"Forty-three women," Harrison says. "All thinking they're in witness protection. One word from me, and the gas gets released."
"You're a monster," I say.
"I'm a businessman. And you've cost me significant revenue." He pulls out his phone, shows me a photo that makes my blood freeze.
It's my mother. At her apartment. Current timestamp.
"No—"
"Oh, yes. Your mother, Mikhail's sister, forty-three other women. All waiting for my decision about their futures."
"We gave you what you wanted," Mikhail says. "We surrendered."
"You gave me problems. Media attention. Federal investigation. Even with you both dead, it'll take years to rebuild what you destroyed."
"Then what's the point of this?"
"Satisfaction." Harrison pulls out a gun. "And cleanup."
He aims at my stomach.
"No!" Mikhail fights against his captors. "Kill me, not her!"
"Kill you?" Harrison lowers the gun, laughing. "Oh no, that would be too easy. Too quick." He nods to Pavel. "He's getting noisy. Time to take him to the basement."
"No!" I struggle as they drag Mikhail away. "Don't—"
"Relax, Mrs. Kozlov. He'll be alive. For a while." Harrison circles my chair like a predator. "I have something special planned for both of you."
They drag Mikhail out despite his struggles, and the last thing I see is his dark eyes promising he'll find a way back to me.
Pavel follows them with a satisfied smile.
"Now then," Harrison says once we're alone except for two guards. "Let's discuss your future."
"I don't care what happens to me. Just don't hurt him."
"Oh, I'm not going to hurt him." Harrison pulls out his phone, checking the time. "Pavel is."
"No—"
He pulls out a tablet. "In fact, let's watch, shall we? We have cameras everywhere."
The screen shows a concrete room—live feed. The men are seen entering, followed by Pavel, and chaining Mikhail to a chair.
I see his lips moving, but the camera is far away and I can't make out what he's saying.
The next thing that happens is that the men respond to a signal from Pavel and begin brutally beating Mikhail..
"Please don't—"
"Just watch."
On screen, Pavel gets close with what looks like a cattle prod. The torture begins immediately. Professional. Methodical. Designed for maximum pain. Mikhail tries not to scream, but eventually, everyone breaks.
I'm sobbing, pulling against my restraints. "Stop it! Please!"
"Oh, this is just the beginning. But don't worry—we're recording everything. You can watch it again later."
