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“Tell me what you know, Stuart.”
He sighs and sinks onto a bench. “The Van Dynes and Stepanov are partners in a sex trafficking ring. I don’t know the ringleader, but supposedly he works behind the scenes. Uses lots of different contacts all over the world to do his work and bring in cash. Nathan and Denis own a string of hotels used for elite sex parties. Some girls are brought in under the guise of working the parties as servers and bartenders. They’re drugged and then kidnapped. Sold to the highest bidder.”
Stuart runs a hand over his balding head. “I’d invested in the real estate deals, the places where the hotels were built, never knowing exactly what they were used for once constructed. It’s a consortium of investors, and Nathan is responsible for keeping us updated on our real estate ventures. One night I overheard him and Stepanov talking and making arrangements for one of them. I tailed them to the hotel in South Beach and saw the whole thing unfold.”
Kylian’s jaw drops. “Dad, are you fucking serious? Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“I couldn’t. I got into my car and drove straight home. Nathan was already here waiting for me. He had footage of me nosing around. Threatened all of you if I said a word. And then he told me my name would be attached to the whole sordid mess because of everything I’d invested. I knew my entire world would crumble if I came forward. That’s why Skyla was promised to Tyson. Before her, it was supposed to be Laney, but then…” His voice cracks and Amelia cries into Kylian’s shoulder.
I drop onto the bench next to Stuart and scrub a hand down the front of my face. Branko has so many different faces, so many operatives, so many plans being executed by just as many henchmen. How the hell are we going to find him and stop him from ruining lives?
“I’ll never forgive myself for letting this happen and jeopardizing my family.” Stuart places a hand on my shoulder and looks at me. “This is why you need to find Skyla and take her away from all of this. You’re not the man I ever wanted for my daughter, but I know you’re the only one who can keep her safe. I will take care of the rest of us.” He raises his eyes to Amelia’s. “For as long as I can.”
“What are you talking about?” Kylian looks between his mother and father.
“I’m sick, son.” Stuart wrenches his hands. “I didn’t want to worry you or Skyla, but I knew you both needed to be protected from whatever the Van Dynes would threaten. That’s why I agreed to the marriage. Once I’m gone, I needed to be sure that you’d be safe from their retribution. Skyla was the way I could protect you all. But now that she’s on the run, everything may crumble. If that happens, you’ll be left with nothing. And there won’t be a single thing I can do to fix the mess I’ve made.”
Stuart turns back to me. “How can we find her? If she’s out on her own, I fear for her life if Tyson or those men he hired get a hold of her.”
“Where would she go? I feel like she’s smart enough to get out of Miami, but if Tyson’s guys are tracking her…” Panic bubbles in my chest before I allow myself to finish the thought. I know I should call my brothers, but I have no idea what to even tell them. And once again, I’m on my own, making decisions that can fuck over my family. Besides, Alek is already on her tail. I don’t have time to argue with Luka and Nik over why I made another unilateral decision.
“Find Tyson.” Stuart’s eyes glaze over, regret pinching his expression. “He won’t let her go. He has too much to lose.”
“Please find her,” Amelia says, falling to her knees in front of me. “You’re the only one who can.”
I nod and run back to my car before jumping in the driver’s seat. Kylian hobbles over on his crutches.
“Hey, don’t go. I’m coming, too.”
“What are you talking about? There will be danger and guns. What the fuck good are you to me on crutches?”
“She’s my sister.” Kylian’s face falls. “I wasn’t there for Laney. I can’t let the same thing happen to Skyla. I’m coming.”
I roll my eyes and nod toward the door. “Get in fast, hop along.”
Once he’s in the car and I stuff his crutches into the back seat, I spin out and do a one-eighty back down the driveway to the main gate.
Just as I’m about to turn out of the driveway, tires squeal to my left. I slam on the brakes just before a black Range Rover skids to a stop. Gunshots crack into the air. One hits the driver’s side mirror; one hits a side of the front windshield, shattering the glass. Of course, Luka would leave me a car that hadn’t been armored yet.
“Fuck,” I mutter, covering my head with my hand and ducking as I grab my own gun from the center console. “Kylian, get down.”
I pop my head up so my eyes meet the bottom of the windshield and point the barrel out of the hole in the glass. After firing off a few shots, the Range Rover speeds up and zooms down the long winding road.
“Who the hell is that?” Kylian yells as I throw the car back into gear and tear down the road in the direction of the Range Rover.
“Probably one of Tyson’s guys. If they knew I was here, they might know where Skyla is. Hell, they might already have her.”
“Slow down.” Kylian slams his hands on the dashboard. The Range Rover stops short in front of us, and one of the guys points his gun at us again.
“Fuck that.” I fire off a few more shots and pop the two back tires to keep them from getting away. “Stay here and keep your head down.” I push open my door, gun in hand.
“Are you fucking nuts?” Kylian grabs my arm but I shake it off.
“Look, I’m nuts about your sister, and I have to find her before anything bad happens. This is a worthwhile risk if it means I can find her before Tyson does.”
Sirens wail in the distance. Shit. Not much time before the cops show up. This is an exclusive neighborhood, and even silencers can’t muffle too much. I fire off a few shots in the driver’s direction. He slumps over, falling partway out the door.
One down.
