AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Luka orders for both of us, which is fine with me. Even if I looked at a menu, I wouldn’t be able to focus on it. There is only one thought in my head:
Where is my daughter?
At the Morrison house, I only saw Rian, her father, and a driver. How many people could be working for them? Could Milaya be with one of them? I never saw Rian’s mother, so maybe Milaya is staying with her, though that thought isn’t exactly comforting. Everyone in the Morrison family hates me, so it is unlikely they will be kind to my daughter.
Before the food arrives, Luka reaches across the table and lays his hand down, palm facing up.
I look around the room to be certain no one is watching before I lay my hand over his.
His hand is warm, and he curls his fingers around mine, and though I’m angry and upset, I love him. So much. And having him here with me during one of the scariest times of my life is reassuring in more ways than I can express.
When waiters begin bringing the food out, Luka takes his hand back and puts on an air of indifference. I match his tone.
We eat mostly in silence. The tables in the room are close together and I am afraid to say something that could be overheard by someone else. It is more than just my life at stake now. If the Cartel discovers why Luka is here, they could be upset. And they don’t seem to be the kind of people who will simply kick him out.
They’ll probably just kill him.
And if he dies, and I’m sold into slavery, who will search for Milaya?
The Bratva, maybe, but I don’t know how long they’ll keep up the search. They are loyal to Luka now, but once they have a new leader, there is no way to know how long that loyalty will last.
“You seem to be a man with a lot of power,” I say softly, pushing the cheesy pasta around my plate.
Luka narrows his eyes at me and nods.
“A man in charge of a lot of men?” I ask. “How are they surviving while you are away for five days?”
Luka sees my question for what it is. “They are waiting anxiously for the fifth day. They are lost without me.”
They are waiting.
I stare at Luka, trying to see if there is anything he is holding back, but he is waiting for me to speak.
The men are just waiting for Luka. They aren’t looking for Milaya or pursuing any leads.
My heart falls, and I stab a noodle with my fork. “It would be horrible to be that helpless. Me? I know how to take care of myself.”
I glare at Luka over my water glass, and I can see in the flicker of pain across his face that he understands me. He leans forward, his green eyes shining and serious.
“You can take care of yourself?” he hisses, sitting back in his seat and looking around the room. “How is that going for you?”
My jaw drops.
The rest of dinner is uncomfortably silent, broken only by the sound of silverware clinking against our dinner plates.
* * *
The man hosting the event, Edgar, ushers everyone from the dining room to a large ballroom at the back of the inn.
The walls are high and painted a pale gold color. Large chandeliers hang from three points along the room, and there are stained glass windows along the back wall. If I wasn’t being held prisoner, I’d think it was a beautiful place for a party.
Music plays softly through speakers located in every corner of the room, and once everyone is inside, the lights are dimmed and another bar is set up.
It is clear the intention is for everyone to get loose, though for all of the other women I can see, that seems impossible.
Only the woman before me in line, Thirteen, seems to be having even a remotely good time.
As soon as the lights dim, she moves to the center of the dance floor, dragging a guest by his tie, and begins to dance. Her enthusiasm encourages the other guests to find women of their own and make their way to the middle of the room.
