Page 64 of Maxim

“If it’s all right, I need to use your restroom,” I say.

“Yes, yes, of course. Down the hall, third door on the right,” Jan says as he waves toward the door.

I stand up and head for the door. I make eye contact with Szymon as I walk past.

Motherfucker is the third on my hit list with the way he lusts over Olena. The only two people above him being Jan and whoever this mysterious business partner is.

He’s in the room again today, but still no introduction. He doesn’t even say anything. He sits there and observes. It’s fucking creepy. I’m not surprised, though. If you are going to sell people, you have to be pretty creepy.

Leaving the room, I make my way down the hall and go to the restroom. After washing my hands, I pull out my phone and open the security app. I’m thankful for my privacy screen as I tilt my phone so the cameras cannot catch anything. Soon an image of Olena and Thea fills the screen. They are sitting on the floor talking. I can’t help but laugh under my breath as I study them. They have the place to themselves with plenty of seating, yet they choose to sit on the floor.

Women are weird.

I swipe out of the app and take the extra step and close out of it completely before I put my phone back in my pocket.

Opening the door, I look both ways. As I start down the hall, I hear a noise. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help myself. Turning around, I walk quietly down the hall and peek into the room next to the bathroom. Daryna is sitting on the floor with a doll in her lap. Something about her pulls at my fucking heartstrings. She looks so lonely and bored.

I check the hall again before I step inside. As soon as I do, she tenses and looks my way.

“You’re Daryna, right?”

She bobs her head. “You’re the man who has my sister.”

“I am.”

Her bottom lip trembles. “Are you here to take me too?” she asks softly.

I want to scoop her into my arms and run, but I know I can’t. No matter how desperately I want to.

Time. I need more time. Too much is on the line to risk it all for a little girl with blue eyes like her sister.

“No, not today at least. Are you okay?” I ask as I crouch close to her, but not close enough to make her uncomfortable.

“I miss Olena and Alek. I have no one to play with,” she whispers as she clutches her doll to her chest.

“Where is Alek?” I ask carefully.

“Father sent him to work.”

Goddammit. There’s no telling what he has Alek doing.

“I see. Well, hopefully he will be home soon to play with you.”

She bobs her head as she looks at me through her eyelashes. “Will you see my sister?”

“I will when I leave here.”

“Will you tell her something? Please?” she tacks on like an afterthought.

“Of course. What do you want her to know?”

“That I miss her and I wish I could give her a hug.”

An idea comes to mind instantly. I know it’s a bad idea, but I can’t stop myself from offering.

“I have an idea. What if you hug me, and then as soon as I leave here, I give her a hug? That way it’s like you’re hugging her.”

Daryna perks up. “You’d do that?”