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Prologue
I rush down the sidewalk, pushing past people as I go. They yell at me, but their outrage doesn’t concern me. I have more important things to worry about. Secrets I have to keep and protect.
I can’t believe my car wouldn’t start. It’s never acted up. The timing couldn’t be worse.
My feet come to an abrupt stop when a lightbulb goes off in my head. Right here in the middle of downtown Chicago, I have an epiphany. I can’t believe it. I slam my gloved hand against my forehead and curse myself. This is what he wanted.
For months now I’ve suspected that the contractor I betrayed was coming after me. I saw the writing on the wall, but I just couldn’t believe it. His team did dirty over there, and innocents got hurt. I had anonymously reported them to my chain of command after I escaped them. It didn’t matter that Roger and I had been in a relationship. His team was in the wrong. I don’t know what happened to them, but I had to get out after that. My priorities had changed in an instant.
I look around at where I am and realize Lincoln Park Zoo is close by. If I can get there and use the crowd for cover, I can escape and get away. I’m just glad I didn’t lead them to my secrets. I know that’s their ultimate goal.
I have to think strategically. My oldest brother always says you have to be three steps in front of your enemy if you want to beat them. I don’t always listen to him because he’s the head of the Russian Bratva in Las Vegas and a bad guy. I’m a former military hero. I’m the good guy. Or at least, I used to think the world was that black and white. I’ve learned after going to war that isn’t always the case. I’ve also seen the Bratva do good things. I look up as the sky starts to drizzle down on me. It’s mostly spitting, but it’s supposed to rain more later today.
As I walk past a narrow alley, I catch movement. Before I can act, I’m yanked into the darkened passageway. My training kicks in and I fight back, but it’s useless when you’re hit with a stun gun and then six men jump you. The jolt of electricity hurts, but it doesn't stop me. The military had ensured I’d be prepared for anything. I’m also skilled in fighting multiple combatants at once, but this is ridiculous.
The men kick and punch me. These guys are mercenaries and were trained by some of the same people who trained me. I go for my gun, but it’s knocked out of my hand, and I’m shot in the shoulder.
They continue to beat me, then the knives and batons come out. My wrist is broken. Knives slice through my skin like I’m softened butter, leaving scars and causing me to bleed everywhere. They slash their blades across my chest and breasts, disfiguring me. My fingers get stomped. I lie there among dirt and garbage, holding in my tears and screams of pain. I bite my tongue to keep from crying out.
“Angeline, you’re going to tell me where she is, or I’m going to let these men continue to beat you and then rape you.”
I recognize Roger’s voice. I could never forget it. He had lured me in with that very same voice. He would whisper in my ear as we made love. I thought he was into me, but no, he only wanted to say he banged the tough girl. I fell for him, hook, line and sinker. He betrayed me back then, and now he’ll kill me to get to her.
He leans over my body as I lie there. I look up and struggle to keep my swollen eyes open. I can’t believe I once thought he was handsome. I see the evil he tries to hide from most people. I remember what he did. I can still hear the screams. I still see the bodies lying on the floor—bloody, broken, and dying. The fact he and his men did that still causes bile to rise in the back of my throat.
I allow the blood to pool in my mouth along with the bile. My lips tip up just before I spit in his face. His fist comes down hard, and I’m able to keep the cry in again. I get satisfaction and smile as I watch him brush the blood and vomit off his expensive suit. It’s all a cover to hide his true evil.
“Do it.” He stands up and flicks his wrist.
The attack becomes even more brutal, and I waver in and out of consciousness. My clothes are ripped from my body, and I know what’s about to happen next. I gather the strength I have left and fight back, but my hands are smacked to the side. I finally scream, and one of his guys holds a hand over my bruised and bleeding mouth. I frantically look for a way out of this. All of my training is failing me. I need to change my tactics. I bite the hand over my mouth, and I aim my kicks for crotches. I start fighting dirty like my brothers taught me. My head is slammed against the pavement again. This time as I lose consciousness, I hear someone yell, and then I’m alone.
As darkness closes in on me, I lie there and realize it’s raining harder. The rain mixes with my blood and puddles around my body. I hear rats scurrying for cover. I’m naked and worried Roger’s men have raped me, but I can’t tell because I hurt everywhere.
“I’m getting you help,” a voice says. I can’t tell if it’s a man or woman. My ears ring from the pain in my head.
I can die right now knowing my package will be safe. I’ve made sure of it. But if I die right now, no one in my family will know until it’s too late.
* * *
“Ma’am, what’s your name?”
I come to hearing a male’s voice. His hand brushes down my shoulder, and I cry out and cringe away. I don’t feel the rain on my skin anymore or the dirty ground, but I don’t feel much. I squint open an eye and see I’m in a hospital room. The man at my side is a doctor.
“I must die,” I say, but I don’t know if he heard me.
“What did you say?” He moves closer.
He’s handsome with brown hair and kind, hazel eyes. He smells like expensive cologne.
“You have to let me die.” My words are stronger this time, and I watch as his eyes flare wide.
He nods and then starts directing nurses and techs out of the room. When the room is clear, he moves back to the bed.
“Tell me why.”
“To save my daughter. You must make it show I died.” It’s all I can get out before I start to struggle to breathe. Maybe he won’t have to fake it.
I close my eyes, letting the unconsciousness take me away to a place without pain and without mercenaries bent on killing me or finding her. Where she’s safe to grow up and become whatever she wants. My last thought is of my father and brothers. They will hurt for my loss and then seek vengeance. Inside my head, I smile and think of Roger going against the Bratva. He wouldn’t know how to handle Andrei’s anger. I know what the Bratva does to its enemies.
