Frustration claws up my throat, and I want to lash out.
“Stay with Evie. Don’t come out of this room no matter what.”
Lucca’s words to his sister pierce my veil of pure panic. I wasn’t going down. He was leaving me up here. It didn’t mean he wouldn’t come back, but it gave me time, time to convince Anita not to let them take me.
Lucca leaves the room. Anita is staring at the door before she turns to me.
“I’m going to be sold,” I tell her.
She doesn’t respond, but she looks out of place as she pulls at her loopy earrings.
“I’m a virgin. That’s what they are selling me for.” I push away from the wall.
Anita shakes her head, wild curls bouncing everywhere. “He won’t let them take you.”
Her words have no force behind them, and I half laugh and half cry.
“You think he will stop Igor?”
“I don’t know, Evie.” Anita turns away from me, and I don’t want her to ignore me.
“You can help me.” I move around her, so I’m looking at her. “Please! You can help me get out of here.”
She’s shaking her head. “You really picked the wrong girl.” Anita looks at me with sympathy in her eyes. “I’m sorry, but I would never betray my brother.”
“I’m being trafficked, along with six other girls.”
She turns away, but I don’t stop. “They took me at the age of ten.” Her shoulders are hunched like she can fend off my words.
“They took me from my parents.” My voice breaks.
“They stole me.” I want to scream it at the top of my lungs so she will listen.
“They stole all of us. How is that right?”
Anita swings around. “It’s not.” Her voice rises. “But, I’m sorry. I can’t help you.”
I blink, and tears fall. I’m looking at the window, and for a split second, I think about opening it and jumping. Would I break my legs, my neck? Would it be a better fate than being sold? Or would I land on my feet? I move to the window. Anita doesn’t stop me, but I can see why she doesn’t care. The yard has security everywhere and not just Lucca’s, but also Igor’s men.
I turn back to Anita, who is watching me. I think if I had the power to help someone, I would do it. I wouldn’t be like Anita.
My mind trails back to the moment in the loading bay when I huddled behind the crates, ready to leave my sisters behind. My cheeks grow red. I didn’t take them with me, but I would have sent help. That much I know.
I hold my head and jut out my chin at Anita. “You are as bad as the rest of them,” I say my words clearly before sitting on the bed to await my fate.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
LUCCA
Igor is in the lounge sitting down on a large claw-legged armchair. Three security men surround his seat.
“Igor, what a pleasure to have you in my home.” I didn’t like this man being here for one second. The idea that he was here for Evie crossed my mind, but he wouldn’t come himself, instead of sending a lieutenant, so this was something more.
“How is Evie?” He starts with. He’s really watching my reaction.
I sit down across from him. His first question should have been what happened to my face, so this was all carefully orchestrated.
“She’s upstairs. Shall I bring her down?” I ask.
His down-turned lips turn up slightly. “Let us just talk.”
I sit fully back in the chair.
“Someone will collect her tomorrow.”
My gut tightens. “Perfect.”
“A doctor will have to examine her first to make sure she is still pure. No offense.”
“None taken,” I answer, but the thoughts of Evie being assessed like that have me wanting to walk away from Igor.
His smile shifts, and his lips drag back down. “I know she is a temptation that even the strongest would have to fight.”
“I’ve been too busy, Igor, with my job.”
Igor nods and touches his cheek. “I see you got hurt.”
“It comes with the territory.” I keep my tone respectful, but nothing about this meeting seems appropriate to me.
Igor is watching me, and the fact that he is here tells me he’s part of this somehow.
He sits forward suddenly and reaches into his suit jacket, and extracts a piece of paper. He leans across the space, not close enough for me to take it. I have to get up and move across the room. He releases the piece of paper that I open. It has a name scrawled across it.
“I want him found and silenced.”
I sit back down. “No problem. I’ll get onto it once I close this case.”
Igor rises, and so do I. As he steps closer to me, his security team mirrors his actions. “No need. You’re off this case. Consider it closed, and I will have Evie collected tomorrow.”
He points at the piece of paper in my hand. “Just focus on this job.”
He tries to walk away but pauses. “Oh, and don’t worry, you will still get paid for both jobs.” I wasn’t going to mention money.
“So, you found the girls?” I ask, knowing it’s a mistake when he looks at me now with a smirk.
“I’ll be in touch tomorrow.” Igor leaves, and I watch him from the sitting room window as his men climb into three separate cars and drive away from my house.
Evie will be collected tomorrow. None of this sat right with
