*A worthy death*

Valentina’s pulse thundered in her ears as she struggled against the tight grip of the masked man. She twisted, yanked, and tried to stomp on his foot, but he was stronger than she was.

“Let go of me!” she gasped, trying to pry his fingers off her arm. But then she felt a cold metal pressed against her throat.

A knife.

The sharp blade barely skimmed her skin, but the message he meant to pass was clear. She froze, her breath catching in her chest. The struggle drained ...