knew she could crash any moment.

Alexandra argued and wanted us to go wherever Reef was taken and deal with him. I refused until she came home and rested. We’d gone back and forth, but in the end, I won. But I had to agree that I wouldn’t do anything without her. Alexandra was sleeping, so I decided to call Mikhail. I needed to know where they took Reef so we could meet others there later.

“I’ve been expecting your call. Did you get it all squared away with the police? How’s Lexi?”

He asked as soon as he answered.

“They seemed to have all they needed, but weren’t hopeful they’d find who did it. Most of her neighbors were gone or didn’t see or hear anything. I wanted to check to make sure our package was delivered. And to ask if we can be there when it’s opened?”

I was trying to be cautious with my words. If anything ever came back at us, I didn’t want audio from the phone company hanging us. Mikhail chuckled.

“No need for you to be so careful, though it’s appreciated. This is a secure line. Believe me, I might not deal in my family’s businesses, but I have learned from their good practices. Yes, the package arrived and is waiting for us when ready. Is Lexi still wanting to attend the unwrapping?” he asked.

“She is. I made her come home and take a nap first. The damn woman wanted to race over to do it as soon as we left the apartment. I’m afraid she’ll break down soon. I was trying to lessen it.”

“She may not. Women are tougher than we give them credit for. And while a part of Lexi is softer, she’s a Dom, Carver. She deals with being strong when necessary. And as a nurse, she’s used to high stress. She may surprise you. And I bet you want her as far away from this when it goes down. I did with Tajah. That’s the alpha-protector side of us. Sometimes we can’t. Imposing our will on them will only result in unhappiness for us.”

I chuckled. “I’m learning that, Mikhail. I’m not willing to mess this up with her.”

“When do you plan to ask her to marry you?”

“Not until this is dealt with and she’s moved in. Why do you ask?”

“Tajah said Cady talked about it with Lexi before they showed up at the door, and Reef accosted them.”

“How is Tajah? Is the baby okay after that? Shit, I’m sorry. I blanked on that,”

I muttered.

“It’s fine, and so is Taj and the baby. She said that Lexi kept diverting attention to herself, and when Rurik pounded on the door pretending to be the police, she put her body between them and Reef. You have a courageous woman. Don’t wait too long, or someone might steal her. Rurik seemed intrigued, and Issak was too.”

“You’d better tell your cousin’s men to stay clear of her. I’m not opposed to making them disappear,”

I grunted.

He laughed. “You can tell them later. I bet they’ll be there. I’ll send you the address, and you can let me know when you want to meet. Until then, try to relax.”

“I’ll try. Thanks, Mikhail.”

“You’re welcome.”

After hanging up, I called my sister. I needed to see how she was doing with all this. Hoss answered her phone and then gave it to her. I had no doubt he was listening.

“How’re you two, sis?”

“I’m good. I still can’t believe that piece of shit got the drop on us. If I hadn’t been worried he’d hurt Taj and the baby, I would’ve kicked his ass, gun or no gun.”

I heard Hoss’s disapproving grunt and unintelligible muttering. Yep, he was listening. “I’m glad you didn’t,”

I replied.

“Is Lexi alright? Can I speak to her?”

Cady asked.

“She seems to be, but I’m afraid you’ll have to wait to talk to her. She’s sleeping right now.”

“Is that so you two can do your other chore later?”

Hoss asked. He was cautious, too.

“That’s our plan.”

“What about tomorrow? Are we still packing, or do you want to postpone it? We’re good either way,”

Hoss added.

“I’m not sure. I’ll let you know by morning at the latest. I wanted to make sure my sister was well. And to let you know, I’ll call you later if you want to run an errand with us.”

“Your sister is about to rest, and I want to go with you. Mikhail is already set up to do it, so you don’t need to worry about it. I’ll see you later.”

“Sure thing. Cady, let me know if you need anything. Love you.”

There was a pause before she said hoarsely, “I love you too, Carver.”

The call ended before I could ask if she was crying. It was hard for her and me to say we loved each other—our father’s legacy. I was working to be better at saying how I felt. You never knew when it might be too late. Today was an example of when it could’ve gone tragically wrong.

With those calls out of the way, I had nothing to do but wait. I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on work, and sitting around waiting would drive me crazy. The only solution was to set an alarm and lie down with my woman. I was feeling tired, and I would need all my strength later. I hurried to the bedroom. I needed the comfort of Alexandra in my arms, to feel her warmth and breathing, so I knew she was alive.

***

When we left the house, it was after eight. We were instructed to go to an address. Once we all got there, some of Matvey’s men ushered us into a delivery van. They explained that they didn’t want to endanger any of us or themselves if the cops were to see them. It seemed that the Bratva was under surveillance most of the time by law enforcement.

It wasn’t a secret that Matvey was suspected of being part of the Bratva, although, as Mikhail explained, law enforcement had never been able to make anything stick to his cousin. Occasionally, a low-level person might get caught, but they never squealed. They did their time, and while they did, their family was cared for. I didn’t agree with everything they did, but they did have deep loyalty.

I could tell Alexandra was tense. She was holding herself rigidly. I’d asked a couple of times before we left the house if she was positive she wanted to come. Her answer was always yes. We were driven outside of Nashville proper. We were headed east, but it was hard to see the signs. I wondered how far we were going, but I didn’t ask. Mikhail and Hoss were along for the trip. They were relaxing in their seats. This vehicle might appear to be a delivery van on the outside, but it has comfortable seating inside. Clearly, this wasn’t one they used to deliver people like Reef to undisclosed locations.

The only windows to the outside were the windshield and the side windows of the driver and passenger. I craned my neck to see out the front when we slowed down. We were going through a gate, which a dark figure held open. Every Mafia show or movie I’d ever watched flashed through my mind. It was those scenes where the people were being delivered to their deaths.

By my calculations, we drove maybe half a mile before it stopped. Our driver, Vasily, and his partner, Emil, got out and came to the rear to open the doors, allowing us to exit. Outside, I noted we were standing outside of a building with the name of a cement company on it. By the look of it, the company was no longer in business.

Emil went ahead of us and opened the door. He held it until all of us were inside before he shut it and remained there with his back to it. Vasily walked us toward where a bright light was shining. Based on the size and what I saw, the company might’ve gone under, but the equipment left behind made me question whether it was still functional. When we got to the source of the light, it was a big industrial light in the middle of the large building.

Matvey was sitting in a chair. Surrounding him were two of his bodyguards, Konstantin and Nikita, whom I remembered from the cookout. I also saw Issak and Rurik nearby. When our gazes met, they gave me a chin lift. When he saw us, Matvey stood up and walked over to us.

“Hello, my friends and dvoyurodnyy brat, cousin. It is good to see you. We did not get a chance to talk earlier. Come,”

he directed to Alexandra as he gestured for her to come closer to him. When she did, he kissed both her cheeks.

“I hate that we have to deal with such ugly business, but it is important that it be resolved immediately. Plus, I hate the thought of it preying on your mind, causing you to worry a moment longer, Dorogoy. You’ve had him hanging over you long enough. Da, yes?”

He smiled at Alexandra.

“It has been, yes. And I thank you for helping out since the beginning, Matvey. I wish it hadn’t come to this, but I think it’s beyond our control,”

she told him.

“So true yet so terrible. I had hoped the talk that Isaak and Rurik had with him not long ago would be sufficient, but it was not. I know that you said earlier you wanted to be here, Alexandra. If that is still your wish, I have no problem with it. However, you can still leave if you want. I’ll have one of my men stay with you until this is concluded,”

he offered.

“That’s sweet of you to offer, but I need to be here. I’m made of sterner stuff than I look,”

she told him.

“Then let us get this over with. Rurik, Isaak, go get him,”

Matvey ordered.

They moved off into the shadows. They weren’t gone for long. When they returned, they were half-dragging a struggling Reef between them. He had a gag in his mouth, so all I heard were muffled noises coming from him. As he saw us, he narrowed his gaze at us. He still fought them, though it did him no good. They slammed him into a chair.

Swiftly, they secured his arms behind his back and cuffed them. Once that was done, they stepped back and stood with their feet shoulder-width apart, and their hands clasped behind their backs, waiting for their next orders. The way they stood was what I heard referred to as parade rest by those in the military. I guess being in the Bratva was kind of like being in the military in a weird way.

My musings were brought to an end when Matvey approached Reef. The stalker became wary as he checked out the powerful man before him. Matvey studied him silently for a minute, then reached out and yanked the gag down.

“Do you know who I am?”

he asked Reef.

“You must be the filthy Russian fucker behind these two behind me. Why are you involved in this? I’ve done nothing to you, your people, or your organization,”

Reef protested. His voice was hoarse. No doubt his mouth was bone dry.

“I am the one those two men work for. Why I am involved is simple. You have been stalking this young woman. She is a friend of my cousin and his wife. That makes her family to me. The same for this man and his wife, and this man,”

Matvey stated, pointing from Alexandra to Mikhail, then to Hoss and me.

“They’ve lied to you. There’s no reason for them to have your men attack me or to kidnap me. This man and his friends have found a way to brainwash my Venus away from me. Until they interfered, she and I were together. We were about to commit to each other when she abruptly told me it was over. Right after she did, I discovered she started seeing him,”

Reef sneered at me.

“Is that so? Hmm. Would anyone else like to speak about this subject? Was I wrong to help?”

Matvey asked. These words made Reef perk up like he thought he’d found a way out. Too bad he wasn’t able to read the room. Matvey was toying with him like a cat toys with a mouse before it kills the mouse.

“I do,”

Alexandra said before stepping forward. Her tone and the way she stood told me she was in her Dom mindset. When Matvey nodded, she didn’t hesitate to march to stand in front of Reef. He was staring at her with a mixture of adoration and hope written on his face. She folded her arms.

“Reef, you’re wrong. No one brainwashed me against you. As for our relationship, it was nothing more than two people contracting to play together as long as both parties were in agreement. It wasn’t exclusive, nor was it anything more than play. You and I never had sex. No promises were made or broken. After the third time at the club, I knew we didn’t complement each other. That’s why I told you no more.”

“Please, Venus, don’t say those things. They’ve confused you. We were committed, and while sex hadn’t happened, we were going to have it. That night you refer to. We arranged to meet outside the club later and to go to my place. Then those so-called friends of yours came, and you were swept away. Since then, they’ve done everything they can to keep us apart. They hid you. They sent ruffians to beat me and tell me to never come near you again.”

Alexandra made a slashing motion with her hand. Reef became silent. “I’ve heard enough! Reef, you’re the one confused. I’m unsure how this got so mixed up in your head, but you’re living a fantasy. You and I will never be together. I have a life with Carver. He and I are moving in together. That was what I was doing at the apartment today. He—”

“NO! They’re making you say those things. You can’t live with him,”

he shouted.

She took a step closer, but Rurik halted her. “Watch out. His legs aren’t tied. Do you want him gagged so you can finish talking?”

he asked her.

“Yes, please. Thank you.”

Rurik dipped his chin to her as he came up behind Reef, who was trying to see behind himself and shaking his head. It did him no good. The Bratva soldier easily grasped it and maneuvered the gag back into his mouth before he moved back.

“As I was saying, I’m moving in with Carver. He and I love each other. We’re arranging our future together. I never would’ve formed a lasting connection with you. You don’t know how badly I wanted the warning Rurik and Isaak gave you to make you listen, but it didn’t.”

She paused before she paced and continued. “You harassed me at my work, causing my boss to write me up. You endangered my job. I had to leave my home because you were watching it. My friends pretended I was in one place while I was in another. I had to sneak into work in disguise. All of that was terrible, but today, you went too far, Reef. I was still wavering about taking it to the conclusion everyone was telling me was needed. I was praying for a miracle.

“However, you held my friends at gunpoint, one of whom is pregnant! You made threats. You rambled on and on about how the people I’m closest to and love are brainwashing me. It made me realize that you’re not just a threat to me. I could maybe live with that. But you’re a definite threat to my friends and the man I love, and that I can’t risk. You did this. I want you to remember that,”

she snapped.

Reef stared at her in disbelief, but it quickly morphed into anger. When it did, Alexandra said, “Rurik or Isaak, would one of you take off the gag again? I believe Reef has something to say. He should vent. It’s his last chance.”

Issak beat Rurik to it. As soon as the gag was down, Reef launched his verbal attack. “You’re a goddamn lying whore! You led me on, pretending to be someone you aren’t. You drop me for the first man who offers you more. You think you’re better than me. Well, you’re not. I should’ve known. All women are alike, just a bunch of lying, cheating, manipulative bitches. They take your money and steal your soul. I should’ve remembered that. You’re like her. I thought you were different, but you’re exactly the same as Holly. She thought she’d use me and get away with it, but she didn’t. I showed her,”

he snarled.

Hearing another woman’s name stunned us, and how he talked made me fear the worst. Had he hurt or killed someone? But if he did, how was he free? I exchanged worried glances with Hoss and Mikhail.

“Who is Holly?” I asked.

Reef sneered at me but didn’t say anything. Mikhail and Hoss repeated the same question, slightly reworded, and Reef said nothing. While we were asking him, Alexandra reached into the purse she brought with her. I told her bringing one wasn’t necessary, but she insisted. It was one larger than she typically carried. She withdrew a pair of surgical gloves—the kind she wore all the time at work. She wiggled them on.

After they were in place, she stopped. “Reef, tell us who Holly is and what you did. Did you hurt her? Or was she someone who didn’t believe this fucked up fantasy in your head, and she dumped your ass? I bet she found herself a real man, a good one, not a pathetic one like you.”

The disdain poured into her words. It caused an electrified reaction in Reef.

“That cunt thought she’d leave me! She thought that she was safe with him, but I showed them. I got them when they least expected it. I took her first, and I got him when he came looking for her. I made them watch as I tortured the other. In the end, I killed him after I had her. She was begging me to kill her. No one knew what happened to them.”

He laughed insanely after his horrifying revelation.

I felt sick to my stomach at his confession. I had no doubt he was telling the truth. There was no way Reef could walk free. I was about to suggest we get to the finale when a silent Alexandra reached back inside her bag. When her hand came out, she held a cat-o'-nine-tails whip. It wasn’t one I’d seen. It had sharp burs on the end of every leather strand, which would slice you to pieces.

“Alexandra, what’re you doing with that?” I asked.

“I’m preparing to use it to inflict some pain, Carver. I told you. I generally have no desire to inflict pain for the sake of it. There has to be a purpose. In my case, ninety-nine percent of the time, it’s to bring myself and my sub happiness or pleasure. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to inflict it purely for a sadistic reason. Cain and I talked about what would make someone like me ever choose to be sadistic. I have to say, until now, I’ve never been tempted to do it.

“But this man, this animal, killed a man and woman simply because she didn’t want him. They weren’t his enemy or tried to harm him. He was angry that he couldn’t have what he wanted. You all heard him. He toyed with them and made them watch him hurt the other. He raped her. This fucker deserves no sympathy and to experience a little of the pain they suffered. Who knows if they’re the only people he’s hurt.”

“Baby, I hear you. I get it. He’s a monster, but it doesn’t need to be you who does it. Any of us will. Let me do it,”

I pleaded.

She shook her head. “I can’t, Carver. I can’t. If I don’t find a way to release this rage and the sorrow I have for that couple, I might go crazy. Watching someone else do it won’t fully release it. I have to be part of the purge. I’ve got to do this. Don’t deny me this. Please.”

Her eyes were filled with tears as she begged me to let her torture Reef. As much as I wanted to protect her, I knew she needed this to get past it.

“I’ll let you do it if you promise that you’ll let us finish it the moment you’ve purged enough of your anger and sorrow. You cannot be the one to take his life. Agreed?”

The others stood around silently. They were hardly breathing. The only one we heard was Reef, muttering unintelligibly under his breath. Every so often, he’d giggle. I waited for her to answer me.

“Agreed,”

she said softly.

“How do you want him positioned?”

Mikhail asked.

As she directed how she wanted Reef, I tried to wrap my mind around what was about to happen. My woman was ready to show me a different, darker side of herself.

Alexandra:

I felt almost numb in a way. The horror of what Reef confessed enraged me, but it also numbed me. All I knew was I came prepared to hurt him, but I imagined it wouldn’t be necessary. How wrong I was, and thank goodness I’d listened to that itty-bitty voice in the back of my mind telling me to do it just in case. Had it been my darker self or the spirit of poor Holly asking me to avenge her murder?

I knew I was asking Carver to stand by while I did something that might change how he saw me. What if it ruined us? Would he be unable to be with someone who could do what I was prepared to do? Maybe, but I didn’t see it any differently than watching him do it.

Carver and Hoss were the ones to yank Reef out of the chair after Isaak removed the cuffs. They marched him toward a wall across from us. Short of the wall, there was a wooden structure someone had built. From it hung manacles. Whoever created it was into hurting their victims because the inside of the manacles had sharp metal spike-like teeth. It made me wonder if Matvey and his people often used this place. No way was it so equipped by accident. Or had they borrowed it from someone who did this kind of thing? Either way, it was perfect for what I was about to do.

Before securing Reef to it with his arms over his head, Hoss gripped the back of his T-shirt. He tore it from neck to hem. With it removed, they clasped him in the manacles. When they closed, Reef cried out in pain. A shiver went through me. It wasn’t one of revulsion. They moved back to stand next to the others. I gave an experimental twirl, then a snap of the whip. The crisp sound sang.

All the men were watching me. Reef’s gaze was one of shock. Time to expose more of myself than I ever had.

“Reef, I want you to know that I consider myself a loving Dom. What usually gives me pleasure is helping my subs achieve their goals and desires. I like to be a caregiver, which is why I’m a nurse. You didn’t know that about me when we met. However, everyone has a point where they can no longer be caring, loving, or tender. What that point is varies for everyone. In my case, you being a threat to my loved ones is my point. If it were only myself I had to worry about, I don’t believe I’d be standing here ready to do this.

“In addition, to find out you did the same thing to someone else, only in her case, you tortured, raped, and killed her and her man, tells me there is no redemption possible for you. And my desire to bring pleasure has changed to one of pain. I want you to feel some of what they felt. Not that you’ll give a damn, but it’ll satisfy me.”

Reef’s babbling stopped, and he stared at me. I saw the insanity in his eyes, along with cunning and hate. “You can’t hurt me. You don’t have the guts. You’ll make one of these men do it for you. Bitches never handle their own dirty work. They think they’re strong, but they're weak.”

He laughed as he finished spitting those words out.

I gave no warning. He didn’t deserve one. I let the whip fly. The burs snagged his skin and sank deep like a fishing hook. I let the pain of them hit him before I yanked back, tearing them from his flesh. He grunted but didn’t yell. He was glaring at me. I had news for him. If he thought he wouldn’t, he was mistaken.

I hadn’t personally scourged someone, but I’d watched others do it. Cain was an example. And I’d talked to those Doms afterward. They shared tips that I never thought I’d need. I was wrong. Blood ran down his chest to his stomach. I’d aimed for the upper chest and hit his pectoral muscles.

My next swing was mid-thoracic, from his diaphragm to his upper abs. Again, I let the burs get a hold before ripping them away, which brought out a deeper grunt. Deciding to increase the pain, I glanced around the vast space.

“What do you need, Dorogoy?”

Matvey asked.

“Is there a bucket or container anywhere? I’d like one if possible.”

“I’m sure there is,”

he replied, jerking his head. Vasily, Rurik, and Isaak split up to search. Vasily returned with a bucket in less time than I imagined it would take. He set it on a nearby table where I’d left my purse.

“Thank you,”

I told him. He nodded.

Leaving Reef to bleed, I walked over to the bucket. Rummaging in my bag, I took out the bottle I brought. It was a bottle of high-proof whiskey. It had been a gift, but I rarely drank, so it had never been opened. Twisting off the cap, I poured the entire bottle into the bucket. Carver had come over to stand next to me. He didn’t say anything. He just watched.

I took the whip and dunked the strands into the whiskey. I did it several times, allowing the alcohol to soak into and completely cover the strands. When I was satisfied, I removed it. Carver squeezed my arm, then moved back to stand with Hoss and Mikhail. None of them showed disgust. I thought I saw satisfaction on the faces of Matvey’s men.

Returning to stand in front of Reef, I let him watch the alcohol drip from the strands.

“Fuck you,”

he snarled.

“I think you’re the one fucked here,”

I said calmly before lashing out. This swipe latched onto his abs. I let the barbs stay hooked longer before tearing them loose. When I did, I dragged the alcohol-soaked strands across the slashes in his skin. This move made him hiss, and he wiggled.

Ignoring his pant-covered lower body, I moved to stand behind him. I lashed his back until he was covered in slashes and blood. He wasn’t in danger of dying from blood loss, not yet. However, I wanted to finish the lesson before he died. I walked back to the others.

“Does anyone have a knife? I forgot one. I need to remove the rest of his clothes.”

“I’ll do it,”

Carver stated before anyone else could.

“Thank you. You need to put gloves on. I don’t want his blood on you. I have more.”

Carver followed me to my bag. I let him look for them since my gloves were bloody from the whip.

“Are you alright, Domina?”

he asked softly.

“I’m doing well, my love. Don’t worry. This is easing the rage. I need to finish this last part, and then you and the others will be free to end his pathetic existence.”

“Don’t forget, you can stop any time.”

“I won’t,”

I promised.

Carver gave me a gentle kiss, put on the gloves, and took a knife from his pocket. It wasn’t a huge hunting knife, but it would do the trick. When he got to Reef, the bastard kicked at him. That wasn’t tolerated. In a flash, Mikhail and Hoss were there, restraining his legs. Carver cut the pants along the outer seams and yanked the remnants off. Reef’s shoes and socks were removed at some point, leaving him hanging in his underwear.

Carver glanced back at me and hiked up an eyebrow. I knew what he was asking. Did I want those on or off? While seeing Reef’s cock wasn’t on my wish list, I wanted him bare and afraid. I nodded. Carver repeated the slicing moves, and in seconds, as the three backed off, I had a one-hundred-percent naked Reef hanging before us.

I was a nurse. The sight of a naked body did nothing to me unless I allowed it. Professionally, I saw people as bodies when it came to caring for them as their nurse. I gazed at Reef with that same detachment. I didn’t do it intentionally. It was how I viewed him. However, it triggered something in him.

“Don’t stand there pretending you don’t find my nakedness turns you on. Why else have them remove my underwear? You wanted to see my cock. All this could’ve been yours. Instead, you went with him. I bet he’s hung like a little boy,”

Reef snapped.

As bloody and in pain as he had to be, the son of a bitch was hard. Maybe he liked the pain. Or having others watch. Either way, it didn’t do a thing for me. Yes, he was decent-sized, but that didn’t matter.

I tossed my head back and laughed. This made him freeze. I made it a good, long laugh before I sobered. I curled my upper lip and filled my expression with disdain.

“Thank goodness I never got to the point of agreeing to have sex with you. It would’ve been so disappointing. I think you’re delusional. There’s nothing impressive about you. I’ve won in that department and many others with Carver.”

I smiled and blew Carver a kiss.

“Fucking whore! Slut. You’re a lying cunt!”

Reef screamed, thrashing around, which made the teeth inside the manacles bite into his flesh deeper.

The guys all wore smirks, whispering among themselves and pointing at Reef. They were playing off my insults. It drove Reef wild. While he ranted, I lashed from his waist to the heels of his feet on his backside. In between, I re-soaked the whip.

When it was time to finish, I stood before Reef. He was enraged and moaning. I started at his feet and worked my way up. As I reached his cock, it was no longer hard. Blood ran in streams down him and dripped onto the cement floor. I sneered at him.

“This is for Holly and her man,”

I told him.

Drawing back my arm as far as it would go, I swung it. Reef screamed when the barbs sank deep into his pelvic area. I was pleased to see several bite into his balls and cock. I let them rest until a count of ten. Then, I yanked as hard as I could. As they tore free, his scream became a high-pitched shriek, and then he went quiet and sagged in his restraints.

Seeing him hanging there didn’t make me feel sorry for him. I did feel that my rage and sorrow were draining away. I sagged. And Carver was there to hold me upright. The whip was taken from my hand and put on the table. Rurik checked Reef to see if he was alive. He nodded.

“He’s passed out, but his pulse is weak. He’s not got long.”

“You’re done. Sit over here. Let’s be done with this so we can get on with our lives,”

Carver ordered.

I was no longer in Dom mode. He was. I meekly nodded and let him half carry me to the chair. My bloody gloves were removed. I knew I had it on my clothing, but that would have to wait. I hadn’t thought to bring replacements.

Matvey handed me a bottle of water, and I thanked him. I watched as Vasily threw water on Reef, waking him up. He was dazed, and his expression showed the agony he was in.

When his gaze landed on me, he hoarsely said. “Please, end it. You’ve had your fun.”

“It wasn’t fun for me. It was a chore I thought necessary. My hope is that when you die, you go to hell and will be tormented there for the rest of eternity for what you did. Finish it,”

I said to the room in general.

I figured it would be one of the Bratva who would do it. Wrong. Carver walked to Reef. He stood before him, staring at him. Suddenly, his hand came up with the knife he’d cut Reef’s clothing away with. In a blink, he buried the knife in Reef’s carotid and twisted it. When he removed it, blood gushed. Reef gurgled and thrashed, but only for a few minutes, and then he was gone. It felt anticlimactic to me.

I was sort of floating. Carver hustled me to another area of the building. There was a bathroom in it, which included a shower. Out of nowhere, he produced a set of clothes for each of us. Carver got the water hot and then nudged me under it before joining me. We washed each other, even though I was the one with the most blood on me. When satisfied we were clean, Carver shut the water off and dried us. It felt good to be in clean clothes. When we returned to the room, Reef’s body was gone, as were Rurik and Isaak.

Vasily was spraying water to wash the blood into the nearby drain. In the spots he’d rinsed, Emil was pouring something on them and using a long-handled brush to scrub the spots. A chemical smell was permeating the space to overshadow the scent of blood. Matvey, Hoss, and Mikhail came to us.

“Give them a moment, and then one will drive you back to your cars. I want to remind you that you cannot talk about this to anyone outside of yourselves, Tajah, and Cady. To do so would endanger us all. His remains are being taken care of.”

As Matvey said it, I heard the rumble of machinery from further in the building. When we looked that way, I saw the missing Bratva standing on a platform above an enormous tank. They had Reef’s body between them. As the sound increased, they tossed his body into it. I had to ask.

“What’s in there?”

“That is filled with wet cement. This company can still make it. It will mix and chop until the cement is poured into molds. When it hardens, his remains will be scattered across multiple slabs and used to build various things,”

Matvey replied.

No wonder they used this place. It was ingenious and made me wonder where all the bodies that had been encased in cement were now. It was better not to think about it. I shivered. Carver’s arm hugged me closer.

“I think it’s time we go. Thank you. I can’t ever repay you for this,”

he told the pahkan.

Matvey shook his hand and then leaned forward to kiss my cheeks. “You’re very welcome, and no repayment is necessary. Get her home. I expect to see you all soon. Victoria wants to have a small dinner with all of you and a few others at the house. You can repay me by coming. My wife loves to entertain.”

More thank yous and goodbyes were exchanged before we were shown to the van we came in. Vasily and Emil were taking us back. Matvey disappeared in another vehicle with Konstantin and Nikita. Isaak and Rurik remained inside. They undoubtedly had more cleanup to do.

I huddled against Carver the entire ride home. I was exhausted mentally and physically, and relieved that this was over.