Page 37 of Sin in My Inbox (Sexting Spark #1)

Dmitri

I pulled up slowly outside the abandoned warehouse, the engine's low rumble cutting through the dead silence of the night.

Pushing open the car door, the night wind hit me with the scent of rust and motor oil. I straightened my suit jacket—a silver gun rested quietly against my waist, plus the backup piece at my ankle, and...

I lightly touched my sleeve cuff. That sharp little blade lay there, waiting.

Pushing open the rust-stained iron door, the ear-piercing screech of metal on metal echoed through the empty warehouse. My eyes quickly adjusted to the dim light as I scanned the entire space.

"Dmitri Belov." Vladimir's voice drifted from the depths, carrying a victor's smugness. "Welcome to your funeral."

Years of habit allowed me to stay calm in the most dangerous moments. I kept walking forward until I stopped in the center of the warehouse.

"Drop your guns." Vladimir's voice echoed through the cavernous space .

I slowly unholstered the gun at my waist and tossed it aside with a clean motion. The sound of metal hitting concrete was particularly harsh.

Vladimir squinted. "The backup, too. Don't try to play games with me, Dmitri. You should know your little lover isn't feeling too great right now."

My fists clenched involuntarily, but I still obediently pulled the smaller pistol from my ankle holster and threw it on the ground as well.

"Smart." Vladimir stepped out from the shadows, followed by several armed men. Moonlight streaming through the broken skylight illuminated his face, highlighting deep wrinkles and a twisted expression.

"Twenty years, Dmitri." His voice carried a sick satisfaction. "Twenty years ago you took everything I had in St. Petersburg. Now it's time to pay up."

"That was business. And you lost. Simple as that." I kept my voice steady while secretly observing my surroundings, frantically searching for any trace of Avery.

Vladimir's face contorted with rage, veins throbbing at his temples. "You destroyed my family! My men died under your guns, my territory got carved up by you. And you just acted like nothing happened, then bailed to Los Angeles a year after taking over!"

Every word seemed squeezed through gritted teeth, dripping with bone-deep hatred.

I didn't react. This was our world—survival of the fittest, eat or be eaten. If I'd been the loser, I would've met an even worse fate.

"What do you want?" I asked straight up. The first rule of negotiation—always understand what the other side needs. Dad taught me that, and it's been my guiding principle ever since.

"I want to take back everything that belongs to me." Vladimir stepped forward, his leather shoes clicking sharply on the floor. Each step felt like a hammer blow to my chest. "St. Petersburg territory, and," he paused, madness flashing in his eyes, "your life."

"St. Petersburg is negotiable. But first, you let Avery go. "

Vladimir burst into laughter, the sound bouncing off the warehouse walls. "You think you're in any position to negotiate with me? Look at yourself, Dmitri Belov. All alone, unarmed, like a damn stray dog."

"You can have the territory." I continued. "I'm tired of all this anyway. Let Avery go, and St. Petersburg is yours."

Vladimir's eyes narrowed to slits, like he was examining a counterfeit. "Dmitri, I know you. You don't give up anything easily, especially power."

He was right. That's exactly who I used to be.

I looked him straight in the eye. "People change. When you have someone you want to protect, priorities shift."

Vladimir laughed coldly in the darkness. "Pathetic romantic fool. You know what? Your woman's the same way—she keeps calling your name."

Rage burned in my chest like molten lava churning underground.

They'd kidnapped her, terrorized her, made her endure fear she never should have faced.

My nails dug deep into my palms, the pain keeping me focused.

Can't lose control. Can't let anger override logic.

She needs me calm, not some rage-blinded maniac.

My fingers twitched slightly, feeling the cold blade in my sleeve. But in this situation, it was pretty much useless. I needed timing—a chance to strike back. Until then, I had to keep playing this dangerous game.

"Bring her out. Let me see her." I said calmly, while quietly adjusting my stance to get into the best possible position.

"Of course. I want you two reunited, too—as soon as you drop that dangerous little toy in your sleeve."

My heartbeat quickened slightly. He knew?

Of course he knew. Vladimir wasn't stupid. Anyone who survives to his age in this world isn't stupid. He studied me just like I studied him. He knew my habits, knew my trump cards.

"Hurry up!" Vladimir waved impatiently, spit flying. "Or your woman's gonna pay for your hesitation."

That threat made my decision easy. I slowly reached up and pulled the small handcrafted knife from my sleeve. The moment the handle cleared my cuff—

I flicked my wrist, aiming straight for Vladimir—

It hit its target perfectly, burying itself in Vladimir's chest.

His expression froze in shock, those hate-filled eyes instantly going vacant. His massive body toppled backward like a falling statue, crashing heavily to the ground.

"Boss!" his men shouted, but before they could react—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

I immediately rolled and grabbed my gun from the floor, every shot clean and deadly. Shooting had become muscle memory for me, an instinct honed through countless sleepless nights. Before they could raise their weapons, my bullets had found them.

One, two, three.

Bodies hit the floor one after another, blood pooling on the concrete. The air filled with gunpowder and the metallic scent of blood—the smell of death.

When the last man fell, the warehouse plunged into deathly silence.

"Never trust your opponent to play by the rules," I said to Vladimir's corpse, my voice carrying a hint of mockery. "That's what you taught me, old friend."

The smell of blood spread through the air, thick enough to make you gag. I quickly checked my magazine—three bullets left. Not much, but it should be enough.

My heartbeat gradually steadied. Now I just needed to find Avery.

"Nice show."

A familiar voice echoed from deep in the warehouse, and my blood instantly turned to ice. That voice—I knew it all too well.

Thomas stepped out of the shadows, wearing an expression I'd never seen before. Not his usual devil-may-care grin, but something twisted and hate-filled.

One arm was wrapped around Avery's waist, the other held a gun pressed against her temple .

Avery. My eyes immediately locked onto her. Her mouth was taped shut, her face pale as paper.

The moment I saw her, my heart first clenched violently, then started racing. She didn't look seriously hurt, which gave me some relief.

"Dmitri." Thomas flashed a mocking smile, so foreign it was like I'd never known him. "Surprised?"

Surprised? No. Heartbroken was more like it.

That pain cut deeper than any physical wound. This wasn't betrayal by an enemy—this was a knife in the back from family. I'd protected him, trusted him, wanted him to live safely under my protection forever.

And now he had a gun to the head of the most precious person in my world.

"So it was you all along."

"That old bastard Vladimir deserved to die.

" Thomas kicked at the corpse on the ground, disgust flashing in his eyes.

"He didn't know what you're capable of, but as your brother, I know exactly what you can do.

" He paused, pressing the gun barrel lightly against Avery's temple.

"And I also know you're all out of cards to play. "

He was right. I was out of weapons, and he held my Achilles' heel.

I couldn't maintain my composure anymore, a tremor creeping into my voice. "Thomas, you know she's pregnant, right? That's your nephew or niece."

Thomas's smile became even more twisted.

"Even better. Now I can completely destroy all your hope.

You know what, Dmitri? Ever since I can remember, everyone's been talking about how outstanding you are, how smart, how much Dad should be proud of you.

And me? I was always just Dmitri's little brother, forever living in your shadow. "

His words sliced through my heart like blades. All these years, what I thought was brotherly love had been such a crushing burden in his eyes. I tried to understand his pain, but the chill of betrayal had already seeped into my bones.

"What do you want?" I asked, though I already knew the answer .

Thomas laughed coldly, madness flashing in his eyes. "Simple, Dmitri. I want you to end your own life with your own hands."

Thomas's answer was simple and direct, devoid of any emotion. "I want you dead. And I want you to do it yourself."

He finally stepped forward from the darkness, forcing Avery to move with him. I could see the fear in her eyes, but more than that, I saw worry for me. That expression nearly stopped my heart.

"If you want to protect Avery and the baby," Thomas's voice grew even colder, "pick up that gun and put it to your own temple."

The world seemed to freeze in that moment. The air became thick, every breath like swallowing sand. I looked at Avery, at the tears in her eyes, at her desperate attempts to shake her head.

I looked deeply into Avery's eyes. Her gaze flickered in the darkness, as if trying to tell me something.

My fingers touched the cold gun barrel. This weapon that had protected me countless times was now about to become the instrument of my death. Ironic, but maybe this was fate.

I slowly stood up, raising my arm, pointing the barrel at my own temple.

The cold metal pressed against my skin, that sensation so real it reminded me this wasn't a nightmare. My finger rested on the trigger, feeling that subtle resistance. Just a light squeeze and it would all be over.

Thomas's eyes glowed with sick excitement, as if he'd been waiting his whole life for this moment. And Avery—my Avery—was using every ounce of strength to try to break free, to stop me.

Tears streamed down Avery's face, her voice breaking. "No, Dmitri, don't do this!" Her hand reached helplessly toward me, unable to bridge the distance.

Time stretched in that moment, every second feeling like a century. I closed my eyes, my mind flashing through every moment with Avery.

If this was the only way to protect her and our child, then I was willing.