Page 144 of Sinful Hearts

A convenience for me.

I drive, not bothering to swerve, and run over one of the bodies. An SUV I’m almost positive belongs to Rurick is parked crooked in the driveway. The driver’s and back seat doors are wide open.

When I walk up the steps, I spot Rurick’s men, dead and bleeding.

“Idiots,” I mutter, walking inside.

The entry is empty. No half-naked women this time.

Screams and cries stream from Aleksy’s office. Gripping my gun, I head straight in that direction. The door is cracked open.

I peek through the slit, taking in the scene, before walking in without bothering to knock.

Aleksy stands before his desk, holding his gun like an executioner and pointing it at David, who’s seated beside Dasha on a sofa. David’s hands are raised.

Dasha begs Aleksy to put the gun down and listen to her. She apologizes for running off and tells him she’ll make it up and marry any man he chooses for her.

Aleksy’s attention whips to me when I step farther into the room.

Then, I almost trip over something.

Rurick’s body.

Well, fuck.

I thought that’d be the other way around.

Rurick is flat on his back with a clean bullet hole between his brows. Blood pools around his head. His eyes are open, staring straight at the ceiling.

Aleksy half snarls, half grins like a rabid dog. “Emilio, look who I found.” He steps forward to grab a fistful of Dasha’s hair, yanking her up to her feet. He positions her so she’s facing me. “My traitorous cunt of a sister.” His smile turns more sadistic as he pushes her back down on the sofa. “Though, technically, my patheticDedushkafound her first and brought her here. He thought he was making a point that I wasn’t fit to lead. Old fucker didn’t know he was signing his death wish, coming here and disrespecting me in my own home.”

The words fall from his mouth fast and manic.

I just stand back, watching the scene unfold.

He shoves the gun barrel against Dasha’s forehead. “You caused this, bitch. You ran and made him question me.” He grinds the barrel against her skull while glancing at me. “Do you want the honors? It’s you she bailed on at the altar.”

I shake my head, completely unaffected. “I told you before, she didn’t fuck me over. I left that wedding with a wife.”

Aleksy snarls before moving the gun.

Bang.

The shot echoes through the room.

Dasha screams.

Blood sprays across the room, coating Dasha and the walls.

David slumps sideways as blood pours out of the side of his head.

Dasha scrambles to get as far away from David’s body as she can. Blood soaks her face and white shirt.

Aleksy levels the gun at Dasha and looks at me. “You can have her.” His nostrils flare so wide that I feel like I can peer straight into his stupid fucking brain.

He wants Dasha dead but can’t pull the trigger himself.

“I’m only here for the money.” I shake my head and push up my sleeves. “I don’t give a shit about your family issues, but if you ask nicely, I don’t mind paying for your therapy.” I nudge Rurick’s body with my shoe. “I do think you fucked yourself, killing this one. He controls all your business accounts. Your paycheck is now most likely gone. You dug your own grave.”