I look back to the stage. There are only three girls left, including the beautiful woman who first caught my attention. My brows pinch together as I watch her head swivel from side to side. She yanks at her restraints. Her chest rises and falls at a rapid rate.
Just like a bird caught in thorns.
But when she turns to face the crowd once more, she’s anything but the bird from my memory. Instead of fear, her eyes are hot with an angry blaze.
I turn my gaze from her and focus on my hands, my thoughts shifting once again to my father. The man was too kind and good, and that’s what got him killed. He gave people too many opportunities, trusted too easily. And that’s all the traitor needed.
Anger boils deep in my body, as hot as lava. It churns within, hungry for destruction, and I know it’s too much for me to handle. I allowed the darkness to swallow me whole the moment I thought about my father. My fists clench so hard my knuckles turn white. But it’s all I can do to keep from losing control in front of everyone.
“Nikita, sir?” Eitan frowns as he lays his hand on my forearm. “Is everything okay?”
But it’s too late and the thoughts take over.
The traitor.
The bastard from my father’s inner circle. The one who betrayed my father, kidnapped him, and then sold him to our enemies. Of course, it took days for us to find out what happened. But I knew instantly the first night my father didn’t come home that he would never step foot into the house again.
I’d wanted to be the one to find my father. I wanted to have a body to bury, to give him the funeral send-off he deserved. And I wanted for all that to happen so my mother didn’t have to be the one to find him. Because if that happened, I knew I’d lose her, too.
It didn’t take long. Not even a week. One of my father’s lieutenants came across his body strung up in a warehouse that we used to store weapons in. I got the call after midnight and raced over to the place. The men had left him in the position they found him. Seeing my father like that, my father who had set a small bird free, broke my soul.
I didn’t shed a tear. I felt nothing that night. No pain. No anger. I was just numb as I cut him down and covered him with a sheet. As I stood over his dead body, the same memory from the mountain came to mind.
My father had told me it was my responsibility to free the bird. But it was the wrong lesson. The lesson was not to free the bird.
It was to never become the bird.
Instead, I became the thorny bush, trapping and destroying those who threatened my business and my family. I would never be as weak as he was. No one would ever think to betray me. And I’d never afford them the opportunity either.
It has been ten years since that night. I’ve clawed my way to the top. Anyone whose loyalty I question is killed—whether by my hand or my command.
Sparing the life of the old man earlier tonight was the most sympathy I’ve shown in a decade.
Eitan is the only person I’ve allowed to be close to me. And truth be told, I bugged his house years ago and still listen in.
Trust is a luxury I can’t enjoy. Especially with the newest weapons shipment coming in.
“Eitan, is everything set for the meeting later?” My fingers drum against my thighs.
“Most of the bosses were told to keep a cool head during the auction, that we have important business to discuss. But you know some of them don’t really listen. I expect Dino might be a problem,” Eitan responds.
I snort. “He always is. I still don’t understand how the man hasn’t been imprisoned yet. The FBI has been on him for years.”
“He plays the game with them. A great showman. But my gut says they feel he’s low on the pecking order. Too dramatic. Not to be trusted.”
Eitan’s right, and it’s one of the reasons Dino and the Tratatori family are always on my radar. I’m not one to underestimate him. Hell, I’d love to put a bullet in his head most days, but he’s got a strong network. One I can and have used.
“We’ll go over the inventory expected, pricing, and narrow down the times. Remember, don’t let the exact time slip. No need for anyone to slip and give the feds the heads-up. Remind our men as well,” I say.
Eitan nods.
I breathe in and out slowly. I’ve been working on this deal for a while—been burning the midnight oil to make sure the operation runs smoothly—because this massive weapons shipment will guarantee power and control for a long time to the Lavrin family.
And to me.
Chapter Five
Annie
My head isn’t throbbing as much and my legs feel steadier. Thank God the alcohol is finally leaving my system. But now I can see more of the predicament I’m in, and just how dangerous this situation is. In front, one of the final women is up for bidding. That leaves just me. Her dark hair is frizzy and curly over bruised mocha skin. Her silver dress sparkles in the lights from the stage. She’s missing one shoe and her knee is bleeding.
The crowd hoots and hollers, but tears stain the woman’s face. My brows pinch together. She looks younger than me. Do these people go around abducting young woman? How can they get away with this? Families have to be searching for these girls.
And someone has to be searching for me ... right?
The woman hangs her head down, her shoulders shuddering as the man holding her chain hoists her dress up to show the crowd her goods and spins her
