Page 3

I sit at the bar, my heart pounding in my ears so loud that I barely register the music pumping all around. My gaze darts around the dark nightclub club, searching through the strobe lights for any sign of Marv, the man who holds my future in his grimy hands. Where is he? I need to get home. My brothers are there tonight. If they wake up and discover me gone…

The crowd seems to pulsate, moving to the beat of the music while I feel trapped in my own personal hell, unable to remember the times when a place like this seemed fun.

"Are you okay?" the bartender asks, concern written on his face when he notices I don’t order a drink and have been sipping on water for the past twenty minutes.

"Y-yeah," I stammer, trying to offer him a reassuring smile. “Just hungover from last night. I’m here to meet someone.”

My phone buzzes in my hand, and I glance down to see a text from Marv. "Meet me in the alley out back."

A shiver runs down my spine, and for a moment, I want to ignore the message, but the thought of what he could do with those photos forces me to act. The thought of what he could do to me if I meet him again is petrifying, but the alternative of what he might do if I don’t is even more so. I need to put this past me.

With trembling fingers, I grab some cash from my purse and slap it onto the bar without waiting for change. The bartender watches me, his brow furrowed in worry, but I don't have time to explain and walk away, ignoring his protests to wait.

I don’t feel like I’m in control of my body, my legs forcing me to move through the crowded room.

As I push through the throngs of people, my mind races with fear. I remember the way his eyes had lingered on me when we first met, the way I ignored my intuition over how close he danced. The memory makes me shudder, and I quicken my pace, desperate for this nightmare to be over.

***

Taking a deep breath, I muster the courage to step out of the club and into the chilly night air. The sudden change in temperature sends goosebumps across my skin. I reluctantly make my way toward the alley, my chest hurting from anxiety.

This man is threatening to ruin my life. After I give him the money, I have to convince him to delete those photos and videos of us. They’re too racy—enough to ruin my life.

I round the corner into the dimly lit alley, a small semblance of relief washing over me when I spot Marv's familiar figure leaning against a wall, alone. Thank god he didn’t bring anyone with him. I’ve read enough horror stories to know how bad this can get.

But that relief is short-lived as his sinister grin spreads across his face and he eyes my figure, top to bottom.

"Ah, there you are, Sweetheart," he drawls menacingly. "Thought you might chicken out." His mocking tone and Cheshire cat grin turn my stomach.

"Let's just get this over with," I snap, trying to hide the tremor in my voice. "I brought the money. Now delete all the recordings and photos, and let me go."

"Slow down, Baby Girl." His laughter sends shivers down my spine. "You didn't think it'd be that easy, did you?"

My fingers clench tightly around the envelope full of cash, my knuckles turning white. "What do you mean?" I ask, dread pooling in my stomach.

"See, I've been thinking…" He steps closer, invading my personal space and making it difficult for me to breathe. "Maybe I need a little more insurance. You know, just to make sure you don't get any ideas about going to the cops or anything."

"Wh-what do you want?" I stammer, my mind racing with the worst possibilities. “And why the hell would I go to the cops? I want this behind me.”

"Another fifty grand should do it," he smirks, his eyes glinting with greed. "And maybe a few…favors along the way. Think of it as an ongoing business arrangement."

"Fifty grand?" I choke out, feeling the weight of his demands crushing me. "I don't have that kind of money! I sold everything I had to get you this."

His grin only widens, enjoying my panic. "Well, you don’t expect me to believe you now, do you? I’ve found you online. Zolotov. Powerful girl with a powerful family. You better find a way to get it, or those photos are going to make their rounds. You wouldn't want that now, would you?"

"Please," I whisper, my chest tightening with fear. "This isn't fair…"

"Life's not fair, Sweetheart." His voice is cold and mocking, chilling me to the bone. "You should've thought about that before you stripped off your clothes for me. You've got 48 hours. Tick tock."

"Marv, please," I plead, my voice trembling with desperation. "I can't get you that kind of money. I can’t take this to my family. Here,” I push the envelope in his hand. “Just take this, delete the photos, and let me go.”

I take a step back, now wanting to get down to convincing him about deleting what he has.

"Not so fast." He saunters closer, backing me against the alley wall. I shrink away from his foul, boozy breath. "The price has gone up. What I have is worth a lot more than you're willing to pay."

Panic and anger war inside me. I ball my hands into fists to stop them from shaking. "I already told you I don't have that kind of money."

"Then I guess Brothers Dearest will have to find out what a naughty girl you've been." He smirks. "Unless you're willing to do me a…favor." His eyes rake over me, and my skin crawls.

I stare at him, frozen. Trapped. What have I gotten myself into? There has to be another way out of this mess.

“There’s nothing more I can do!” I almost scream in desperation. My heart races in my chest, and I feel like I'm suffocating under the weight of my predicament. If only I knew someone who could help me, someone who could make this nightmare disappear. But I can't go to my family, not without exposing my own foolishness and risking their disappointment.

"You don't want those photos getting out, do you? Imagine the scandal," Marv steps back.

"Please," I whisper once more, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "Don't do this."

He laughs a humorless sound that sends shivers down my spine. "It’s not much I ask for. You see, your brothers and I run in the…how shall I say this? Same circle. Their business dealings are of great interest to me.”

I gasp, the realization dawning fast. He’s from the Bratva? From everything he knows, he’s probably far more powerful than my family.

If my brothers hear of this now, it could be our downfall. I can’t put them through trouble by having a powerful man blackmail me.

“What do you want?” I whisper.

He comes close and shoves me against the wall, pinning me. “Information. I want to know what business they’re in, who they’re dealing with, the ticket size of their contracts, and the shipping and trucking routes for their goods. Everything.”

My mind races, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. The idea of betraying my family, my own flesh and blood, goes against everything I believe in. It’s a death wish, both for me and for them.

“But,” I speak the truth. “I don’t know anything about our business,” I cry out. “They don’t involve me in it. They never have! Even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t know how to get you this information.”

It’s true. In our family, the girls and women are often protected from whatever it is the men do. It’s their way to keep us safe, protected.

“You better,” he growls. “You have no choice.”

Before I can even process the gravity of his demands, Marv’s grip tightens around my waist and spins me around till my back is pressed against his. He twists one of my arms around my back and clamps a hand on my neck, his fingers digging into my skin.

My heart hammers in my chest as I struggle to draw breath. Fear and desperation claw at me, and the realization of the danger I'm in settles heavily on my shoulders. "P-please," I choke out. "I-I can't—"

"Can't is not an option, Sweetheart," Marv sneers. I can't suppress the tremble that runs through my body. I feel so small, so powerless against him. "Spy on them, or I'll sell you off to the highest bidder. Your pretty face would fetch a nice price on the market,"

My body tenses at his words as a cold dread settles deep in my stomach. Sell me to the highest bidder? “What are you talking about?” I choke out in fear.

“There are places you’ve never been to in this place, little girl,” he whispers in my ear. “Dark, dangerous places with dark and equally dangerous men. A grave beauty like you could fetch a pretty price. Before you know it, you’d be smuggled out of the country to sit in some man’s harem or whorehouse, never to be found again. You’ll disappear without a trace. And the money that’ll fetch me…”

The lump in my throat turns into tears. “No,” I cry out, trying to fight away from him. “Please, no,” I sob, the thoughts of what such men could do to me plastering horrific images in my mind. He’s talking about trafficking me. He’s more powerful than I thought. Fear and shame wash over me, the desperation clawing at my thoughts.

He’s too strong to fight against. I try to kick him in the shins as his grip on me tightens, and he tries to drag me back into the alley. “No!” I scream out, my heels digging into the ground. “Help!” I yell. Anyone, please, help.

I should have gone to my brothers. If only—

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoes through the alley, and a man appears from the shadows. “Let her go,” he says in a gravelly, commanding voice. Standing at over six feet tall, I can’t make out his voice, but I can see the outline of his body. Strong, powerful…

Marv releases me and shoves me to the wall behind him, prepared to fight. I gasp for air, instinctively clinging to the wall for support with one hand while clutching my throat with the other.

"This doesn't concern you, pal. Why don't you mind your own business?" Marv threatens, moving forward. He adjusts his jacket, revealing the sliver of a gun.

The man emerges from the shadows, and immediately, I want to sink to the ground.

No. This can’t be. Dima Orlov. Shame and embarrassment flood through me as I acknowledge that I've been caught in my reckless behavior by my cousin Anoushka’s brother-in-law.

He looks different from how I’ve come to know him. The suit left behind with the day, he’s dressed in jeans and a T-shirt that shows off just how broad his shoulders are. His closely cropped blonde hair frames a striking face with gray eyes, a strong jawline, and high cheekbones. Intricate tattoos snake down both his muscled arms, and I can’t help but think I never noticed how goddamn powerful and handsome he is. After all, I’ve never seen him outside a family setting.

Or maybe I think that in this moment, he’s god’s gift to me—a savior when I needed one.

“Come with me, Lara,” he extends a hand out to me, his gray eyes peering at my face, quickly making way down my neck and arms as though checking for injuries. Suddenly, I feel safer than I have at any point since Marv started threatening me. Instinctively, I know that with Dima here now, he won’t let anything bad happen to me. Relieved, I step forward, but Marv blocks my path.

"I said, let her go" Dima says, turning back to face him as he notices the interruption, his voice low and menacing, as though each word is a promise of retribution.

"And who the hell are you?" Marv demands, sizing up the newcomer who refuses to back off, even after seeing the gun.

“I don’t think you need to be asking me that,” Dima says. “After all, what I’m interested in knowing is what the fuck makes you think you can threaten my fiancée.”

Wait, what? Fiancée?