“Just to work,” she lied.
Two more men appeared crowding into the small space.One of them was almost a clone to the first.Large, bulky, heavy, with a shaved head and icy-blue eyes.Their noses crooked after being broken more than once and their mouths set into grim, menacing lines.The third man was the one she feared the most.Average height and average looks.He was the kind of man you didn’t look twice at, until you noticed his tailored suit and brand shoes.Dante “Porcupine” Romano.Somewhere in his fifties, he wore his hair jelled back to stiffening tips and a gold chain around his neck.His strength was visible beneath his clothes, but unlike his bodyguards he wasn’t overly muscled.No, the wily man who probably stood at no more than 5’7”, didn’t need to be big to instill fear.
“To work,” he echoed.“Without your phone, and wearing jeans?”He tsked.“Who do you think you’re fooling, girl?”
Abruptly, one of the big guys grabbed her shoulder and pushed her to her knees.
“Kneel to the boss, bitch,” he growled.
“I was going to find them,” she replied.“Then go to work.You can pick up men with jeans too,” she said.
“I know you can, but I’m also aware of your whereabouts, girl.I know for a fact you weren’t working last night.That you went home with one guy and didn’t return until a short while ago.”
“I overstayed at a client’s house,” she mumbled.
“And yet you have nothing to show for it,” Dante said.He crouched in front of her and grasped her chin, forcing her to look at him.His digits dug into her face, hurting her.She searched for a plausible lie.
“I—”
“We know he’s a cop, Katya.”The iciness in Dante’s tone made dread slither down her spine.“And we don’t mingle with cops.”
“I didn’t know.When I picked him up, I didn’t realize.”
Dante’s fingernails poked into her face.
“You didn’t at first, I’ll give you that, but the second time, you did.”
“No.”
Suddenly, Dante released her.He made a motion to one of the bodyguards who stepped up behind her and roughly brought her to her feet.Rudely, he grabbed her hands behind her back and held her in place.
“You’re my bitch, Katyuna.I told you at the start.I know everything you do, from where you go to who you fuck.Everything.We saw you.We followed you.”Dante glared at her.“I thought you loved your sister,” he said with a feigned pout.“Apparently, not enough.”
Terror embraced her in a deadly grip, pushing the predator within her to a corner.“Please, don’t hurt her.”
Dante smirked, the cruel curve of his mouth mocking her.
“Who said anything about hurting little Irina?She brings in better dollars than her older sister.No, Katyuna, you should be fearing for your own life.”The click of the penknife flipping open had her taking a step back and cashing against the giant holding her.Dante snapped it closed and opened several times, the rhythm slow and menacing.“If I were you, I’d be more worried about your own skin.”He nodded at the bodyguards.“Bring her along, boys.”
Katya opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out as one of the large men slammed his fist into her face, knocking her unconscious.
