Page 5 of The Games of Madmen

Alyona takes a kick to her stomach that has her hissing for air. Rodion clenches his hands into fists and blows out an exasperated breath. I know exactly how he feels. I’ve never wanted to break our cousin's face before today, but Ven’s just asking for a concussion from yours truly.

One Mississippi, two Mississippi...

I sidle up next to Rodion and place a hand on his shoulder. It’s usually him taming my temper, but sometimes he needs my physical contact to settle him.

“We’ll tell Vlad he can’t have her,” I blurt out, reaching for straws and I know it.

He quirks a brow, his fists unclenching. “And start a war?”

“It would be one we’d win.”

His grin mirrors mine.

The Games have never been something our family enjoys. We can get behind the competitive side of The Games, but not the butchery of other people for the simple pleasures of the rich. Ven had the power to change things, but revenge clouded his mind, and he gave the power back to the Vasilievs.

And here we are.

Watching our girl get primed to be thrown to the wolves.

“Too many lives would be lost, brother.” He nods and then growls toward the ring. “Behind you,krasotka.”My beauty. Frustration is wearing on him as he watches our girl struggle. “Things have only just been settled after the news Father was fucking Yuri’s wife all those years ago.”

Were we surprised? Fuck no.

No one with our last name is a saint.

And Yuri is a cunt. How he treats women is notorious. When I first met the man, I was only twelve. Rodion and I walked in on him throttling a maid who had accidentally spilled water on him. Rodion darted from the room in a panic, but I wasn’t new to such depravity, especially when it led to death. I remained frozen, watching as the blood vessels popped in the whites of her eyes, spreading like spider webs. He squeezed her throat until a cracking sound of her windpipe crushing echoed in the air. And then she stopped moving. Another woman’s death imprinted on my brain and plagued my dreams for weeks. The bastard was evil then and has only sharpened his edge for brutality since.

“So, we let her die?” My tone is sharper than it usually is with Rodion, but he knows exactly what’s at stake because he is me. He feels what I feel. My soul twin.

“No,” he says coolly, lips curling into a devious smirk. “We do what anyone would in our place. We go into those brutal games, breaking all the rules, and pull our fucking girl out.”

My heart rate quickens in my chest. Dangerous as hell, but I like the way he thinks.

“The higher powers, our father included, won’t be pleased,” I challenge, though I’m right there with him. We need a plan, but that means also making it foolproof. “There could be deadly repercussions, and it could start a war anyway.” I fold my arms across my chest and lean against the wall, watching Alyona offer Ven a vicious kick to the junk.

A grin twitches Rodion’s lips. “Fuck the powers that be. We deny any involvement, lay low with her, and decide what to do once things settle.”

The plan is in motion.

“I need those parts of him,” Diana barks, snapping her fingers to gain Alyona’s attention. “No blows below my husband’s belt.”

Our girl may be able to threaten Ven’s babymaker, but she’s still not vicious enough to survive the hell that awaits her. It’s our duty to protect her.

“So…” I lift a brow and meet my brother’s wicked stare. “We’re entering The Games?”

“Fucking right we are.”

Let the games begin…

Day of the annual V GAMES…

Entering with the first wave of participants was the best option to go undetected, but almost instantly, we lose sight of Alyona when she’s sent in through a different entrance.

The Games are designed this way to prevent a mass massacre from happening at the starting line. Of course, the sadistic bastards behind the scenes watching can’t have that. There’s no thrill in it. Instead, the chaos is drip-fed throughout the entire night through numerous entry points to ensure maximum entertainment.

Nothing better than the hunt and horrifying, drawn out torture.

“We told her to find a place to hide, and stay there as long as possible.” Rodion grouses, jerking his head toward the first set of hallways arranged like a maze. “What the hell is she doing?”