Page 18 of Beautiful Trauma (The Irish Rogues #5)

A s I paced around the lush gardens of the Byrne estate, I gripped my phone to my ear. “He won’t sign it!” I blared

“What the fuck?” Callum demanded.

A volatile mixture of jetlag and frustration swirled within me at my cousin’s actions. Like the dutiful lapdog I was, I touched down in Dublin shortly after noon armed with the marriage contract Korolova had sent me.

I’d barely gotten through the door when Brian informed me that the contract was fucked because Annika was damaged goods.

With a growl, I jerked my hand through my hair. “He knows about Annika being a lesbian.”

“Put him on the phone.”

“I can’t.”

“Why the fuck not?”

“He had the audacity to dismiss me for another meeting.”

“That eejit!”

“My sentiments exactly,” I growled.

“I don’t give a shite if he’s family. He has no right to disrespect you. Go back in there and demand he explains himself. If he doesn’t, then get the fuck out of there. He can deal with the fall out with Korolova.”

“Got it.”

“Keep me posted.”

“I will.”

After hanging up, I marched back inside the house. When I reached the study, I flung open the door. To my surprise, it was empty. Where the fuck was he and his alleged meeting?

I finished a quick sweep downstairs when I found Brian’s seventeen-year-old-brother, Jordy, at the bottom of the grand staircase. “Where ya been, boyo?” he asked.

“Just out for some fresh air.” After glancing around, I asked, “Where’s Brian?”

“Upstairs.”

I grunted. “I assume he’s finished with his meeting.”

He snorted. “I think it’s just getting started.”

“I think it’s about to end,” I muttered as I started up the stairs.

Jordy grabbed my arm. “He’s not to be interrupted.”

“Fuck that. I’ve waited on his bullshit long enough.”

“Don’t you get it? He’s busy .”

I swept my hands to my hips. “Are you telling me he blew off my meeting to fuck?”

With a laugh, Jordy replied, “Hell yeah.”

As Jordy bounced on the balls of his feet, I cocked my head at him. “Are you banjaxed?”

He chuckled. “No. I’ve got to keep my wits about me.”

“For what?”

He waggled his brows. “My turn at a fine piece of Russian ass.”

Unease pricked up my spine. “What are you talking about?”

“Brian told me I can have a turn when he and Cian are done.”

Something within me said whatever sick sex shit my cousins were doing wasn’t consensual. My stomach churned with disgust at the thoughts of them taking advantage of a woman.

Grabbing him by the lapels of his suit, I smashed him up against the wall. “I’m only going to ask you this once. What the fuck is going on?”

Jerking his chin, Jordy said, “They got a Bratva girl up there.”

I frowned at him. “What girl?”

“The one who pulled the number on you.”

Every molecule in my body shuddered to a stop. No. It couldn’t be. There was no way she was here.

“What did she look like?”

“Blonde hair and blue eyes like a wolf.”

FUCK!

Shoving Jordy away, I took the stairs on the grand staircase two at a time. When I reached the landing, I whipped my head left and right. An anguished scream echoed through the hallway. I then rushed to the right.

At the third door, Mila’s screams were much clearer. When I flung open the door, I recoiled at the sight before me.

Mila was naked and tied spread-eagled to the four posts of the bed. While Cian leered at her, Brian started to climb on top of Mila.

In an instant, I was transported back five years to the dank and dreary Kavanaugh crypt where I was forced to hold Maeve down through her assault. Both agony and fury rumbled through my chest before exiting my mouth in a roar.

Both men jumped back at the sound. “Get the fuck away from her!”

Brian narrowed his eyes. “Sorry, cousin, but you’ll have to wait your turn.” A cruel smile curved on his lips. “After what she did to you, I know you’re owed a turn.”

Grabbing him by the arm, I slung him away from the bed and Mila. I jabbed my finger in his face. “As long as I draw breath, not one of you bastards will be having a bleedin’ turn.”

Mila’s agonized sobs tore through my chest. Yanking the sheet from the floor, I covered her body. “Oh God, Mila, I’m sorry. I’m so very sorry,” I crooned in a low voice.

Brian shook his head. “Her father betrayed me by offering damaged goods.”

As I began to untie one of the ropes binding Mila, I glowered at him. “That business had nothing to do with her. If you want to take it out on someone, deal with her father or brothers.”

After crossing his arms over his chest, Brian sneered at me. “If you’re a feckin’ fag just say it, mate. I mean, your Da always said you were soft.”

I smacked the rope against his chest. “Fuck. You.”

As I reached over to take Mila into my arms, Brian shoved me. “I don’t think you get it. She’s to be my bride.”

I blinked at him in disbelief. After being so angry about Annika, he wanted to marry Mila? I knew there was no way she would’ve agreed to it just like she hadn’t agreed to be fucked by him and CIan.

“Does Korolova know this?”

“No. But he’ll go along with it or face the repercussions for his deceit.”

“If you’re taking her as a bride, how can you…” I swallowed hard. “You even told Jordy he could have a turn.”

“She needs to be taught a lesson after she had the audacity to tell me just to turn a blind eye to Annika’s perversion.”

Shaking my head, I countered, “I won’t fucking stand for it.”

With a gleam burning in his eyes, Brian replied, “If you don’t get the fuck out of here, you won’t be standing long, boyo.”

I responded by dropping into a fighter’s stance. As Brian came at me from the front, Cian rushed my back. After ducking away, I launched two punches at Brian before whirling around to shove Cian into the wall. Searching for a weapon, I grabbed a marble ashtray off the table.

Cian landed one punch before I smashed him in the face with the ashtray.

With the two of them incapacitated, I gathered Mila into my arms. After pulling my gun, I stepped out into the hallway.

I had no idea what retaliation I might face on the way out of here.

I was seriously lamenting not having a bodyguard accompany me.

Since I was flying to my family with protection, it didn’t seem necessary.

When I started down the staircase, Jordy’s eyes bulged at the sight of Mila in my arms. Pointing the gun at him, I said, “Don’t fucking move!”

With a slow shake of his head, Jordy replied, “He’ll kill you for this.”

“Not if I kill him first.” Since Brian had sent a car to the airport for me, I was in desperate need of a mode of transportation. Waving my gun, I said, “Get me the keys to a car.”

“Not bloody likely.”

I unloaded a shot at his feet, causing his arms to pinwheel as he flailed backwards until he fell on his ass. As Jordy stared up at me in disbelief, I said. “Get me some fucking keys or the next shot fucks you up and not the floor.”

With shaky hands, he reached into his pocket. After pulling out a key fob, he threw it at me. “Red Porsche.”

Without another word to him, I headed outside. Craning my neck, I searched the cars parked along the circular driveway. When I found it, I sprinted as best I could with Mila jostling in my arms.

Once I had deposited Mila inside, I raced around the front of the car. I said a silent prayer of thanks when it cranked. As I tore down the driveway, I reached for my phone. Callum answered on the second ring.

“I’m in trouble.”

He sucked in a harsh breath. “What’s happened?”

After filling him in about Mila and Brian, Callum growled, “Motherfucker!”

“Considering I don’t have her ID or passport, we’re truly fucked for getting out of the country fast.”

“You’re going to have to lay low until we get the jet to you.”

In a move of absolute control, I’d been flown to Dublin on Korolova’s jet along with two of his relatives who were going on to Russia. They were to pick me back up on their return trip to the states.

“Yeah, I know I need to get off the road, but Dublin is practically a foreign city to me, not to mention whatever connections we had I just burned to the ground.”

“Jordy might be an eejit, but there’s no way he doesn’t have a tracker on that car.”

I banged my hand on the wheel. “Fuck!”

My outburst caused Mila to whimper. “I’m sorry,” I murmured. Instead of acknowledging my apology, she remained staring ahead.

“Easy now. You gotta keep your head. You could ditch the car and walk,” Callum suggested.

Glancing over at Mila, I winced. She remained frozen, unblinking and unmoving. “Mila isn’t equipped for walking.”

“Fuck.”

“My sentiments exactly.”

“Okay. Give me ten minutes to figure something out, and I’ll call back.”

“And until then?”

“Drive like a bat out of hell.”

“Got it.”