AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t mean to interrupt, but what do you want? I didn’t ask for a history of the mob.”
“Patience,” he says, clicking his tongue through the phone.
I dart my eyes to the closed bathroom door, praying Connor doesn’t suddenly appear. What would he think if he found me in here on the phone with Viktor? I know I should tell him, but I’m not even sure what is going on yet, and after how angry he was that I’d even traded a favor with Viktor, I don’t think he will be happy about this.
“Apart from the ventures we already had, I added one more. A lucrative one, which turned the tides of our family situation. You see, when I took over, we were in a tight financial spot. My father wasn’t a great money man. He preferred to spend his fortune and leave the rest of us in tatters. I became determined not to follow in those footsteps, and I haven’t. I’m quite proud of what I’ve formed.”
Viktor is saying a lot and telling me nothing. It’s almost like he likes hearing himself talk and he’s waiting on me to act interested and to want to know what exactly he does. And, damn me, I do. I know I just said I didn’t want a history, but if it would help me better understand what the fuck is going on between him and Connor, then by all means, let me have it.
“I discovered that among the great commodities was the need for help,” he says, continuing with his monologue. “In many forms. Help around the house for the womenfolk. Help around the grounds. Help in businesses that we run. Help in personal lives.”
I start to feel icky as he talks. I’m not quite sure where he’s going with this, but it’s not sitting right.
“So, I thought I would be the one to fill a demand, and it opened a whole new world for me. It’s not a new concept. I only capitalized on something that’d been going on for centuries. Something that my father hadn’t done and I could now do.”
“You traffic people.”
“You make it sound bad. I help those who need an extra pair of hands find them.”
“Phrasing it that way doesn’t make it any less true.” I want to hang up the phone, but I know he will get to me another way. “Connor and I don’t want anything to do with that.”
“Maybe not, but I want what Bertrand took from me. I want my people back. I want my money back. That’s where you come in, dear Wryn. You are going to get me everything I need.”
“I won’t betray Connor.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
He’s right though. I don’t have a choice. I know he can just as easily kill me and go about getting this information in a different way. He could kill Connor too. Maybe Bertrand really did take a lot from him if he’s this desperate to get it back.
“I have something that might sweeten the deal.”
I shouldn’t act interested.
“I’m listening.”
“I’m willing to take out the other four men, if I get what I want. And I might be able to help you get answers about your little friend.”
I think my heart stops. Is he saying what I think he is? Does he know something about Ruby?
“Ruby?” I ask, my voice a whisper.
“I want the files, and I want to know any plans he has, going forward.”
Viktor doesn’t answer my question, but that’s the only person he could be talking about.
The blood is pulsing through my body, making my heart start to beat double time, racing in my chest. My free hand grips the side of the tub so I don’t slide off it. I’m hot and cold at the same time.
Plans? What plans?
“I want what’s rightfully mine, Wryn. That’s all. You two can go back to living your happy little lives once I have it.”
Alarms blare in my mind, telling me that what he’s saying isn’t true. He’s lying. Then, I think of Ruby. If he has information on her, surely, giving up the trafficking files that Connor has wouldn’t hurt us. We don’t want anything to do with it anyway. And if Viktor is willing to take out the other four men, that would mean Connor wouldn’t have to do it himself. We’d be free. The rest of the second generation would be free.
It all sounds too good to be true. I stand and creep to the door, peeking my head out.
Connor is still gone. I turn and lean against the wall and rest my head back. I blow out a long breath. I think of Ruby and freedom, and I go for it.
I tell Viktor about the gentleman’s club and the charity gala and what I know.
