Page 13

CHAPTER 13

Oleksi

I watch Sabrina leave, her hurried steps and tense shoulders betraying more than her words. Something doesn't sit right. She mentioned her mother and a restless child—Elena, her daughter. The revelation that she has a child is a surprise, one I should have known.

I dial Syd's number. “Follow Sabrina,” I instruct.

“Why?” she asks in surprise. “Didn’t you work things out last night?”

“I think she's lying about the message she received.”

“Alright,” Syd agrees to do what he’s asked.

“Did you know Sabrina has a daughter?”

“Yes, it was in the report I provided last week.”“

Damn it. “How the fuck did I miss that?”

“Your blind obsession made you overlook it?” Syd quips.

“Not funny,” I snap. “Get after her; she's heading to her car.”

I end the call and step into the shower, the hot water doing little to wash away my frustration. Afterward, I find a message from Sabrina:

Thanks for the offer, but we won't be needing your help to find Tara.

Her polite dismissal feels like a door slammed in my face. It's not just about the investigation; she's pulling away from everything, including the connection we began to forge.

Anger simmers beneath the surface as I contemplate my next move. My gaze lands on the expensive wristwatch on the dresser, an idea forming. If she won't accept my help willingly, perhaps a nudge in the right direction is necessary.

Sabrina

Sunday mornings usually bring a sense of calm. I spend them window shopping, doing groceries, tidying up the apartment, and then fetching Elena after lunch. But today, my mind is a tangled mess, replaying last night's events with Oleksi. The memory of his touch sends a shiver down my spine, a twinge of desire I force myself to ignore.

Deciding to fetch Elena earlier than usual, I hope her presence will anchor me, pulling me away from thoughts of him. As I search for my keys, my phone rings. It's Heather Gold, my boss. My heart sinks. Working on a Sunday night is the last thing I want.

“Hello, Heather,” I answer, trying to mask my reluctance.

“Sabrina, I need you to come to the hotel. It's urgent.” Heather's tone is clipped, and not like her usual cheerful tone.

“Is everything alright?”

“Just come in as soon as you can.”

An uneasy feeling settles in my stomach. I call my mother to inform her of the unexpected work call.

“Don't worry about our little princess,” Carla assures me. “She's happy here. Take your time.”

I arrive at the Golden Lights Hotel, the place that has been my second home for years, and head to Heather's office. The stern expression on her face is a stark contrast to her usual demeanor.

“Sit down,” Heather says curtly, not bothering with a greeting or pleasantries.

“What's going on?” I ask, anxiety creeping in.

“First, I find out you've been fraternizing with a guest. Not just any guest—Oleksi Mirochin, the man running our biggest competitor on the Strip.”

I'm taken aback, words failing me.

“Then,” she continues, placing a clear evidence bag on the desk containing an expensive gold watch, diamond cufflinks, and a wallet, “there's this. You stole from him? And hid it in your dressing room?”

“What? No! I've never stolen anything in my life,” I stammer. “I didn't take anything from Oleksi Mirochin. He watched me leave his room.”

“So, you admit to being in his room?”

“He offered to help find my sister,” I explain, realizing how flimsy it sounds. “But not like that.”

“I don't care about the details,” Heather interrupts. “You know our policies—no fraternizing with guests, especially not on hotel premises. You have one hour to clear out your dressing room and leave.” She slides an envelope toward me. “This contains your wages for the month, plus two extra weeks. I know you have a baby.”

“Heather, I didn't steal this. I'm being set up,” I implore her. I can’t afford to lose my job. “If I had stolen something I wouldn’t be stupid enough to hide it in my fucking dressing room at the hotel.”

“I'm sorry, Sabrina,” she says, her tone softening slightly. “I can't risk the hotel's reputation. I've worked too hard to let anything jeopardize it.” She shakes her head. “I’ve worked alongside the Molchanov’s and Mirochins for decades without trouble—I can’t go looking for any now.”

Numb, I nod, take the envelope, and head to my dressing room. As I pack my belongings, a storm of emotions brews within me—anger, betrayal, confusion. On the drive to my mother's, my thoughts churn, each one leading back to Oleksi. Why would he do this? Was it because I declined his help? Or was there another motive? It hits me like a sledgehammer.

His words from the night before running through my mind:

You obey me, you get rewarded. You disobey me or displease me, you get punished and trust me, the punishment isn’t always enjoyable.

This was about not just controlling me in the bedroom any more. The moment I said no I didn’t need his help with Tara he needed to prove that he didn’t just control me sexually but owned my life!

Before I realize it, I'm pulling into the parking garage of the Diamond Hotel and Casino. I climb out, slamming my car door shut and lean against it, heart racing like I’ve just run a damn marathon.

That’s when I see them—faint purplish marks circling my wrists. Oleksi’s cord. The one I asked him to bind me with. The one that turned me inside out with pleasure and trust.

And now… betrayal.

My reflection flashes in the glass of my window, and I barely recognize the woman staring back. I feel like I’m being buried under the weight of too many emotions—shame, rage, humiliation, heartbreak. But I don’t fold. No, I straighten, brushing my fingers over the bruises.

These will be my proof.

And then I remember something else.

Sam. The damn surveillance system.

I swipe open my phone and dial my old high school sweetheart, Marco.

He answers on the third ring. “Rina, tiny ballerina,” his voice croons through the receiver, that smooth, familiar Italian accent wrapping around me like comfort. “Long time, bella. Did you miss me?”

“I need a favor, Marco.”

“Anything for you, bella.”

I don’t hesitate. I tell him exactly what I need.

“You got it, Rina,” he says with a smile in his voice. “Give me ten to fifteen minutes and I’ll let you know when it’s done.”

I end the call, feeling a little steadier. A little more confident as I stride into the Diamond Hotel lobby, fury in my veins and fire in my chest. I don’t even make it to the reception desk—Syd intercepts me near the elevators like a damn bodyguard.

“I’ll take her up,” she tells the receptionist before turning to me. “Sabrina—”

“Don’t you dare.” I spin on her. “Was it you? Are you and your boss proud of yourselves for setting me up? You thought you’d just destroy my name, my career, and I’d roll over?”

Syd blinks, stunned. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, come on.” I spit the words. “Don’t play dumb. You’re the one who probably planted the evidence in my dressing room.”

“Sabrina, I didn’t—”

“Save it.” I glare at her as the elevator doors open. “Let’s just get this over with.”

When the elevator reaches the penthouse, I don’t wait. I march out before the doors fully open and into the suite like a goddamn thunderstorm. My sneakers squeak across the marble as I zero in on the office.

Oleksi steps out before I can reach the door, his signature smug smile already in place.

“Well, well,” he says, all cool confidence. “I was wondering when you’d show up.”

I halt inches from him. “I hope you’re proud,” I snap. “You set me up to lose my job. Are you happy? Does it give you that Bratva thrill to ruin a single mom’s livelihood? Not just my dancing career, but probably my law career too. No one wants a lawyer who’s a ‘known thief.’”

“If you apologize,” he says smoothly, “you can come work for me.”

“And if I don’t?”

He shrugs like it’s nothing. “I’d have another think about that. What happens to your daughter if you go to prison? I’ll have no choice but to fire your mother too. And she’ll owe back the deposit for her two-year contract. Even though I’m Bratva, the law protects me too. You know that.”

I flinch. Not from fear—but from the wound slicing through my chest—now I know for sure how hard and fast I fell for a monster.