Page 41 of Sweet Obsession (Savage Vow #1)

MISHA

Pain exploded across my skull, gnawing at every muscle, every nerve.

My body screamed in protest, but I couldn’t move, couldn’t fight back. Every breath was a laborious struggle, each one dragging through the pressure crushing my chest. The air tasted like blood, thick and metallic, and my throat felt raw, as if I hadn’t spoken in days.

When I opened my eyes, the world spun in dizzying circles.

I tried to steady myself, but the vertigo hit harder than I expected.

I wasn’t in Yakutsk anymore. I wasn’t even on solid ground.

I was upside down, shackled to a pole, my arms pulled taut above me, my legs dangling helplessly.

The weight of the chains was a constant, unbearable reminder of how far I had fallen.

My ribs felt like they were being crushed, each breath shallow and painful, the pressure in my chest building with every second.

My mind scrambled to catch up, to make sense of the haze clouding my vision.

I couldn’t remember how I got here. The last thing I’d known was the heat of battle, my heart pounding, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

I had fought like a man possessed, slashing through Chernov’s men, hearing the deafening roar of gunfire and explosions.

And then... nothing. Darkness had swallowed me whole.

Had I been shot? Hit? Had I died there on the battlefield?

A shadow moved in front of me, cutting through the fog of pain. At first, my vision was too blurred to make out his face, but as the world slowly focused, the clarity hit like a punch to the gut.

Louis Rojas.

The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. Luna’s father. The one man I never expected to see standing in front of me, especially not like this. The one man who had the audacity to bring me here, to kidnap me, to drag me into whatever twisted game he was playing.

My blood boiled. My rage surged.

I had been fighting for my survival, for my legacy, for Luna, and now I was dangling here, helpless. But the fact that Rojas was the one responsible? It burned in me, igniting a fury I hadn’t felt before.

He sneered at me. “You look pathetic, Misha. The great Pakhan of the five Bratva families reduced to this.”

The mockery in his voice made my teeth grind. I couldn’t speak, couldn’t form the words I wanted to scream at him. My body was still too weak, my breath too shallow.

“Do you even know where you are?” Rojas continued, kicking me in the face with a force that made my vision swim. The taste of copper exploded in my mouth. “You’re in Colombia. This is my world now. Your world? It’s over.”

The words felt like a slap. Colombia. I had thought I was still in Yakutsk. But of course—Rojas lived here. That was how he’d gotten to me.

I blinked through the pain, trying to steady my thoughts. “Why the hell are you doing this? You think this is some game? This is my life you’re playing with.”

His laugh was low, cruel. “Why? You think this is about you? This is about Luna. You’ve taken everything from me, Misha.

Your family—your contract—they’ve all been a thorn in my side.

You think that because you’ve won the vote, because you’ve become Pakhan, that you can just walk away from this?

That you can control the world without consequences? ”

I stared at him, my chest tightening. Luna.

Rojas leaned forward, his face inches from mine. “My men, and the Vargas Cartel, were present at the fight. They had orders to find you and bring you alive. And they did. You’re lucky to still be breathing.”

I closed my eyes for a moment, unable to bear his words. The weight of it all hit me like a tidal wave, but there was one thing I knew for sure: I couldn’t break. Not for him. Not for anyone.

“What do you want?” I gritted out, the words heavy with my resolve.

Rojas smirked. “You’re smarter than I thought. I want you to divorce Luna, send her back to Columbia, and never contact her again. After all, your little contract with us expires in a month. I won’t need to supply you anymore.”

Rojas had never forgiven me for what my family did to his—how we’d crushed his empire years ago, leaving him to crawl in the dirt. He didn’t just want Luna; he wanted to prove that even a Pakhan like me could be broken.

I wanted to scream. Luna was mine. I wasn’t going to lose her. Not for anything. Not for anyone.

But I forced myself to play along. I couldn’t risk him hurting her. Not like this. “Done,” I muttered, the lie tasting like poison in my mouth.

But Rojas wasn’t finished. He chuckled, a low, hollow sound. “Not so fast, Misha. You think I’m just going to let you go that easily?”

He waved a hand, and two of his men stepped forward, a woman following behind them. She was young, maybe a little older than Luna, with dark hair and eyes full of fear.

Rojas smirked. “Before I let you go, there are two things you need to do for me. First, you’re going to fuck her.” He pointed to the woman. “I’ll have it filmed, and I’ll send the video to Luna. That way, she’ll know her precious Misha is as good as gone. Your divorce will be final.”

I felt bile rise in my throat. The idea of touching another woman—let alone in this way—repulsed me. I would never do that to Luna. Never.

“You’re insane,” I spat, struggling against my chains.

Rojas didn’t flinch. “And second, you’re going to sign a legal contract stating that you’ll never interfere with my family again. That you’ll stay the hell away from them, and you’ll never come after Luna.”

“No,” I said, my voice barely above a growl. “I won’t do it.”

Rojas’ smile faded, his eyes narrowing. “You’d rather die than comply, wouldn’t you?”

I didn’t answer, but my silence spoke volumes.

“You’re right,” Rojas said, standing up.

“I can’t kill you. The Vargas Cartel would never let me get away with it.

The consequences would be severe for anyone who kills you.

But Chernov... well, he doesn’t have those restrictions, does he?

He’s reckless. Lev and Alexei too. They won’t care. They’ll come for you.”

He turned, walking away from me. “Good luck, Misha. I’d say I hope you survive, but I doubt it.”

He left, and I was left alone with my pain, my broken body, and the knowledge that Luna was in danger. I had to keep her safe, even if it meant sacrificing everything.

For the next two days, I hung there, barely able to breathe, my ribs aching with every shallow breath I took. Blood dripped from my nose, my vision swam in and out of focus, and my mind drifted in and out of consciousness.

When I finally woke again, I could barely feel my limbs. The agony had become so intense that I thought I might lose my mind. But there was a moment of clarity—I would die before I ever let Rojas, or Chernov, or anyone else hurt Luna.

I heard Rojas’ voice again, cutting through the haze.

“Last chance, Misha. Will you do as I ask?”

I closed my eyes, my body trembling with rage and pain. “I’d rather die than betray her,” I whispered.

Rojas sighed, exasperated. “Well, you won’t die. Not yet. But Chernov will make sure you wish you had.”

He took a few steps away, and I was left with only my thoughts. Luna—the only thing that kept me alive.

I could only hope that Nikolai had found her. That somehow, she was safe.

But even that hope was fading, slipping through my fingers like sand.

The phone crackled in Rojas’s hand as he brought it closer to my ear. My heart stuttered, the cold, familiar voice slicing through the fog of pain that clouded my mind.

“I’m coming for you, Misha. Prepare yourself.”.

The words felt like ice, sinking straight into my chest. I knew that voice.

I knew the man on the other end. Chernov—the one who had never been anything but a thorn in my side.

A constant reminder of the power struggle, the madness that followed me every step of the way. But this time, it was different.

This time, he was coming for me.

And it wasn’t for a simple kill. I knew that much. But I had nothing left to lose. I would die first before I let anyone touch Luna. I’d made promises—to her, to myself—and there was no way in hell I would let those promises be broken, no matter the cost.”

Rojas didn’t say a word as I hung there, I wanted to yell, to scream at Chernov that he’d regret this, but all I could manage was a grunt of frustration as my body screamed in agony. Every fiber of me wanted to move, to fight back, but the chains held me in place like a corpse hanging from a rope.

“Chernov,” I managed, forcing the word through the pain. “You won’t take me that easily. I swear, you won’t.”

Rojas scoffed, his feet tapping against the floor impatiently. But I barely noticed him anymore. All I could focus on was that voice, that promise of a slow, painful death.

“I don’t think it’s you who needs to worry about me, Misha,” Chernov continued, the edge of his words cutting through the tension. “You’re the one who’s in the hole now. And I’m coming to finish it. I’m coming for you.”

I wanted to shout back at him, wanted to rip into him with everything I had, but my strength was gone, my will slipping.

Rojas looked at me with a sly grin. “You heard him. He’s coming. I hope you’re ready to die, Misha.”

But even as his words sank in, I knew one thing, no matter what, no matter how much Chernov came for me, I would never betray Luna.

And if Chernov thought for one second he could break me, he had another thing coming.