Chapter 125 Chapter 125
Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Five
Irina's POV
That night, I went to Alexei's room as promised.
He was waiting for me, sitting by the fireplace with a glass of wine.
"Irina," he greeted me. "Right on time."
I stood by the door, my hands clenched at my sides.
"Come here," Alexei ordered.
I walked over slowly. Every step felt like walking to my execution.
Alexei pulled me onto his lap. I stiffened but did not resist.
This was the deal. This was what I had agreed to.
Alexei's hands roamed over my body.
I closed my eyes.
"Look at me," Alexei commanded.
I opened my eyes and met his gaze.
"Better," he said. "I want to see your face when I take you."
He started unbuttoning my dress. I sat there, feeling nothing.
Then someone knocked on the door.
Alexei cursed. "What?"
"Sir!" A guard's voice called urgently. "There is a problem!"
"It can wait," Alexei replied.
"Sir, it is urgent!" The guard insisted. "There has been an incident at the gates!"
Alexei pushed me off his lap and sood up.
"This better be important," he muttered.
He opened the door. "What incident?"
"Men, sir," the guard said breathlessly. "Armed men. They are demanding entry. They say they are from Dmitri's territory."
My heart stopped. Had someone come for Dimitri?
Alexei's face darkened. "How many?"
"At least twenty, sir," the guard replied. "They are heavily armed."
"Who is leading them?" Alexei demanded.
"A man named Boris," the guard said. "He says he was one of Mr. Dimitri's lieutenants."
Boris. That bastard.
"What does he want?" Alexei asked.
"He demands to see Mr. Dimitri," the guard explained. "He says he will not leave until he does."
Alexei smiled cruelly. "Then he will be waiting a long time."
He turned to me. "Stay here. Do not leave this room."
"What are you going to do?" I asked.
"What I do best," Alexei replied coldly. "Destroy anyone who challenges me."
He walked out. The door locked behind him.
I stood there, my mind racing.
Boris was here with twenty men, demanding to see Dimitri.
But would they make it?
Alexei has too many guards. He took down Dmitri and a hundred guards at once. He maimed Mikhail and killed Sergei. Boris and his little boys would be a piece of cake for him.
I had to do something. I can't just stay here, and watch Alexei win.
But what could I do? I was locked in this room.
I ran to the window and looked out. I could see the gates from here. Armed men were gathered outside, guns blazing.
And standing at the front was Boris . He was large and well built.
I had met him once or twice. He was loyal to Dimitri. One of the few who had not betrayed him.
I needed to get a message to him and tell him where Dimitri was.
But how?
I looked around the room frantically.
There had to be something.
A piece of paper. A pen.
I found them on Alexei's desk. I scribbled quickly.
Dimitri is in the punishment cells. Basement level. Below the regular cells. He is alive but being held prisoner. Boris, please help him. - Irina.
I folded the paper, then looked at the window.
It was too high and too far from the gates.
But there was a balcony on the other side of the room.
I ran to the balcony door. It was locked.
I grabbed a chair and smashed it against the lock.
Once. Twice. Three times.
The lock broke
The door swung open.
I stepped onto the balcony. The cold night air hit my face.
The gates were below to my left.
I could see Boris still standing strong. His hands were trembling slightly. Of course, he was scared. Everyone knew Alexei Volkov. He wasn't soft like his brother, Dmitri. He was deadly. He doesn't give a second chance.
But he had come still. He had come to save his boss.
I needed to get his attention.
"Boris!" I shouted. But my voice was lost in the commotion.
I looked around and found a small potted plant.
I threw it over the edge. It crashed near the gates.
Several men looked up.
"Boris!" I screamed. "Up here!"
Boris's head turned. He saw me. "Mrs. Volkov?" He called back.
"Yes!" I shouted. I waved the paper. "I have information! About Dimitri!"
"Throw it down!" Boris yelled.
I wrapped the paper around a small rock and threw it as hard as I could. It sailed through the air and landed near Boris's feet.
He picked it up and read it.
His face darkened with rage.
"The punishment cells," he repeated loudly. "They have him in the punishment cells."
His men started shouting. Angry and ready to fight.
"We are coming for you, boss!" Boris roared toward the villa. "Hold on!"
Then I heard footsteps behind me. I spun around.
Alexei stood in the doorway. His face was twisted with fury.
"What have you done?" He demanded.
"I told them where Dimitri is," I said. My voice was shaking but defiant.
Alexei crossed the room in three strides and grabbed my throat.
"You stupid bitch," he hissed. "Do you have any idea what you have done?"
"I saved my husband," I choked out.
"You have doomed us all," Alexei said.
He threw me against the wall. I hit hard. Pain exploded through my shoulder.
"Guards!" Alexei shouted. "Lock her in the servants' quarters! And double the security on the punishment cells!"
Two guards rushed in. And gtabbed my arms.
"No!" I struggled. "Let me go!"
They dragged me out. Down the hallway. Past Alexei's room.
To a small room in the servants' wing.
They threw me inside and locked the door.
I pounded on it. "Let me out! Please!"
But no one answered.
I sank to the floor. My shoulder throbbing.
What had I done? Had I just made things worse?
No. I had given Boris the information he needed.
Now it was up to him to save Dimitri. If he could.
I pressed my ear to the door, listening for any sound.
I could hear shouting outside and gunfire.
The battle had begun.
Hours passed. The sounds of fighting continued.
Then suddenly, everything went quiet.
Too quiet.
I held my breath, waiting.
Footsteps approached my door.
The lock clicked. The door opened.
Alexei stood there. His clothes were bloodied. His face was grim.
"It is over," he said.
My heart sank. "Boris?"
"Dead," Alexei replied. "Along with all his men. We killed them all."
"No," I whispered.
"Yes," Alexei said. "Your little rescue attempt failed. And now Dimitri will pay the price."
"What do you mean?" I asked fearfully.
"I am moving up his execution," Alexei said. "Tonight. In one hour, I will kill him."
"You promised!" I cried. "You said he could live!"
"That was before you betrayed me," Alexei said coldly. "Now the deal is off."
"Please!" I begged. "Please, Alexei! Do not kill him!"
"It is already decided," Alexei said. "Guards will take you to watch. So you can see what happens to people who defy me."
He walked away.
The guards grabbed me again and started dragging me down to the punishment cells.
To watch Dimitri die.