Page 16 of King of Malice

“A whorehouse? But why?” A lead brick sits in my stomach as I sit up. “She wouldn’t…”

Did Cadence sell herself? Was she in trouble? Is she still? Is she alive?

“I can’t find any record of debt. And no drug dealer she owed, so I can’t tell you why. But what I do know is the place is owned by a high-up Bratva captain, his father rumored to be the leader of a major Russian family. If she’s still there, I won’t be able to touch her, Ava, and neither will the police.”

I try to breathe but the air is ragged as it passes my throat to fill my lungs. “No.” I shake my head. There has to be some way. This is Cadence. My friend. My sister. My savior. I can’t lose her, I have too… “I know someone. A Russian. Maybe he has some information.”

“Unless he’s connected, I doubt he can help. Dimitri Ivanov is untouchable to anyone who isn’t Bratva.”

Steve’s words are like cold water being dumped over my head. “What did you just say?”

“He’d have to be connected, your friend.”

My heart is racing in my chest as I try to organize the chaos of my thoughts into words. “You mentioned Dimitri Ivanov.”

“Yeah. That’s the guy who has Cadence. Or, at least, he owns the club. Trust me when I say, tangling with him will be the last thing you do, Ava. I’m sorry, but this time, you can’t save her.”

Tears start tracking down my cheeks. It can’t be…

Cadenceis my sister.

And Dimitri…it must be someone else. It can’t be the man who just made me feel safe.

The man who holds his daughter like she’s the most precious thing in the world and plays the piano beautifully.

Then again, he’s also the man with creepy tattoos all over his hands.

I shake my head, focusing on Steve. I have no idea how common the name is. Maybe… “Dimitri Ivanov, what do you know about him?”

“Ava. I just said, leave it.”

“Tell me anyway.”

He lets out a heavy sigh, like’s he’s not happy with my question. I hear him run a hand through his hair. “I don’t know much about him, other than he’s connected, and he has a monopoly on the sex trade here in Vegas.”

I choke back a sob. Dimitri lives like a king. That penthouse, the artwork…but it can’t be the same man. The Dimitri I know is…

“He’s around forty, a widow, with a young daughter. Who the fuck knows what happened to the wife.”

I let out a squeak, unable to control it because this is all sounding so familiar.

Steve misunderstands. “Sorry. I don’t mean to scare you. This guy is bad news.”

I don’t answer as a soft sob breaks from my lips.

“Sweetheart, where Cadence went, you can’t follow.”

I look down at the phone. Me and Cadence, we’re family. And it turns out, that in fact, if Dimitri really is the man who has her, I actually can.

CHAPTER FIVE

Dimitri

I look downat the ridges of my six-pack now covered with my own cum. Fuck, I needed that.

I grab a couple of tissues, cleaning myself. I lied to my little milaya when I told her that she was the most beautiful woman I’d seen in a long time.

She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve seen. Ever. Hands down, as the Americans say. No contest.