Blood & Torment (Pins and Needles: Moscow Book 2) by Elizabeth Knox (best short books to read TXT) 📕

to me and pulled out his knife. He carved JF into my hip, branding me, so everyone knew who I belonged to. It’s what he said, at least, but what he doesn’t realize is I don’t belong to anyone, and I never will.

I’ve tried hard to keep that memory blocked out of my head. Even when I woke up after he left and I cleaned myself up. I felt so dirty after everything happened. I needed to do something. I already got new tattoos and have my nipples, clit, nose, and ears pierced. I could’ve gotten another one, but I’d gone with having my hair changed to purple while I was off yesterday. I don’t want to be the same woman who put up with all that. I want to be a new woman, a stronger one.

Sascha went with me and we’d gone out after. He wanted to make me feel better and though he tried, I still felt dirty. Shit, I could even feel the scar Jacob gave me as if it were just branded into my skin yesterday. I know it’s mental, the same way people who’ve been through war can hear grenades going off. It’s only natural to be feeling it, to have nightmares about Jacob. I constantly have to remind myself everything I’m experiencing is normal.

I’d love to have it covered, but I don’t even know where I’d start. It’s a deep cut and I’m sure I’d have to go to the doctor to even start to get it covered. I don’t want to do that. The last thing I willingly want to do is for someone else to see my weakness.

The door to the back opens and Kronid steps out with Michail behind him. Where Kronid has dark hair, Michail is blond, looking like a sinister grim reaper. Since starting here, he and I have crossed paths on a daily basis since he’s Kronid’s right-hand man.

“Trista, please move Dema’s appointments back a week for me, please. Since she’s here, I can just go ahead and tell her now. We’re going on a short trip and I was going to ask you to look after her grandparents for us while we’re away,” Kronid states, stepping close to Dema and placing his hand on her stomach where she’s sporting a small bump.

“Sure,” I say, nodding and looking at the schedule then back to them, avoiding full-on eye contact with anyone. “I can handle all of that. You two have fun.”

“Thank you,” Kronid says and switches his focus to Dema. “Let’s go. We’ll have lunch before getting on the road.”

Smiling, Dema presses closer to him and looks at me. “I guess I’ll see you when I get back and you can tell me what that frown is for.”

Giving her an eye roll, I grin. “Only frowning at the lovey-dovey BS between you two. It’s gross if you ask me,” I say sarcastically to hide the real reason. I won’t let her find out the truth. Not now, and sure as hell not ever.

When they leave, I look to my computer to avoid speaking to Michail. Okay, so he’s not just sinister-looking. He’s drop-dead gorgeous, and the man is so out of my league it isn’t even funny. Merely at the sight of him, my cheeks flush with heat, so I’ll stick to my work and ignore the tall, dark, and mysterious man looming around the place.

Chapter Three

Michail

Kronid asked me to watch over not only everything upstairs but downstairs as well while he’s away. He isn’t the only one out of town. Katya is in the United States as well visiting family, so there’s a lot of pressure on me to make sure everything goes well. Thinking back, this is the first time I’ve ever been left alone to watch over everything. Usually, if Kronid isn’t here, Katya is somewhere nearby if I need her. Things will go smoothly while they’re all gone, and we’re going to have an easy couple of days.

I’ve already opened the shop with Meghan, Nikita, Trista, and Igor. The rest of those who work for the tattoo shop will be here later this afternoon for the closing shift. As far as the mail-order bride business, and the other things Katya runs downstairs that we don’t speak about, our men are here 24/7. We have too much product here to risk leaving the building unattended.

I’m in Kronid’s office watching the cameras, making sure everything is going well. It seems like a mundane task and slowly the hours pass. Between looking over applications, running upstairs to check on the women who’re meeting prospective husbands and wives today, and making sure the shop is running well . . . I’m fucking exhausted. How does Kronid manage to keep up with this madness?

I finally take a seat back on the stool at Kronid’s desk when a slight movement causes me to glance up at the screen. A man’s standing up with his arm straight out, appearing quite angry. I narrow my eyes and quickly realize this man must be an idiot. Anyone who’d touch one of our employees has a death wish.

I swirl around on the stool and head out of Kronid’s office on a mission. In a quick few steps, I’m in the heart of the parlor and I’m staring this oversized Russian man down. His hand is around Nikita’s neck and he’s glaring at her like he’s thinking about ending her life.

“What’s the meaning of this?” I ask calmly yet keep my tone stern.

“This bitch hasn’t given me what I’ve paid for!” he screams with all his might, tightening his grip around Nikita’s neck.

Her eyes got wider and the fear on her face is evident. I need to intervene now, or it might be too late.

“What did she not give you?” I question him, looking between Nikita and him. I have to make sure she’s okay, that she’s still alive, that he isn’t going to cause her to pass out, or anything bad.

“You