ting inside of me. I focus on the feeling of having someone close, of be

t is what tips

ills me or the way he stroke

he's real.

n I've ever come before, simply because he's

hlessly. I can't breathe, see, or s

en happens, shame f

ams into me one last time and shudders. I can feel him unleashi

ho pointed a gun at me. Who l

orce himself on m

ly makes my

nd zips up his jeans. "Ka

owels from under the sink to clean up with. My panties are destroyed, so

Husband about this," he reassures me wit

idden. The only illuminated light is positioned just be

od on the entire time. I still don

at's for

s a nightmar

time, he lets me pass. When he does,

It's like coming out of a dream, reclaiming control of your mind and body, be

an who asked a stranger

warms m

then?" the man taunts,

on-nothing good can come of looking myself in the eye right n

of the bathroom, ready to send the m

e the back door of the clinic is slightly ajar

lready

I

ATVA SAFEHOUSE JUST OU

up, stretching my spine. "You gotta

ugly as you," my lieut

e a peg leg so far up your ass yo

ed. "That's a little grim, e

before fading away. The truth is that t

A mutiny means someone is telling me

t like

dy the situation v

ostly to myself. "Fucking

America?" He doesn't go so far as to actually block the door, but he positions hi

my gun holstered. "I'll

o disregards my orders so regularly. He's lucky he's my

nady

the men who support him have claimed the main armory

eth. "That motherfucker is a scared little p

Gennady agrees. "But he is smart enough to point the dangerous end of the gun at you and make it go bang. He's not playi

n the Bratva has hungered for a goddamn thing under my command. I provide. I lead. The smart

They'll kill you if you stick your head above ground." H

g of the coffee table. The entire thing tips over, spill

I don't have anywhere to put it. I'd like to

a k

, if that's what

it seems that's

ends down to scoop the spilled potting soil off his carpet. "Christ,

reath, ignoring him. "Fucking coward.

the mess. A few of my key lieutenants and their crews have thrown

m going scorched earth on anyone

uck they thought this w

ared," Genn

und to glare at him, he hold

scared of the recent crackdowns from police and what it mea

ters. But if you need another, the Albanians would just as soon kidnap and sell your mother or sister off the street and

Dima," Gennady says. His voice is quiet. Almo

es me ta

Gennady is on my side. We've been through hell and back together more

e blame for thi

er brigadiers. His job to ensure none of them became

And now he's t

ennady continues. "His plans escaped my notice, which mea

doesn't seem like enough reas

ians yet?" I demand. "Have th