Embrace of the Russian Tiger (Russian Mafia Kings #2)

Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

I had to know the truth, no matter what.

The words echoed in my mind, over and over, as I quietly slipped through the darkened mansion. My breath came in short, shallow bursts, every step heavy with the weight of what I was about to do. The text message still sat on my phone, the words burning a hole in my thoughts:

I know he didn’t tell you everything. Otherwise, I would have heard about it. Come outside. 11 PM.

I stared at the screen, my stomach twisting in knots.

Maxim wasn’t telling me everything. And despite knowing I was betraying Maxim’s trust by sneaking out like this, I had to go. I had to know.

A knot of guilt tightened in my chest as I stepped out into the cold night air. The mansion loomed behind me, dark and imposing, and for a brief moment, I hesitated. This wasn’t just about the message. It was about Maxim. I was betraying him by leaving, by searching for answers he clearly didn’t want me to find. But how could I stay when I was drowning in secrets?

I pulled my coat tighter around me and walked quickly down the street, glancing over my shoulder every few minutes. My pulse quickened with every step, the anticipation building in my chest like a ticking bomb.

What if this was a mistake?

Last time, the anonymous man had said he didn’t want me dead. But I didn’t know him. I didn’t even know if he was telling the truth. Yet here I was, walking straight into whatever trap might be waiting for me. Because I had no choice. I couldn’t live like this, trapped in the dark, with Maxim holding all the cards.

When I reached the street, my heart pounded in my throat. Every instinct screamed at me to turn back, to run home to the safety of the mansion, but I forced myself to wait. The shadows swallowed me whole as I moved deeper into the alley, my footsteps echoing off the brick walls.

"Hello?" I called out, my voice shaky. "Is anyone here?"

Silence.

I took another step forward, the cold seeping into my skin. My nerves were on edge, my pulse racing, and every sense was heightened. I could feel something was off, but before I could react, a sharp, cold sensation pressed against the back of my neck.

A gun.

"Not another word," a voice growled in my ear, low and menacing.

I froze, fear coursing through me like ice. My breath caught in my throat as rough hands grabbed my arms, yanking me backward. I struggled, kicking out, but two men appeared from the shadows, grabbing me with iron grips.

"Let me go!" I shouted, my voice trembling.

But they didn’t respond. Instead, one of them shoved a hood over my head, plunging me into darkness. My heart pounded, panic rising in my chest as they dragged me toward a vehicle—a van, from the sound of it. I kicked and thrashed, desperate to break free, but they were too strong. Before I knew it, I was thrown into the back of the van, the door slamming shut behind me.

The van sped off, bouncing over the rough streets as I lay there, my hands tied behind my back, the hood suffocating me in the darkness. My mind raced. Why was this happening now? The man who had texted me before had said he didn’t want me dead. So, what changed? I was so stupid, really. What was I thinking?

I couldn’t think straight. The fear was suffocating, and every bump in the road made my heart leap into my throat. My mind was a mess of conflicting emotions—fear, anger, betrayal. Was this because I had left the mansion? Was this a punishment for betraying Maxim? Or was it something else? Someone else?

The van came to a screeching halt, and before I could even process what was happening, the door slid open. More hands grabbed me, dragging me out into the cold night air. I stumbled, disoriented, as they pulled me into what felt like a building. The smell of damp concrete and mildew hit me, making my stomach churn.

My heart raced as they led me down a series of hallways, their footsteps echoing off the walls. I couldn’t see anything, couldn’t hear anything but the steady rhythm of my own breathing. Finally, they shoved me into a chair, chaining my wrists and ankles to the cold, metal frame.

The hood was ripped off, and I blinked against the sudden brightness of the lights. My head spun as I looked around, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The room was small, concrete walls with no windows. No way out.

And then I saw him.

A man stepped forward from the shadows, tall and imposing. I didn’t recognize him, but there was something about the way he moved, something in the way he looked at me, that sent a chill down my spine. His face was cold, cruel, his eyes glinting with amusement as he stared down at me.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice trembling with fear and anger.

He smiled, slow and mocking. "Oh, you don’t know me, do you? I’m hurt, Anna.”

“I am asking you again. Who are you and what do you want?”

The man chuckled, stepping closer, his presence overwhelming. "What I want, little princess, is for you to understand just how insignificant you are. How worthless you are in this world. In his world, especially.”

My heart lurched in my chest, the fear turning to anger. "You don’t know anything about me or Maxim."

"Oh, but I do," he said, his smile widening. "I know that he doesn’t care about you. You’re nothing but a pawn to him. Something to be owned, controlled. He doesn’t love you, Anna. You’re just another one of his toys, little girl.”

I clenched my fists, the chains digging into my wrists. "You’re wrong."

"Am I?" He crouched down in front of me, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Let me tell you something, Anna. The game has changed. Maxim is onto me, and before he can make his move, I have you. And now, you’re the leverage I need. So now, you are my toy.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Leverage. That’s all I was to him. To Maxim. My heart twisted painfully, the reality sinking in. But I couldn’t let this man see my fear.

"You still haven’t told me who you are," I spat, glaring up at him.

The man straightened, his smile widening. "I’m Nikolai."

My blood ran cold. Nikolai. The name Mikhail had mentioned once, in passing, when he had been drinking too much one night. A childhood friend of Maxim’s. Someone who had disappeared, only to resurface recently. I didn’t know the details, but I knew enough to feel the sharp sting of betrayal on Maxim’s behalf. I knew Nikolai knew Katya.

"And you think this is going to save you?" I said, my voice shaking with fury. "Kidnapping me? Holding me hostage?"

Nikolai laughed, a dark, twisted sound. "Oh, this isn’t just about saving myself, Anna. This is about making Maxim pay. For everything."

"Maxim will come for me," I said, my voice steady. "He will find you. And when he does, you’ll wish you never touched me."

Nikolai’s eyes darkened, his smile fading as he leaned in closer. "Do you know why Katya died?"

My breath hitched at the mention of her name. Katya. Maxim’s sister.

"I told Rossi that Katya was laughing at him, making a fool of him. I knew what Rossi would do. I wanted to teach her a lesson, that bitch. I was eighteen at the time, and Katya was sixteen. She thought she was too good for me, refused to go on a date with me. So, I made sure she paid for it. No one dares to refuse me.”

I stared at him, horror and disbelief crashing through me. "You… you’re the reason she’s dead."

He smiled again, that cruel, twisted smile that made my stomach churn. "Rossi punished her, just like I knew he would. I was there, Anna. I watched. I enjoyed every second of it."

I felt bile rise in my throat, my heart pounding as the truth hit me like a sledgehammer. This man, this monster, had been behind Katya’s death. He had manipulated everything, twisted the truth to get what he wanted.

"And afterward," Nikolai continued, "I took her necklace. A little keepsake. But recently, I noticed it was gone from my West Coast residence. I flew back the other day to deal with business, opened my safe and it was gone. And that’s when I knew I had to act quickly."

My hands clenched into fists, rage bubbling up inside me. I wanted to scream, to hit him, to tear him apart for what he had done. But I was trapped. Helpless. And I couldn’t let him win.

"What do you want from me?" I whispered, my voice trembling with fury and fear.

Nikolai’s smile widened, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. "Either you marry me, and I inherit Rossi’s assets, or I kill you. Your choice, little girl."

My heart pounded, my mind racing. I knew he was bluffing. If he killed me, he would get nothing. But I couldn’t let him see that I knew. I had to play the game. For now.

"You’ll never get away with this," I said, my voice steady.

Nikolai leaned in closer, his breath hot against my skin. "We shall see about that."

And with that, he turned and walked out, leaving me chained, alone, and more determined than ever to survive.

The moment the door slammed shut behind Nikolai, I slumped back in the chair, letting the breath I’d been holding rush out of me in a shaky exhale. The chains clinked softly as I shifted, testing my wrists and ankles again. No give. They had made sure of that.

I blinked back the angry tears that burned at the back of my eyes, forcing myself to focus. I couldn’t break down. Not now. I couldn’t let Nikolai win, and I couldn’t let this suffocating fear swallow me whole.

I replayed his words in my mind, each revelation more horrifying than the last. Nikolai had orchestrated everything—the betrayal of Katya, her brutal death, and the lies that had manipulated Rossi into doing his dirty work. I could feel the weight of the truth pressing down on my chest, suffocating me. But beneath the shock and the horror was a rising tide of fury. The image of Katya, her life had been stolen because of Nikolai’s sick need for power and control.

I couldn’t allow him to do the same to me.

I glanced down at the chains again, my fingers aching from clenching them into fists. I had to stay calm. I had to think clearly. Nikolai believed he had me cornered, but he didn’t know me. I wasn’t going to break. And I certainly wasn’t going to marry that bastard.

But I had to play the game, at least for now. If I resisted too soon, he’d snap. And I couldn’t risk that—not when I still had a chance to outsmart him.

In the silence of the room, my mind spun, trying to find an escape. If I didn’t get out of here, if I didn’t find a way to contact Maxim, everything Nikolai had planned would fall into place. Maxim wouldn’t just lose me—he would lose everything. I knew Nikolai was banking on that.

Nikolai thought he understood me. Thought I was just some fragile girl, desperate for answers, desperate for Maxim’s approval. But he was wrong. I hadn’t survived this long by being weak. And I certainly wasn’t going to roll over and let him use me like a pawn.

I strained against the chains again, the cold metal biting into my skin, frustration gnawing at my patience. There had to be a way out.

I kept replaying what had happened leading up to this—the messages, the tension building between me and Maxim, the confusion and frustration I had felt when Maxim kept holding back. And now, I was here, trapped, because I had needed answers. Because I couldn’t just sit back and wait for someone else to tell me who I was.

And despite everything, despite knowing I had walked into a trap, I couldn’t help but feel... conflicted. Betrayed, yes, but also angry at myself. I had left the mansion, left Maxim behind, thinking I could handle this on my own. And now, because of that decision, I had walked straight into Nikolai’s hands.

I had to get out of here. I had to warn Maxim.

But first, I needed to keep Nikolai talking. I needed more information—more leverage. And I knew that, just like with Maxim, playing into Nikolai’s ego would be the key to getting what I wanted. The man clearly loved hearing the sound of his own voice, and he thrived on feeling superior.

When the door creaked open again, my heart skipped a beat, my breath catching in my throat. I forced my expression to remain neutral, even though every nerve in my body screamed at me to fight, to lash out. But I couldn’t—yet.

Nikolai strode into the room, his lips curling into that same smug smile as before. He had changed into a tailored suit, the sharp lines of his jacket emphasizing his powerful frame. The sight of him made my skin crawl, but I kept my face blank, knowing that showing fear would only give him more power.

“You’ve had some time to think,” he said, his voice dripping with arrogance as he stopped in front of me. “I trust you’re beginning to understand how hopeless your situation is?”

I bit the inside of my cheek, keeping my gaze steady. “What I understand,” I said, my voice cold, “is that you’re desperate. If you weren’t, you wouldn’t be holding me here like this. You’d have already made your move.”

His eyes flashed with anger for just a moment, but he quickly smoothed his expression back into one of cruel amusement. “Clever, aren’t you? But I wouldn’t mistake my patience for weakness.”

“I’m not,” I shot back, my pulse quickening. “I’m just wondering how long it’s going to take for Maxim to figure out where I am and come for you.”

At that, Nikolai’s smile faltered, but he covered it with a dry laugh. “Maxim might care about his toys, Anna, but not enough to risk everything for you. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you matter that much.”

“I don’t need to be a fool to know that you’re afraid of him,” I countered, leaning forward as much as the chains would allow. “You’re hiding, aren’t you? You’re hiding behind me, because you know that if you come at Maxim directly, he’ll destroy you.”

Nikolai’s expression darkened, and for a moment, I thought I had pushed too far. But then, he leaned down, his face inches from mine, his breath hot against my skin.

“You’re right about one thing,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “I am going to destroy him. And you? You’re going to help me do it.”

I swallowed hard, my heart racing as I stared up at him. “I’ll never help you.”

Nikolai chuckled softly, straightening again. “You will, Anna. Whether you like it or not. Because if you don’t, you won’t make it out of here alive. And you and I both know that’s not a risk you’re willing to take.”

I clenched my jaw, fighting the wave of fear that threatened to rise up in me. I couldn’t let him win. Not like this.

“Maxim will kill you for this,” I said, my voice steady. “You know that, don’t you? He’ll come for you, and he won’t stop until you’re dead.”

Nikolai smiled again, a slow, menacing grin that made my stomach turn. “Oh, I’m counting on it.”

He turned and walked toward the door, pausing just before he stepped out.

“We’ll talk more later, princess,” he said, his voice laced with mockery. “For now, think about my offer. Marry me, and maybe I’ll let you live.”

The door closed behind him with a heavy thud, and I was left alone, my mind spinning with fear, anger, and determination. I had to find a way out of this. I had to survive. I knew if I agreed to marry this sucker, he would keep me alive until he gained access to all assets.

I had to make sure that when Maxim came for Nikolai, I’d be there to see him fall.

The moment I heard the news, everything inside me went cold.