Bratva Beast (Bravikov Bratva #1)

Chapter 6

CYNRIC

A Bravikov enforcer stands at the large steel door leading into our smaller warehouse. If you were outside on the street, you’d never think anything nefarious was happening inside. The building appears to be vacant. I nod at a second enforcer, who tries to step into the elevator with me. My expression puts him back on the floor as I hit the button to go down. I itch. My hands tingle at the prospect of ripping Russell to pieces. Isabella’s bruises flash in my mind, and I crack the bones in my neck. “No one better have touched him.”

The doors open, and I step into a long, dark hall. The third enforcer tips his head at me, keeping his position still. That’s how they’re supposed to act.

I push open the door and the scent of piss hits my nose. Charging in, I bellow. “I told you not to touch him.”

Anatoly leans against the far table with a smirk. “I didn’t, but he knows what’s coming. He pissed himself the second he came to, tied to the chair.”

My eyes scan the room, finding him hunched over on a steel chair in the middle of the room, sitting over a drain. My brow raises at Anatoly.

“He’s ready for you to dismember him.”

I charge at the man who injured Isabella. Fear permeates the air and competes with the smell of urine for the overall stench of the room. Russell thrashes in the chair. The fabric gag in his mouth is tied tight enough that he can’t close his mouth. Bruises cover his face, but nowhere near what I’m going to do to the man. I reach for the gag and use my knife to slice through the dark, wet cloth.

“Please. Please. I didn’t know she mattered.”

His cheek drips blood and I smile. I wipe the blade on the rag Anatoly hands me. I lean against the table in front of Russell. “You’re an idiot, and you’re going to die a slow, painful death for hurting my woman.”

He shakes his head. “No. I didn’t know.”

I catch the expression on Anatoly’s face as he smirks. “Don’t play with your prey. Just kill him.”

I select the small garden shears off the metal table next to me. I open and close the two sharp blades, like scissors and cock my head. “What to cut off?”

My brother, Wystan, enters the room. “His nuts.”

I laugh. “Don’t tempt me. He tried to rape Isabella.” I stare at the man as he cringes. “Out of curiosity, why didn’t you?”

“She said she got an STD from the doctor she was banging at the other hospital. It’s why she had to change her rotation.”

Wystan scoffs, leaning against the wall by the door. “Stupid.”

I roll my eyes at Anatoly. “My woman is smart.”

Russell’s forehead pinches. I can see the wheels spinning. “She lied?”

“Of course, she fucking lied. She’s a doctor; she’s not going to get an STD from some random guy at her work.”

Wystan coughs. “I could do this.”

I whip my head to my brother. “Why?”

“He’s beneath you.”

I pivot to Anatoly, who nods. “It is. I get it. I’d have killed him the moment I walked in if I were you.” He picked up the long, flat blade on the table. “I’ll do it now. Wystan is right. He’s not worth it.”

The image of Isabella’s black eye and split lip enters my brain, and I walk around to the back of the chair. I slide the clippers around Russell’s right index finger as he screams and flails. I squeeze the blades together as his finger falls to the floor with blood spurting out of the stub. What the hell am I doing here? I don’t need to kill him to prove my point. He’s already dead.

“Stop, Stop. Please. I’m begging you.”

“Doesn’t matter.” I toss the bloody tool on the metal, making a loud clanking sound. I raise my head to Wystan. “You’re right.” I nod to Anatoly as he swipes the long blade into flesh. The squelching sound is familiar. I don’t bother to turn around as I listen to Russell gurgling as the blood spills out of his body. “I’m going home.”

I step into the penthouse and nod at the man Wystan left when he came to me at the warehouse. “All quiet?”

“Yes. The doors have remained closed.”

My hand hits the palm print scanner on the wall and the door opens. I flick my head at the younger man. “Go.”

I proceed down the hall, hearing the door click shut as I enter my bedroom. Isabella lays sleeping like an angel, facing the interior of the bed. I strip my clothes and walk into the bathroom to take a shower. I’ve never felt guilt over murdering someone. There’s a code and breaking the code means death. Whether you know the rules or not, it makes no difference. I clean under my nails and around the cuticles to make sure the blood and bacteria from the dead man are no longer on my flesh. For the first time in my life, I don’t want to be dirty. I need to wash off the evil before I climb into our bed with Isabella. I’m curious how she’ll explain the bruises on her face.

The shower door opens, and my angel slides her hand in to touch my chest. She’s pulled up her hair into a sloppy knot. “I heard you thinking from the bed.”

I kiss the top of her head. “You know me too well.”

She caresses my chest with her gentle hand. “I’m sure you’re clean, Cynric.”

I sigh. She really does understand me. A part of me relishes the fact that she knows what I do and can still touch me. I step out and grab a towel, drying off my torso. Then I pull her to me, holding her tight.

She breaks the embrace to grab a towel and bends to dry my legs.

The sensation of being cared for reverberates around my body. There’s no obligation, just affection. That thought scares me. Can she really understand the beast I am and still care for me?

She looks up as she dries my abdomen. “The world wouldn’t end if you turned off your brain and enjoyed the moment.”

Her words resonate in my soul. “True. You’re wise for your age.”

She tosses the wet towels over the racks and cocks her hip to study me. “Age is a number. My life experience far overshadows the lives of my peers.” She smiles. “Let’s go to bed.” Her soft voice caresses my restlessness.

The bruise on her face has darkened. I want to kill him again. I need to focus on her. “Are you hungry?”

“No. I do need a couple more hours of sleep before I get to the hospital.”

I stop moving and pivot. “Can you go back there?”

“He’s dead, right?” I slowly bob my head as she shrugs. “Then, yes.”

“You’re okay with what I did? What I do? Who I am?”

“You’re the man who saved me from my mother’s hell of her own making. The man who came home covered in blood that night, and the man who came to get me when I needed you. Yeah. I’m okay with who you are, Cynric. And just so we’re clear. You’re mine.”

My head explodes at her comment as she sashays back into our bedroom. Her naked ass beckoning me to follow. For once in my life, I do exactly what she suggested, and I engross myself in the present. I’m going to wrap myself around her after I punish her with my cock once again and fall into a blissful sleep.

ISABELLA

I cringe as I walk into the hospital the following morning. I had two classes before my shift started. My body hurts, and people are going to gawk and ask questions. I left Cynric in his office as Saxon drove me to work and walked me inside. The volunteer at the reception desk pointed to my face and started to ask until Saxon growled. He won’t be around all day, so I hope my excuse holds up. Papa’s hacker set up plane tickets and an UBER ride to the airport for Russell. People will ask questions in three weeks when he’s scheduled to return. I shrug. He deserved whatever horrible death he received at the hands of the bratva.

“Izzy?”

I turn to see Annette running toward me. “You’ll be thrilled to know Russell is on vacation.”

My smile is slow to peak. I don’t want to appear like I knew this before she told me. “Really? Was it on the schedule?”

She shrugs. “No. Admin is pissed.”

“Well, alright! How long is he going to be gone?”

“Three weeks according to the email he sent after work last night.”

Good old Fingers, setting the stage for a perfect scenario. “Maybe he’ll find the wrong person to annoy and end up in some remote prison.” I put my stuff in my locker and close the door. “Where’d he go, anyway?”

“Mexico.”

We both burst out laughing. I bump my elbow into her side. “That’s as good a place as any for him to get into trouble.”

Annette nods. “Exactly.”

We walk out of the lounge and she scrutinizes my face, pointing. “What happened?”

I roll my eyes. “There’s a swinging door at the place I’m staying. The housekeeper swung it into my face.”

She nods. “Looks like it hurts.”

“No more than my pride for letting it happen.”

Annette leads us down the hall and discusses the patients on our board.

Five hours later, I’m standing in the hallway next to the male resident surgeon. This is my short day, and I should have been out of here before now. He hates all of us. Dr. Allen is old for a resident, and long-winded. “I’m aware Dr. Firth thinks you’re the best student, but I don’t give med students opportunities in surgery.”

I nod. You won’t give anyone an opportunity to outshine you. I steel my face, but it’s difficult. My back is tired, and my face aches. I ease my head to peer into the lounge. The clock reads after five, and I can’t help myself from sighing.

“Pay attention.”

“I am, Dr. Allen.”

He opens his mouth and closes it as I hear footsteps behind me. I recognize those steps. Cynric. Annette is walking up from the other corridor, and she picks up her pace as Cynric comes into view. For a man who hid out for years, he’s definitely made his reappearance. Annette swoons as she stares, her smile dipping as he steps to my side and slips his arm around my shoulders.

“Good evening, Isabella.”

I can’t help but smile at his low timber. “Hello.”

He stares at the resident as his eyes track Cynric’s scar. His brow lifts as he scrutinizes the wound. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

I nod at Dr. Allen. “Dr. Allen. This is Cynric Bravikov. Cynric. Dr. Allen.”

The doctor extends his hand to Cynric as he accepts his hand. I can see the wheels spinning in the resident’s mind.

Annette steps up to our group. “Hi.”

Cynric smiles at my friend. “You must be Annette.”

She beams. “Yes. Hi.”

I glance up at Cynric. “Annette, this is Cynric.”

He extends his hand. “Her fiancé.”

Don’t react. The words repeat on a loop in my head. Never react in surprise. It shows weakness.

Annette beams. “Oh. Color me surprised. Congrats.” She leans in and hugs me. “Lucky bitch.”

I pat her back and shift when our hug is over.

Cynric pulls me into his side. “I thought your shift was over.”

“Not quite yet.”

“I’ll hang out until you’re ready.”

“Okay.”

I notice the looks between Annette and the resident. I hope Cynric misses the sly looks they’re sharing about his scars.

Cynric stiffens as I redirect my associates. “Is there anything else you need, Dr. Allen?”

“Um.” He adjusts his perusal back to me. “No. Make sure you finish your charting before you leave for the day.”

“Thanks.” I turn into Cynric and follow his eyes to a drooling Annette. “I’ll see you on Sunday.”

Her eyes shake loose from Cynric, and she smiles at me. “Yeah. Bye.”

Cynric guides me to the lounge. I elbow him. “You’ve tapped into these cameras, too.”

“You know me.”

“Pfft. After Russell, I don’t mind if you’re keeping track of me.”

He snorts as he holds open the door. “I thought we’d grab dinner.”

I look down at my clothes. “Can we go back to the penthouse so I can change?”

“Of course. Our reservation isn’t for an hour.”

I push up on my tiptoes. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He swats my ass. “Get moving.”

“Yes, Sir.”