I return to my office but remain in the doorway. I can’t even find reprieve in here. Her spot next to mine mocks me. The desk which holds what used to be a fond memory turns sour in my mind.
No longer able to endure the reminders, I leave. I can’t find a single room in my house that doesn’t remind me of her. I end up sitting in my pantry on a chair I dragged in from the kitchen. Because even the kitchen, a room I never entered before her, holds memories of feeding her blueberries for a late-night snack.
My mind is a jumbled mess. I’m so lost, I don’t even know where to begin. The best move would be to call Bash and have him do a sweep of everything to see what’s been compromised. But I don’t have it in me. At least not yet. When it comes back showing all she’s done, all her disloyalty, it’ll only crush me further. So, for now, I sit in my misery with only expired chips to keep me company.
My phone ringing interrupts my pity. The unknown caller ID sends a shiver down my spine.
I answer the call but don’t say anything.
“Dominic Montclair. It is Pyotr Sokolov, your brother-in-law,” a deep voice says from the other end. I recognize it, and it pisses me off. How dare he call me after conspiring with my… Katerina!
“What do you want?” I grind out.
“Erm… have you not spoken to Katya yet?” His tone changes to one of confusion. “I thought I gave you enough time.”
“Yes, I have.” I pretend to understand. I want to know what trap they’re planning for me. If I feign ignorance of her betrayal, then I can find what’s really going on.
“What is your decision? Will you help?”
“With what exactly?” I’m truly lost.
“With overthrowing Viktor.” He says it like it’s obvious, but I stagger back.
I suck in a breath. “What?”
“Are you sure you spoke with Katerina? She met with me this morning to discuss the Syndicate’s aid in overthrowing Viktor. He’s gone too far this time and must be stopped.” Fury makes way for confusion. I don’t understand their angle.
“Why should I be interested in Bratva politics?”
“Because he’s breaking your rules.” He says it slowly, as though he’s talking to a child. Clearly, he doesn’t think I understand what’s going on… which I don’t.
“What’s he done?” I need to know. This is imperative. If Viktor’s broken our rules, then the treaty is void, and I can go after him. I can kill him for touching my… Oh.
“He’s human trafficking women from the motherland and turning them into forced sex slaves by the ports.” Pyotr disgust matches my own.
It all clicks into place.
What Roman’s been suspicious of for two years.
What Margot inadvertently stumbled upon.
Their surplus of cash.
Their new merchandise ‘we can’t compete with.’
Their need for more fucking ports.
They’re human trafficking.
I’m sick to my stomach. He’s been doing this for years right in front of us. Countless women have suffered when we could’ve intervened. If I hadn’t told Roman and Bash to pull back from digging, we would’ve found this so much sooner.
“How many?” I grit out.
“Hundreds of women. So many have died. Either from overdosing on the drugs they have them addicted to or… There’s nolimit to the number of women in Russia. He’ll never stop unless we stop him.”
My stomach churns. Hundreds of women suffering because of our inaction. It is our duty to those women to step in.
“The Syndicate will aid in any way. Should we reach out to Lorenzo?” The Mafia would never allow this sort of thing and would gladly help overthrow Viktor.
