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“Wait,” I say, stopping her.

“She’s out back, and we don’t have much time!” She grabs my hand, using all her power to pull me in the direction of the back door.

A few women and girls stare at us.

One picks up her phone, as if taping the scene.

I’ve gone out the back door numerous times when taking out the trash or accepting a new delivery. It’s where we receive most of our donations as well.

I follow her outside, and she slams the door shut behind us. It’s rainy and gross, and I wish we’d grabbed an umbrella.

But I thought of her sister’s safety first.

That’s what matters most.

“Where’s your sister?” I ask Sage, who turns around and looks at me.

A black van swerves in front of me, blocking me from the door. The door opens, and just as I scream for help, someone grabs me. I kick my feet as they slam their hand over my mouthto muffle me. Their arm wraps around my neck, causing me to choke, and I fight as they drag me toward the van.

The man throws me inside, pins me down, and smacks tape over my mouth. I attempt to crawl away from him and jump out of the van, but he slides the door shut and backhands me in the face.

“Stay there, you dumb fucking bitch, before I break your leg so you can’t try to run,” a man snarls.

I curl forward at his Russian accent, and a tear slips down my cheek. Glancing over, I see Sage balled in a corner, her knees to her chest and crying.

“He said she might be a fighter,” the man in the driver’s seat says, but I can’t see him. “Put her ass to sleep.”

“No!” I scream, attempting to crawl away in panic.

The man smacks me again, harder this time, and as I fall back, he grabs me by my hair and shoves a rag against my face.

My eyes grow heavy.

My shoulders slump.

And everything turns black.

40

I keep rereadingGenesis’s text on my phone.

Genesis: Too bad. This might be your favorite, and I want to see your face when I tell you.

Please let it be that she’s pregnant.

She hasn’t mentioned a period, and we’ve been trying like crazy.

Today might be the best damn day of my life.

I’ll get Yaroslav off my back, and Genesis and I can live our lives without thinking about fucking Russians.

Sure, I’ll always have to watch my back for enemies, but Dima is constantly on my mind.

Antonio and Damien are with me.

I slip my phone into my pocket when we pull up to the same warehouse where I met Yaroslav when I paid him the initial deposit for Genesis. The only other vehicle is a black Suburban with a yellow snake bumper sticker.

“Let’s go get this shit over with,” I say from the back seat.