Page 88 of Bratva Jewels Box Set

Sophie left as soon as we arrived to catch up with one of her old work buddies to start trawling sources. She has arranged for her team of mercenaries to stop by tonight. Due to a hurricane hitting Haiti, wiping out communication and services to the island, the girl’s oldest sister Mackenzie arrived in Ibiza just as we were leaving, so she’s stayed behind with her parents and is going to canvass Ibiza, hoping someone might know something.

“These are some of my work buddies.” Sophie introduces us to Brooks, Damon, Ramsey, and Tad, four huge guys—bigger than Mateo—dressed in camo, looking very military, deep tans etched into their rough skin. “I have found some things out today through my contacts.” She smiles triumphantly.

“What contacts?” Enrique asks.

“Sorry, my sources are protected.” Sophie crosses her arms.

“Fine, thought I would ask. What have you found?”

“My sources have seen Nikolai over the years and are familiar with his men. They say he is ruthless, especially when it comes to his girls. He is very well-connected down here and well-guarded—he’s kind of a big deal. He supplies girls to top government officials. They have parties in rich people’s homes but only the inner circles are invited.”

Mateo growls at this news. “We must get her. They’re going to force her to have sex with these men.”

I can see the anguish on his face. I hold his hand. I understand his worry because I feel it as well.

“Mateo, she is strong, she survived it once, and she will again. Zoe will try everything to get back to you, us. I’m sure of it.” I try to settle him.

Mateo gets up and walks away.

Sophie starts to go after him.

“Leave him, he finds it hard.”

Sophie gives me a weak smile. I’m guessing it’s not fun talking about your sister being a sex slave either.

“What about Gracie?” Enrique asks, a small tremor of worry in his voice.

“Zoe will protect her, but Gracie is a strong woman too,” I tell him.

Sophie sighs. “I’m going to be blunt for a moment and I apologize. I’ve reported on women who have been kidnapped by criminal gangs and forced into sex slavery before. I hate that these heinous things are happening to my sisters.” That strong façade Sophie has had since arriving is cracking under the enormous stress of the situation. “But I know Zoe, she is going to do what she can to survive, to help Gracie survive this. She willhave plans, she will do anything to get them both out. I believe she will escape again, and I want us to be ready for her.”

Brooks, the mercenary, rests his hand on Sophie’s leg in a familiar way, comforting her.

“Next week there’s a big slave sale in Marrakesh. Usually at these things they have a lot of Western women as they bring in the big dollars,” Brooks adds.

My heart pounds. “You think he’s going to sell her?”

Brooks shrugs. “Honestly, I would—she’s a liability, she’s worth more alive than dead. Plus, she’s young, blonde, and beautiful. Zoe would fetch a good price.”

I want to be sick. If we don’t find her before this sale happens, she could be gone—forever. “Can you get into this sale?”

Brooks nods. “I can easily get an invite. They will give me an idea of what merchandise is on their calendar and maybe that will help us work out if she is there.”

Hearing Brooks talk of Zoe as merchandise makes my blood boil.

“We need to find her before this sale happens. We can’t lose her.”

30

ZOE

Thankfully, Nikolai has left me alone over the past couple of days. He hasn’t visited my room since that first night. I keep my eyes on the beautiful garden and turquoise ocean, willing the picturesque scenery to take me away from what’s happening. I hate that Nikolai touched me again. I hate that it felt like I’d betrayed Mateo and Tomas. Once Nikolai left the room, I spent hours in the shower, washing myself raw, trying to get the feeling of his touch off my skin, then collapsed into my king-size bed and cried myself to sleep.

Tonight, I see the jewels for the first time since arriving. We have been rounded up and brought into a luxurious dressing room. I know what this means, I have been through this exact scenario many times before. Tonight, we will be paraded in front of Nikolai’s business associates and offered up as a nice little bonus or incentive to them. I must protect Gracie tonight no matter what. I must save her from being touched by those men.

“Get dressed, whores,” Dmitri snarls, slamming the door to the dressing room closed. He stands in the corner watching over us, his eyes looking appreciatively at the beautiful women in front of him. The group of ten girls jump to attention and quicklystart searching through the clothing hanging on the racks. We all knew the drill except Gracie.

“You have to be quick otherwise they will beat you,” I whisper to my sister as I search for a blue dress to change into. Blue is the color I must wear when I am entertaining as Sapphire. Gracie nods but seems dazed as she looks at the cocktail dresses.