Page 63 of Saved By A God
“Watch your fucking tone.”
“Yes, sir,” Danil quickly replies, more respectful this time around.
“Leave!” Rodian snaps angrily, and when Danil hesitates, the underboss of the Bratva reaches for his gun that’s holstered at the side of his chest.
Danil and Kiril turn and run, making it out the door right as Rodian fires a shot into the doorjamb.
I know more about Rodian than Yegor. While the head of the Bratva is in his early seventies and likes to make people do his dirty work, Rodian, who’s much younger and in his thirties, is known for being brutal.
Things have never been good between the two men. I don’t know why, though.
Rodian’s jaw is clenched, and his eyes are filled with rage when he directs his attention at me. He doesn’t stop looking at me as he pulls his phone out and dials a number, and a moment later he asks, “Why the fuck do we have a capo of the Cosa Nostra?... Fuck the money, Yegor. This is an act of war we didn’t need right now.” Grim lines cut into his face, making fear trickle through my chest, but his tone is in total contrast, almost sounding friendly as he says, “Fine…. Sure… Of course… I think I’ll hang around a bit and see how everything works.”
He ends the call, then takes a moment to calm down before he looks at me again. “How are you holding up?”
From all the strain of spending long hours behind the screens, I’m unable to keep my eyes open and close them as I say, “I’ve had better days.”
“Mikhail,” Rodian calls, and again, I have to crack an eye open so I can watch as one of the guards comes in.
Rodian gives him an order that makes the guard jog through the room to the other door on the opposite side. When he shoves it open, I hear machines whirring, then it shuts again.
Again, Rodian walks to the hackers’ hall and looks at something before coming back. Placing his hand on my shoulder, he whispers, “I’ll reach out to Christiano and hang around to make sure nothing else happens to you.”
Shocked, my lips part. “Why would you do that?”
“Because it’s time for a new Pakhan.” He shakes his head. “Shit like this has to stop.” He squeezes my shoulder. “Give me a few days. I’ll get you out of here.”
I’m so desperate I don’t think to question him, and when my chin quivers from the hope flooding my chest, Rodian pats my cheek gently.
“I’m sorry this happened, Rosie. It’s not how I do things. Just go along with whatever I do and say.”
Yeah, I’m not so sure about that.
The guard, Mikhail, comes back with a small bottle, which he hands to Rodian, who says, “Eyedrops. Put some in.” He sets it down on the desk.
Not wasting time, I reach for it and take off the cap. I quickly put a few drops in each eye, then keep them shut.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
I hear footsteps, then Danil says, “I hear you’ll be staying for a while? The accommodations aren’t too great.”
“Just give me a fucking room.” Suddenly I’m grabbed by my arm and hauled to my feet.
I struggle to see anything when I pry my eyes open, then Rodian says, “I’m taking her for entertainment.”
The hell he is!
While I yank against his grip, Danil argues, “That’s not why she’s here.”
“Are you giving me orders?” Rodian growls, tugging me against his chest. When I smell sandalwood and spices, my heart shrivels once more as the thought of Enzo pops into my head.
“No. It’s just…” Danil lets out a sigh. “We’ll lose money.”
I keep blinking like crazy while Rodian’s fingers bite into my arm.
“How much does she bring in a day? That amount on the board? A hundred mil?”
“Yes, sir.”
