Page 126 of Pride


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“Couldn’t agree more.” Sergei hasn’t lost his smug smile, and his hand keeps a firm grip on mine.

My father turns to face me baring his own wicked grin. “Not so chatty now I see?”

He wants chatty. How about some home truths before he dies?

“What’s to say? You’re almost dead, then you’ll be spending an eternity in hell, never again seeing my mother. Who no doubt would be looking down on you in disgust wondering how she ever could have loved a monster like you.”

The back of his hand comes flying towards me and I close my eyes, but Sergei catches his wrist with his hand before the air even brushes across my face. Dad struggles against his iron grip with no luck. But not his mouth, that is still delivering blows.

“What would you know?” He seethes. “You killed her before you ever got a chance to know the woman she was. You are not half the daughter she always hoped for.”

I take the words, but I’ve become numb to the rantings of a madman. They no longer hold any meaning.

“It is you that she would be looking down on, wondering why God took her and left us with you! A sorry excuse for a daughter.” He spits at the floor, then his lips turn into a cruel smile. “Well, guess what? You’re no longer my problem, and I can’t wait for you to get everything you deserve.”

He rips his wrist away from Sergei, stumbling backwards.

Sergei turns to me, his eyes alight with amusement. “Ah, I do love a good old family reunion. But we have places to go and things to do.”

When he looks back at my father, his cheerful smile dissipates. “Marcus, don’t mistake my generosity here today for anything other than what it is. A means to an end.”

“Your generosity?” My father says flabbergasted.

“Why yes.” Sergei frowns, shaking his head as if it was obvious. “I haven’t forgotten you betrayed me. And for all this, it’s you that was always the worst part of the deal. Your business I can take or leave. All I wanted was your daughter, and as much as I love to see her skin in various shades, that is my pleasure and mine alone. You’d be smart to remember that next time. If there is a next time for you.”

He turns back to me, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Shall we?”

No!

But I have no choice, he places a hand on my lower back and leads me away from dear old dad and onto the waiting cargo ship, and it all becomes a blur. My feet move as we navigate through the narrow passages. I can hear the voices of the crew all around us, but they turn into white noise as my mind circles, and a void opens deep inside me.

As we descend to the lower levels, I’m already lost in the maze of steel halls and in the darkness of my own mind. Helplessness hits hard, and my choices dwindling. Running would get me hurt. Fighting would get me hurt. Just breathing is going to get me hurt. This is life again.

Sergei’s wife.

I can’t play this game again, for so many reasons, but more than anything I’m scared he will win. I will succumb and live the rest of my life in a reality I don’t want.

There was hope before, I made plans to escape. But that’s when I knew the playground, and the language. How can I run in another country, especially one that I don’t speak the language.

Would we ever come back to Sydney? How long will it take? Could I make it?

And Ren, would he still look for me? Will I ever see him again?

The resolve to fight had been so strong, the confidence when I left Ren’s house and, in an instant, it’s been ripped out from under me.

We stop in front of a heavy steel door. Sergei takes a key from his pocket and unlocks it.

“There are things I need to take care of.” He nods for me to enter. “Someone will get you for dinner. Do be sure to dress appropriately.”

I step into the small cabin room and see a black silk dress sprawled across the end of the bed. The door slams shut behind me, and I jump, my heart racing in my chest. I hear the lock click into place and it’s then I drop to my knees and let the storm hit me.

34

Ren

“They’reonthemove,”Nico says over the phone. “About twenty cars leaving, taking different routes. What do you want us to do?”

“Follow them.” My hand is crushing the third phone for the day. “Amari is in one of them. Do not engage. If there’s confirmation she’s not inside, then take the car. But keep them alive and get them to the yard.”

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