Czar roars with laughter.
Jensen places a Scotch in my hand, and I throw it back, then hand it back for him to pour another while hooking my phone up to the scanner. This is something I do each time I enter the office. Checking my phone for bugs before a conversation takes place is vital. As much as we don’t trust my father, he doesn’t trust us either.
We can’t be too careful, not with so much at stake.And now you have Hevan too; your father would love to break her.
“Have you chosen your latest victim?” Czar asks.
I lift a shoulder, but inside I’m boiling. He knows damn well I don’t enjoy discussing my sex life with anyone. I never have. “She will receive pleasure and thank me for it. Hardly a victim,” I bite back.
“I mean, at least she was willing,” Jensen says with a shrug.
His words force my spine to straighten.She was willing, right?
Czar’s forehead creases. “What are you talking about?”
I clear my throat. “The girl was a virgin, and I wasn’t aware.”
He rears back, eyes wide and lip curled. “How?”
With the tension building inside me, I shuffle papers on the desk. His scrutiny is making me question my own actions, and as someone who thrives on control, it’s fucking unnerving.
“I don’t know,” I bite back. “But I will find out.”
“Was it done on purpose? To fuck with you?” he asks.
“Iwondered that too,” Jensen adds.
I drag a finger over my lip, considering their words. I don’t think our father would think to do that. “I’ll speak to him. Has he asked about the missing girl?” I ask no one in particular.
“What missing girl?” Czar’s eyes volley from me to Jensen, and I don’t miss the way Jensen’s temple pulsates. “Jesus fucking Christ, what the hell’s been happening while I was at the fight?”
“Jensen found an underage girl in our father’s bedroom.”
“The fuck?” Czar declares, and I wince.
“She’s safe.” I wave my hand around in hopes of pacifying him. “But he’s going to be asking questions, there’s no doubt.”
“And what will you say?” Jensen prods.
“Leave it to me. I gave you my word, didn’t I?” I spit back, and his shoulders relax.
Czar leans forward. “He’s dragging us into child trafficking, Azrael.” He stabs my desk with his finger. “I told you this would happen.” He’s been aware of the rumblings for a while now. Working in the MMA scene, he knows a lot of people, and people talk. “This can’t happen.”
“I know!” I fire back.
He pushes to his feet and paces the room. “Women are bad enough, but we grew up with it, ya know?” Now more than ever, I’m aware of how accustomed we’ve become to our father’s stock. “It was fucking normal to us.”
I nod as he practically marches up and down the small space, then I take another drink of the Scotch, embracing the burn in my throat.
“I know a few people. I could reach out, see if they can help in some way,” Jensen suggests, his eyes full of hope.
“No!” I slam my hand down on the table. “The only men I trust are in this room.”
Czar stops pacing. “We can’t do this alone. We can’t even do this with them.” He motions toward the door separating us from my men. “He wouldn’t think twice about killing us, Azrael. We need to make a move first.” This isn’t the first time he’s suggested we kill our father—the only way we would gain more power within the auctions. We would even be able to put a stop to the ones we hold; however, business would only go elsewhere. They would continue, just not in our name anymore. We’d appear weak, easy to dispose of.
No. If we’re cutting off the head of the snake, we need to dismember its body also, leaving no room for regrowth.
“Leave this to me. I’ll speak to Father and see what I can figure out.” Their shoulders slump, but I continue. “The girl remains hidden.” I point toward Jensen. “Speak with Stone and the guys over in New Jersey, find out if there’s any talk in any of the clubs,” I tell Czar.
