Crown of Hate (Soulless Empire)

Chapter 31

31

ALYA

The stench of cigar smoke and the grating sound of male laughter yank me from the depths of unconsciousness. It takes a moment for the blurry mess of colors and shapes around me to take form.

As reality sharpens, I find myself in a large, furnished bedroom that screams “expensive” and “creepy” in equal measure. A queen-sized bed dominates the space, draped with a pink canopy that feels sickeningly girlish. But that’s not the worst part. No, the true horror show is plastered all over the walls—photos of me. Everywhere. As a child, a teenager, right up to recent snapshots. The sight of them makes me want to throw up.

Jesus. Akim has taken creepy to a whole new level. Is this his twisted idea of playing father?

“You’re awake,” a voice says from the door. A voice I know all too well.

Dimitri. That traitorous bastard.

I shoot venom at him with my eyes. “Where is Akim?”

The audacity of this dick—he actually smiles. “Aww, look who’s eager for daddy-daughter time. Come on, admit it. You’ve been waiting for this day. There’s no way you actually love Mikhail.”

I force myself to sit up, wincing at the amount of pain racking through me. It hurts so bad, but I can’t be weak. Stay strong, Alya. For yourself. For your baby. For Mikhail. “My feelings for my husband are none of your fucking business.”

“Didn’t say they were. I’m just curious.” He shifts his attention to the bodyguard standing next to him. “Tell the boss his daughter is awake.”

The other guy nods and leaves the room.

As he scurries off, Dimitri saunters over and stops in front of the bed. “Come on, be honest. You must’ve wanted to kill Mikhail at least once. He forced you into marrying him, knocked you up?—”

My hand flies instinctively to my stomach. “How do you know that?”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

He snorts, looking down at me with contempt. “We’ve been watching your every move, sweetheart. The boss was just waiting for the perfect moment to strike.”

I grit my teeth hard. “You’re insane. Both of you.”

God, I want to wipe that smug grin off his face. Permanently. For the first time in my life, I understand the urge to kill. I’ve never killed anything in my life, but I’m suddenly craving to be the last person he sees before he dies.

The door opens. The bodyguard is back, followed by Akim. He’s beaming at me like we’re at a family picnic. “You’re awake.”

“Is that the only line you people know?” I cock my brow. “It’s getting old.”

He chuckles and orders his men to leave. Dimitri hesitates, taking one last long, scornful look before he follows everyone else out.

When the door shuts behind them, Akim says, “I see you got my sense of humor.”

“I didn’t get anything from you, you freaking monster,” I breathe. I need to remain calm. “Why did you bring me here?”

He gestures around the room. “Isn’t it obvious?”

I scoff. He’s lost it. “You must be insane if you think we can ever play happy family. You should kill me while you have the chance, because I swear to God, I’ll kill you the second I get the opportunity.”

His face darkens. “That’s no way to speak to your father, child.”

My brain misfires as a whirlwind of rage flares inside me. I should be quiet, protecting myself and my baby until Mikhail finds us. But I’m exhausted. I’m angry, and in too much pain to care. I’ve had enough. Screw caution. “You’re not my father, you psychopath! You tried to murder the man I love, you kidnapped me, and you killed my real father.”

Akim’s eyes go wild with anger. Before I can react, his hand is around my throat, yanking me to my knees. “That bastard was not your father! I am! Do you have any idea what kind of monster he was?”

I claw at his arms, gasping for air. “You’re… hurting me…”

“He stole everything from me,” he roars, his grip tightening and his nails digging into my flesh. “He stole your mother from me. He stole you from me. I’m only taking back what’s rightfully mine!”

My veins bulge and my eyes feel like they’ll pop out of their sockets if he doesn’t let me go, but I still manage a strangled laugh. “You’ll never be half the man my papa was, because my papa would never hurt me the way you are.”

Something flickers in his eyes—shame?—and he releases me. I collapse, gulping down air. “You better behave. The sooner you accept our relationship, the easier it will be. For all of us. Including that brat you’re carrying.”

As he turns to leave, I find my voice again. “Mikhail will find us. And he’ll kill you.”

“That’s if he survives.”

A thunderous bang from downstairs cuts him off. He whirls around, and for the first time, I see fear in those hateful eyes.

I smile. “Told you he’d find us.”

“You stupid whore!” he lunges at me, grabbing a fistful of my hair and dragging me off the bed. Pain explodes across my scalp, but I bite back a cry. “What the hell did you do? How did he find you?”

“A ‘whore’ isn’t a very nice name to call your daughter, Akim,” I muse. “You’ll die here today, and you’ll only be remembered as a man who betrayed his Pakhan. A man who lost everything.”

He laughs—a horrible, unhinged sound—and spins me around, pressing cold metal against my throat. “If I die, you’re coming with me.”

More shots echo downstairs. The acrid smell of gunpowder makes bile rise in my throat.

“You can’t kill me, Akim. I’m your daughter, remember? I’m carrying your grandchild.” Words like this don’t work on a madman, but I try anyway. “If we both die, then you’ll truly be forgotten.”

The gun digs deeper. “I don’t care. You were only ever just bait to win back your mother.”

“She despises you for killing her husband. She would have never come back to you.” I swallow hard, fighting to keep my voice steady. “Let me go, and maybe, just maybe, she’ll forgive you.”

Footsteps thunder up the stairs.

My pulse races in anticipation. My hands are trembling, my knees wanting to buckle.

I hold my breath.

Please be Mikhail. Please. Please. Please.

When the door finally bursts open, Alexei and Mikhail charge in, guns drawn. Relief washes over me, and I release my breath. Mikhail. He’s here.

“Let her go,” Mikhail orders with his gun pointed at Akim.

“I die, she goes with me,” Akim snarls. “I should have killed you right after I killed Ivan.”

“You only have yourself to blame.” Mikhail’s eyes meet mine, and I see his plan. I give a tiny nod. “The only person dying here will be you, Akim.”

Time slows to a crawl. Mikhail’s finger tightens on the trigger, and I stomp my heel on Akim’s foot with all my might and duck. Alexei throws himself forward, shielding me with his body as three shots ring out.

Akim’s body jerks as all three bullets find their mark—two in his chest and one in his head. He spasms for a few seconds before crumpling to the floor with his eyes wide open… light brown eyes that look just like mine…

But they have no light in them now. No life. They’re looking at Mikhail, but they can’t see him. There’s only death and spite left in them. No sorrow or remorse.

Alexei helps me to my feet as Mikhail rushes to my side, cradling my face in his hands. “Are you hurt?”

I shake my head. “I’m fine.” I rub a hand over my stomach. “Our baby too, I think.”

His breathing is labored, and his white shirt is stained with blood that isn’t his. “I’m sorry it took me so long.”

“No, you came right on time.” I throw myself into his arms and bury my face in his neck. “I was so scared. I thought I’d lost you.”

He wraps his arms around me and holds me tight. “I promised I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you or our baby, didn’t I?”

“You kept to your promise,” I sigh into him. Then I remember Dimitri and pull away. “Dimitri betrayed us.”

“He’s dead,” Mikhail states simply, reaching to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “It’s all over, malyshka.”

I crack a smile at him. “So what do we do now?”

He takes my hand and traces soothing circles on my skin with his thumb. “Now? We rule Russia. Together.”