AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He laughs hard, throwing my bag on top of my few belongings. “I’ll look forward to it.”
It’s been over twenty-four hours. I know this because it’s been dark and now it’s light again. A woman brought me food last night, but it remains on the step, as does the breakfast she brought earlier. There are also two bottles of water which I refuse to drink in case I’m forced to use the bucket. Even being homeless hasn’t made me resort to acting like an animal. I find public toilets every time.
The door opens and I watch as shiny black shoes step over the food and head down towards me. The man who I suspect is in charge towers over me. It’s the first time I’ve seen him since the alleyway, but his presence has the same effect on me and I shrink back into the shadows. “Maria tells me you did not eat.” His voice is deep and full of authority. I remain silent, going back to resting my forehead on my knees. “Is my food not good enough?” When I still don’t reply, he sighs heavily. “And you haven’t drank?”
“Why do you care?” I snap, looking up.
“Do you want to die down here?”
“Of course not. I don’t want to be here at all.”
“Drink.” He holds out a bottle of water. I shake my head, even though my mouth is dry and my throat hurts. “You must be thirsty.” I stare at the bottle longingly, then my eyes go to the bucket. He smiles. “It’s the bucket putting you off?”
“I’m not an animal,” I mutter.
“Drink,” he hands me the bottle, and I unscrew the cap and gulp it down. “Now, follow me.”
CHAPTER TWO
IVAN
The girls we move never meet me or Maxim. Those jobs are left to our Brigadiers, our captains. Each captain has their groups of Boyeviks to watch over and trafficking is down to them to arrange. Any problems that arise go to Lev and then Maxim as a last resort.
So, when I announced I wanted to be there today to watch them test her, I could see Maxim biting his tongue, wanting to ask what my interest in this woman is, but in truth, I don’t know myself. I still haven’t decided what to do with her. All I know is she’s the first woman in a long time to intrigue me. The fact she appeared yesterday, on Lara’s six-month anniversary, makes me think it wasn’t a coincidence. Maybe Lara sent her my way. Maybe she knew I needed distracting.
Igor brings Grace into the room where Maxim and I are already waiting. Her eyes dart around, searching for a way out. I smile. She won’t find one, and even if she made it out the front door, which in itself would be a task, she’d have to make it past the roaming dogs and the security before she got to the ten-foot gate controlled by a release button that very few people have access to.
I took her from the basement and showed her to a spare room where she could use the toilet and have a shower. It’s the least I could do before her real horror begins. She’s now wrapped in a white robe with her wet hair sticking to her neck.
“Remove it,” I tell Igor.
He nods, taking hold of the robe tie she’s wearing. She suddenly grips it tightly. “What the fuck are you doing?”
I sit back against the desk and fold my arms over my chest, smirking. “Alek,” I say, and Alek moves from the doorway he was guarding to help Igor. They wrestle Grace from the robe until she stands before me naked. I push off the desk, and she eyes me warily. They each hold onto one of her wrists as I circle her, taking in every curve of her body.
Maxim dug up her information, and I was surprised to see she’s homeless. The man she was with looked it, but she was clean and her clothes were fresh. There are no bruises, and I peer closer at her arms for track marks. There’s nothing. She’s been homeless for a year, and it’s unusual not to find signs of drugs or prostitution or even a criminal record.
I stand before her, and she ignores me, staring past me to the window. “How do you afford to eat?” She remains quiet. “You’re homeless. You don’t do drugs, unless you sell?”
“That’s a mug’s game,” she mutters.
“Do you have a pimp?”
She scoffs. “Even if I did have to sell myself, I certainly wouldn’t split my hard-earned money with a pimp.”
I smirk. “Sensible.”
“So, if that’s what you think is going to happen here, you’re mistaken.”
I laugh. “I like that you think you hold all the cards, Grace. Especially when you’re the one standing here naked in a room full of men.”
“You think this is the first time I’ve dealt with bastards like you?” she spits angrily.
“Leave,” I tell my men. They clear the room, and Grace brings her eyes to me. I step close, giving her no room as I run my hand through her wet hair. “Such a pretty thing but the mouth of a sailor.”
“Look, I’m sorry my friend took your wallet, but we were hungry, okay. We just needed a break.”
I run a finger over her shoulder and her skin breaks out in bumps. “Never apologise for things you meant.”
