“Nah, that useless fucker would not dare have beef with me. I just don't like him. In fact, I cannot fucking stand him.”
He sets the glasses down on the desk, then slides them over to us before returning for his. With it in his hand, he strides toward his chair and once he has returned to his previous posture, he slides his tattooed palm down the front his pristine suit while bringing his whiskey to his lips, speaking against the rim.
“Let's just say we went through similar Elite training when we were in our teens, and that rotten cunt seemed to like doing some fucked up shit to females without their consent that I didn't agree with.”
I have heard from my father that Arlo is not at all interested in the sex trafficking system; he stays out of it, and he certainly doesn’t like working with people who are involved with it. He has trustworthy inbetweeners to watch over that side of the cooperation since he will not dirty his hands, but he must always keep an eye on any Elite criminal organization in New York City regardless. We all know we cannot rid that part of the system; when one bastard dies, another will take over.
“So, why the fuck are you here to see me? Shouldn’t you be going to fucking look for her?”
I shuffle forward in my seat and rest my forearms on my thighs while responding seriously.
“Our fathers have cut off all access to our resources and soldiers to go and get her.”
He quirks an eyebrow as he observes me, tilting his chin upward, and I continue.
“We need your fucking help, Arlo. You’re the only person in this city that we can turn to right now, and you’re the only man who has the power to take this motherfucker out with us.”
He ponders, running his tongue piercing over his bottom lip, his eyes shifting between me and Chaos before he speaks.
“You both put her in this fucking mess, no?”
My teeth grind together from the bitter truth, and I rest back while he leans forward, placing his glass calmly on the big black desk in front of him.
“And she is also promised to him, no?”
“Regardless of what the fuck we’ve done, she doesn’t deserve to be forced to be with that sick fuck and raped and you know that Arlo. She is a twenty-one-year-old girl who does not know this life; he will fucking destroy her or worse, kill her.”
The passion in my brother's voice beside me causes me to side-eye him and when I return my focus to Arlo, he is blankly staring at Chaos. When he shifts his eyes to mine, he lingers for a moment before he blows out a big breath, facing aside.
“This isn’t going to be an easy mission, boys.”
I feel my tense shoulders ease at the prospect that he might be considering helping us.
“I may be who I am, but sex traffickers are a different and snidey kettle of fish. If he finds out that I am involved, he will move her around, making it fucking difficult for us to locate her. If worse, ship her out of the country.”
I raise my chin to him as I respond.
“Any help you can offer, we appreciate, Arlo, and I will owe you big time.”
“I wouldn’t do this for anyone else, Reign. I don’t like getting involved with family affairs, much less the Russian Mafia, but I have a special kind of hatred for Maddox. Actually, I’ve been trying to find an excuse to fuck him up for years, so it will be my fucking honor.”
I give him a modest nod in understanding as he continues.
“If he already has her, I would prepare yourselves for the fucking worst. I know who and what he is capable of and from this conversation, I am quite sure you both do as well.”
My stomach twists just thinking about what he has already done to Charley, but he is only being bluntly honest so we can think clearly rather than in rage, which could fuck this whole thing. I give another nod as he relaxes back in his chair again, swinging from side to side while he thinks carefully.
“And this will not end here. You both need to prepare yourselves for the backlash from your fathers. They are not going to take this kind of family betrayal lightly, but I will do all that I can.”
Me and Chaos glance at one another before returning our focus to him and I respond.
“She's worth it. Fuck the pair of assholes.”
Arlo raises his chin while resting back and he analyzes us as if he can relate in some way, but to be honest, when I think about it, he can, considering his father was the ruthless Charles Hayes.
Igaze out the window of the same bedroom where I have been trapped all afternoon. I have put all my clothes back on, but I am sure they will be ripped off me again shortly.
The sky outside is darkening, painted with gloomy gray clouds that release torrents of rain, perfectly suited to the way I am feeling. Through the streaks of falling water, I watch as armed men dressed in black patrol the perimeter of the mansion.
