She nodded and walked ahead, and as I saw her straighten her shoulders, all I could think of was how vulnerable she looked walking into the café alone. How petrified.
If I’d had it my way, I would’ve jumped at the chance to teach her precious father a lesson.
I gave her a five-minute head start, then followed, taking a closed-off booth in the far corner with a clear view of where she sat waiting. I ordered coffee and pretended to use a newspaper as a mask from prying eyes, while carefully peering over it to keep her in sight.
A few minutes later, Marc Montes walked in, and I had to admit he looked like shit. He had a haggard look about him, with circles darker than hell beneath his eyes. Clearly, this situation with Alisa had taken its toll. I gritted my teeth at the look of relief he feigned at the sight of Alisa.
“Alisa,” I heard his warm voice gush in through the earpiece. “Oh, darling! Thank God you’re alright.”
“Hello, Papa.” Alisa’s voice shook as she stood to hug him.
“Oh my dear, I was so worried,” he whispered into his ear and kissed her forehead before letting go.
I felt sick to my stomach. Marc Montes was a bastard through and through. She might think her father to be different, but I knew better.
He sat down across from her, reaching for her hands, but she jerked them away like she hadn’t noticed. If he noticed her reluctance, he didn’t show it.
“I’ve been out of my mind with worry,” he said, waving away the server who approached with menus. “When I saw theCCTV footage of you being taken outside my office—” He broke off into a sob that didn’t translate to tears and shook his head.The perfect act.
“I’ve been searching everywhere for you. Using every resource at my disposal.”
My jaw clenched at the performance he was putting on. It was masterful, and if I hadn’t known better, even I might have believed him.
“And now I find out you’re with the Lebedevs?” He lowered his voice, leaning in. “Honey, I know what happened after you were kidnapped. I’ve had the best police force in the world working on your case, and when I heard Dante Lebedev bought you in an auction—that sick bastard. I knew I had to get you back. I had to use powerful connections to get this meeting, and I’m here to tell you just how dangerous they are.”
“I’m aware of who they are,” Alisa said coolly.
“Then you must know you’re not safe there!”
“I think you’re wrong, Papa,” she interrupted. “Dante treats me well.”
“Treats you well?” Marc looked annoyed. “He bought you!”
“Yes, well, that could look bad. But then again, he bought me in a roomful of criminals who could have done worse. You didn’t think of that, did you, when you sold me?”
The words hung in the air between them. Through the earpiece, I heard Marc’s sharp intake of breath.
“What are you talking about?” he asked and paled.
“I came to see you in your office a month ago and heard every word,” Alisa continued, her voice growing stronger. “Iheard you arguing with the men who took me. You were angry because they put me on the auction block instead of delivering me directly to whoever you’d promised me to.”
Marc’s eyes darted around the café, and I tensed, ready to move. But he composed himself quickly and forced a laugh.
“Sweetheart, you must have misunderstood. I would never—”
“Stop lying,” Alisa cut him off like steel. “I heard everything. You sold me to pay off some debt or make some deal. Your own daughter! How could you?”
For a moment, Marc looked genuinely shocked, as if he couldn’t believe she knew the truth. Then his expression changed, hardening in a manner that made my blood run cold.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said, his voice now stripped of all warmth.
“Then explain it to me,” Alisa challenged. “Make me understand how a father sells his own child. What kind of trouble are you in, Papa?” Her voice softened. “Maybe I could help you! I know you must be in a very tight situation to have even considered selling me. We could… get you out of this bargain, couldn’t we?”
Marc leaned forward. “You think we can get you out of this bargain? You’ve lost your mind, Alisa. Those men are dangerous, and I’ve thought hard before I did what I had to. Everything I’ve done has been to protect you and to secure your future.”
“By selling me to the highest bidder?”
“By ensuring our survival!” he hissed, his composure slipping. “Do you have any idea the position I’m in? The debts I owe?”
