Page 65 of Reign of a Billionaire

“I’d never even heard of him.” Despair laced her voice. Of course she hadn’t, she hardly looked old enough to be a college student.

“He’s not a good guy.” And that was putting it mildly. There was one thing that my mother did right, and that was educate me on the who’s who in the underworld. It didn’t matter how big or small someone was, she drilled everyone’s names into me.

This girl clearly had no clue our world even existed. If I got out of this alive, I’d whoop Tyran Callahan’s ass for giving her hope where there was none.

“I’m going to need therapy when all this is said and done.”

“Maybe,” I agreed, wondering if therapy wouldn’t be such a bad thing for the women and men caught up in the underworld. “Until then, are you up to learning some self-defense?”

She still had the will to live, a burning fight in her eyes despite her weak state.

“Bring it on.” Her gaze darted from me to Reina’s sleeping form in the cage next to ours. “I want to become as nuts as that lady.”

“Alright, then, Sienna. Let’s kick some ass.”

Her lips curved into a soft smile despite the despair in her eyes. “Don’t cry to me when I puke all over you.”

“Don’t cry when I kick your ass.”

Reina Romero gripped my hand as we were pushed across the dock, up a flight of stone steps, and into a filthy courtyard. We were shuffled around like cattle, and all the while, I kept my eyes trained on the girls.

“Don’t make eye contact,” I warned Sienna and Reina in a soft whisper, shuffling them both deeper into the moving crowd. Both were shell-shocked, their faces white as a sheet. I tugged them along to the podium and led us onto the stage.

Sienna’s gasp captured my attention, and I found her staring at the rows of men. To my surprise, she was smiling, tears glistening in her eyes. I followed her eyeline but didn’t see anyone aside from the leering faces of those eager to witness our degradation and humiliation.

“What is it?”

“That’s my dad,” she whispered, her lip trembling. “My… stepdad.”

A pinch of relief hit me, knowing this girl would be okay. Her parents—unlike many others—had come to save her.

“Dim your happiness,” I murmured in a hushed tone. “Keep your expression stoic, and don’t let on that you know him.”

Her eyes found mine, confusion clear in them. “But?—”

I took her hand and squeezed it tightly. “Trust me. And stay away from that douchebag Tyran. I’ll take care of him for you.”

Something in her eyes flared, strength I sensed in her all along hitting me head-on. “Don’t. I’m gonna make him pay myself.”

I smiled proudly. “Good girl.”

A guard came behind her, pushing her forward, and I gave her a reassuring nod. I watched with bated breath as the bidding for Sienna Baldwin started. With each number thrown into the mix, the tension in me grew, and it wasn’t until she was escorted toward her father that I took a full breath.

Until it was my turn.

Chapter 33

Kingston

Life was an abstract concept. It was what you made of it. The perfect one was an illusion that could be shattered in the matter of an afternoon at the zoo. Or a betrayal that you never saw coming.

Every human on earth had an agenda. We were all waging our own wars. Some were losing and some winning. I’d had enough of losing—my family, my friends, the one person who’d helped me see the light in my darkest moments, and later, her sister.

Louisa made me vow to keep her twin safe.

So whether it was my excuse or simply my way of getting back something I’d lost, at that very moment, I knew my mind was made up.

Liana Volkov would be mine.