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“Da.” I acknowledge him. “Now listen, your brother is up to something.” I pull out one of my business cards and slip it into the front pocket of her scrubs. “Call me if you need me.”
“He’s always up to something. He stole and I’m sure pawned everything you’ve given to me. I’m sorry.” Her face falls.
I lift her chin up to look at me again. “I’ll get you more. Stay away from Bronwyn and watch your brother,” I order her before I lift her off the counter and set her on her feet. I turn my back. If I don’t leave now, I’ll take her with me.
“Andrei, how?”
I pause at her question and turn around. “How what,ptitsa?”
“How do you know about all this? About Lennon’s dad and my brother?”
“I haven’t stopped watching you. I’ve been busy.” I don’t explain the danger. “Plus, your brother has asked to be in a game next month.” I watch as she slowly shakes her head.
“He hasn’t been around the apartment much lately.”
“Be careful. Remember to call me if you need me.” I nod toward her pocket with my card, and she nods back.
I move past Dmitri and toward the door but stop as I reach for it. I turn back to her. “Lock this door,ptitsa, or I’ll take you over my knee,” I order and watch as she squirms slightly. My lips tip up. We are going to be exploring her sexual proclivities every chance we can once I have her. “I’ll see you soon,” I say as I step out and leave her. Again, it feels wrong to leave her, but I have to. Very soon she will be mine.
Three
SPARROW
Iwatch him go, my body rioting, wanting more of what he did to me. I loved him touching me. I crave it, and he is gone. I understand why he’s waiting, but I worry he will change his mind. Am I his just until he takes my virginity? He calls me his, but am I really?
I finish cleaning the salon then take the bus back to my small apartment. I need to save myself and not count on Andrei to do it. I’ve depended on men most of my life only to have them let me down time and time again.
As I make my way to my apartment, I see the landlord, and just like he did months ago, he quickly moves away from me. I haven’t had any run-ins with him in a while, which has been a nice reprieve. But I wonder what has him spooked. I look behind me and don’t see anyone. Is it me that scares him for some reason? I shake off the thought and open my apartment door. Darkness greets me. I’m glad most of the utilities are included in the rent, but electricity isn’t one of them. The power must have been disconnected earlier today. I have one guess what Brett did with the money—gambled it away.
That’s when I remember Andrei’s words. Brett got five hundred thousand dollars. I don’t know how or what he used as collateral. I reach for the small flashlight I have in my backpack when I’m smacked hard and slammed into the door.
“Who are you fucking, whore?” Brett spits at me as he hits me again. I try to get away, but he’s bigger and stronger. He pulls me away from the door only to slam me against it again. My breath rushes from my lungs. I hold in the cry of pain because I know he likes that, and I don’t want to give him any more reason to hit or beat on me.
“I-I don’t kn-know what you’re talking about.” I try to catch my breath.
“The landlord said our rent was paid up for the last three months until October. Who are you fucking, Sparrow?” he yells in my face. Spittle lands on me, and I cringe back from his cigarette laced breath. My stomach rebels, wanting to throw up the food I ate earlier.
“Please. I’m not sleeping with anyone.” I hold in the tears.
“Are you still a virgin?” I hate that my brother knows about my sexual inadequacies. He shouldn’t. It’s gross and wrong.
“Yes.” My chin starts to quiver in fear and pain.
“Remember, I will kill you if you lose it. I have plans for you.” His words freeze the blood in my veins. “You are worth so much more untouched.” For years he’s made sure I know how valuable my virginity is to human traffickers. Maybe it’s time I took Lennon’s advice; she’s been begging me for a while now to get away from Brett.
“I don’t understand.” The tears start to flow, and I can’t stop them as realization hits. My brother is the one who is going to traffic me, not someone else. He’s going to use me.
“I have a birthday surprise for you. A big game that could set me up for life.” He grins.
I need to get away from here soon while I still have a choice; otherwise, I’ll be raped. He shoves me away from him. I stumble and fall into the kitchen counter. The card I hid in my bra so Brett wouldn’t find it digs into my skin. This is one of those emergencies Andrei was talking about. I need help to get away. I already knew our rent had been paid up. I’ve been hoarding the money I earned for it in a hiding place in my room.
“But you can’t do that,” I beg, hoping that somewhere in his heart he remembers we are brother and sister. “You’re my brother and shouldn’t want to sell me.”
“Why can’t I? Father would have done it if he hadn’t died first. The only reason he kept you around was for the money you could bring us. Our whore mother should have never had you.” His words hit me like a blow.
“Mother wasn’t a whore.” She always loved and took good care of me. She told me I was special and meant for bigger and better things than Brett. I never understood what she was trying to say. A memory flashes through my mind of her holding me the night she died. She kissed my forehead, slid the locket I wear all the time over my head, and told me my father would save me. But my father beat me, made me work, and treated me like I was dirt instead of his special daughter like she said he should.
“She was nothing but a whore. The moment she didn’t abort you, she proved she was a whore.”
