Page 28 of Stolen Empire

"You know what the problem is with liars?" I say, turning back to face him.

"They always think they're smarter than everyone else. They think they can talk their way out of anything, that they can spin a story and people will believe it. But the truth always comes out eventually."

"Dimitri, I swear, I don't know what you're talking about?—"

"Shut up."

The words come out sharp and he stops mid-sentence.

I move closer, standing over him, and I see the realization dawn in his eyes as I stare at him.

Like sunrise over the mountains, the revelation causes changes in the landscape of his appearance.

"Boss…" he mutters as I down my vodka and glare at him.

He's crossed me for the last time, and thanks to my new little pet, I can finally put at least one of my problems to bed.

The door opens, and Gavriil steps inside.

He's holding a crowbar, and he looks at me, then at Rodion.

Even Gavriil knows what's coming as I hold out my hand, and he passes me the crowbar without a word.

I turn it over in my hands, feeling the balance.

Rodion is frozen in the chair, his breath coming fast and shallow, and I see the moment he considers running.

But he doesn't.

He knows it's too late.

"You know, Rodion, it's said that liars have their place in the lake of fire, but I picture them all toothless…"

My eyes shift from the metal in my hand to the pale, pasty skin of his face.

Then I nod at Gavriil who shuts the door and stands there like a sentry, ready to aid me if Rodion fights back.

"Open your mouth," I tell him, and he whimpers.

"Now, Boss, I swear?—"

"Open your fucking mouth!" I scream, shaking the bar at him so hard I almost hit him with it prematurely.

"Shit," he whimpers, now sweating like a fucking pig.

"Shit, Boss…" he says before opening his maw like he's seeing the dentist.

I press the bar into his mouth hard, pushing his cheeks back until his teeth stick out comically along the metal, then I tell him, "Bite down."

He mumbles something unintelligible, but I'm already moving.

One hand is balled in a fist, on its down swing toward the fucker who thinks he can lie to me.

One hard blow and several teeth break, but it isn't until I drive my knee upward into his jaw that something snaps.

Blood gushes from his lip and tongue, oozes through the gums where multiple teeth break off and skitter across the floor.

Rodion resorts to screaming and covering his face, spitting the crowbar out at me.