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We make our way to the elevator and then down to the second floor, where we move across the office space to the emergency stairs then down to the ground level. Sparrow has a death grip on the railing the entire way down, worried she’s going to fall. I just showed her how to walk in heels yesterday. Andrei didn’t want Sparrow and me going directly down to the kitchen. I know the entrance to the illegal cardroom he runs is accessed from there. Part of me wants to head in that direction and walk in to see what the illegal side looks like. Our father runs the Melody Casino. It’s one of the most luxurious resorts on the Strip. I have a condo on the top floor, so I’m used to walking through a casino and gambling establishment. But this isn’t like that, and Andrei doesn’t follow the rules that other casinos do.
As soon as I feel the tension in the air ramp up, I turn to see that Arkady and Adrik realize there is an issue. I had their SUV moved away and parked my car in its place. I knew I’d have to talk fast to get Sparrow to do want I want. She’s so under Andrei’s influence that she thought she had to give him her body as thanks for him saving her. Andrei could be a really nice guy, but I don’t trust him. I’ve learned not to trust mafia related men. Rumors are that our own father was a hit man for the Irish mob, but I don’t believe it. He’s owned his casino since before he took me in. But the others tell me not to trust him either. It’s why we are doing what we are. As I begin to dwell on that, a gunshot rings out, pulling me from my thoughts. Arkady grabs his arm, and Adrik tries to pull Sparrow back inside the building. I’ll deal with the gun situation in a moment. I pull the Taser from my bag and hit Adrik in the back. His body seizes up, and I watch as Sparrow’s does too.
Shit. I didn’t want to hurt her. Dang it. I didn’t know she would be affected by him touching her. I don’t remember that from my training session that Father insisted I take.
“You weren’t supposed to bring a gun,” I yell at Daron. I can’t believe he did this. He ignores me at first and then aims the gun at Arkady’s head.
“Are you crazy? These guys are killers,” Daron whines. I try to get the gun from him, but he won’t give it up.
“They won’t hurt her, and I don’t want Andrei to come after us. I only hired you because my father wouldn’t have agreed to this. Come on, jerk. Put her in the car,” I order him, but he moves toward me instead.
“Give me that.” He yanks the Taser from my hand. I watch as he holds it against Sparrow’s arm and hits her with another jolt. “There isn’t enough money in the world to go against the Bratva,” Daron says as he picks her up.
I can’t believe they had me hire this asshole. I direct him to put her in the passenger seat. He follows my order this time but cops a feel of her breast as he fastens her seat belt.
“Hey, don’t touch her.” I want to punch him.
“Who’s going to stop me?” He laughs and moves away from her and toward me. He presses me up against the car, and I see the gun handle sticking out of his pocket. “I’m going to collect the payment I deserve from you. I should’ve been told this job involved the Bratva.”
When he moves in for a kiss, I grab the gun and bring my knee up hard into his groin. He falls back, and I fire a shot, hitting him in the shoulder just like he did Arkady. I kick him in the face before I run around the car and jump in the driver’s seat. I hope Sparrow’s guards are okay.
I speed down the alley and barely miss a car as I merge onto the street. Stomping on the gas pedal, I race down the road, trying to get us to the private airport outside of town. I’m flying us away from here for a bit so I can rescue her from Andrei. First, it was Brett, and now it’s Andrei. My sister needs me.
“Why?” Sparrow’s voice cracks from the passenger seat.
I flick a glance at her. “I had to get you away from him. He’s dangerous, and as your big sister, I need to protect you.” It’s my job, and I want to protect her. I didn’t protect her before, and Brett ended up holding her captive for weeks. I didn’t know she was my sister then, but she was my friend. I should have insisted she let me help her. Now that I know we are family and I have control with my team, I’ll do anything to help her.
“Did you kill my guards?”
“No. I shot that idiot Daron. He touched you and was trying to hurt me.” I look over at her and see she’s finally moving around. Her eyes are focused out the window, trying to figure out where we are headed.
“Andrei is going to find me,” she says softly.
“By the time he does, we will be far away, and you’ll no longer be under his spell. Just because he saved you doesn’t mean you have to worship him and be his mistress.” I can’t keep the emotions out of my voice.
“I’m going to be his wife.”
Her words shock me, but before I can find out what she’s talking about, the interior of the car is blanketed in bright lights.
“What is this idiot doing?” I glare into the rearview mirror.
The large vehicle speeds up and then slams into the back of our car. I struggle to keep the car on the road as we swerve from the impact. We’re hit again, and this time I slide into the oncoming lane. Luckily, no one is coming at the time. I right the car and speed up, but the vehicle behind us speeds up too. My grip slips slightly as my face slams into the steering wheel. I lose control and we crash into the ditch. I turn to look at Sparrow, who’s looking at me. My eyes move over her shoulder to the window. Someone is approaching her side of the car. I work my door handle, but it won’t open. The door is jammed. I watch helplessly as Sparrow is yanked from the car, shrieking.
“I’ve got you now,” a male voice I don’t recognize says. But as Sparrow screams, I know it has to be Brett. No one told me he was still a threat. Father said not to worry, so I thought Sparrow was safe. I would have never taken her from her protective detail if I knew he was still out there.
The window next to me is shattered, and my door is yanked open. A man with slicked back short black hair, taupe brown skin tone, and in a black suit minus the jacket is looming over me. He’s got a vest on over his white shirt with the sleeves rolled up.
“Move,” he barks in a thickly accented voice.
I climb out and take in the colorful Chinese tattoos lining his arms. This guy is part of the Chinese Triad. They are just as scary as the Russians. He yanks on my arm and pushes me into the back of a panel van. Brett drops Sparrow next to me, and I pull her limp body into mine. I watched him slam a gun into her face.
“Tell the buyers we have them,” Brett orders the man, who curses in Chinese before he lifts his phone to make a call.
What have I done?
I silently cry as they drive away with us.
* * *
