I slump against my restraints, fighting back a sob. If only my father wouldn't have been a gambling fool, if only Pavel wouldn't have accepted me as payment…perhaps everything would have turned out differently. Perhaps Senga wouldn't have turned into the ice princess with the stone-cold heart that she ultimately became.
"So, while you were off being a trophy wife for some rich guy, I was at home trying to take care of our mother and not be sold by our father," she spits with hatred lacing her tone.
"Trophy wife? Is that what you think became of me?" I ask her incredulously. "Papa used me; same as he used you. Pavel wanted me in exchange for our father's debt!"
My sister narrows her eyes. She doesn't believe me, but I will make her believe.
"Pavel wasn't a good man, and I was far from a trophy wife. He raped me repeatedly — him and his friends. Pavel beat me, threw me down the stairs more times than I could ever count, starved me, locked me up for weeks at a time." I stare at my sister, trying to convey in my eyes just how much I truly suffered. "I'm covered in scars, because he hurt me deeper and more savagely than a person should ever be hurt." I stop talking and release a shuddering breath. I have never said most of those things out loud before, and it actually feels good to have them out in the open. I've opened up a little to Jax, but he will never know the true extent of what I went through.
"Why didn't you run away?" she asks, her voice just a whisper now.
"Pavel told me that if I left him, he would go back for you. He would take you in my place." And I vowed toneverlet that happen. I suffered the abuse for Senga even though some days I wanted to die from the agony I was put through. I did it all for her. Everything wasalwaysfor her.
Her eyes widen for a fraction of a second, and for a moment I can see the little sister I once knew behind that stony façade. But it only lasts for a second before she shakes her head. "You're lying."
"I'm not lying!" I scream at her. I went through hell and back because of her, to keep her safe. And all this time my father's debt wasn't even owed…because he was dead. And my sister was out of the country, safe. I could have left Pavel years ago, but I endured his abuse for ten solid years.Ten fucking years!
Angrily, I pull at the rope, screaming in frustration. "I stayed with that abusive asshole for you, Senga! I did it for you! I did it for you! I did it for you!" I scream over and over again, struggling against my bonds.
A loud crack sounds before the rotten rafter I'm tied to comes crashing down. I fall back just in time to roll out of the way of the large, wood beam that slams onto the floor only inches away from me.
Quickly slipping out of the now loosened ropes around my wrists, having learned to be an escape artist a long time ago after many punishable nights with Pavel, I stand and run towards the exit.
"Don't let her escape!" my sister yells at Franc.
Franc comes towards me, and I panic, backing up towards the way I just ran from. But then my mind comes into sharp focus because I've been in this situation before. Franc is the same size as Wraith. They have the same menacing stature, same build.
You can do this, I tell myself.
Instead of retreating, I advance on him. Like Wraith taught me, even though he's much, much bigger, his size compared to mine will always be his downfall. I can outmaneuver a stronger, larger man.
Franc looks surprised by the sudden turn of events, but he keeps coming towards me with his gun drawn. When I'm only a few inches away, I throw a block out to knock away his hand holding the gun. Then, I lift my leg and kick him so hard in the balls that his grandchildren will ultimately feel it.
I had practiced the move time and time again with Wraith, although he didn't actually let me land the second blow to his family jewels.
And now, the soft tissue connecting with my boot and the look of pain on Franc's face give me all the satisfaction I've needed.
The gun goes skittering across the hay-strewn floor. While Franc falls to his knees in pain, I lunge for the weapon. I get my hand around the cold metal and put my finger on the trigger before rising to my knees, keeping Franc in my line of sight.
He's still doubled over and incapacitated at the moment. With all of my attention on him, I never hear my sister until it's too late.
A shot rings out, and my eyes snap up as I see the gun in Senga's hand raised too high to be aiming for me. I realize that was a warning shot to get my attention.
"You're worth more alive to me than dead," she says as an explanation to why she didn't shoot me dead on the spot.
"How nice of you to say," I hiss at her.
"But I still get some of the money from theBratvaeven if you're dead, so I'll leave that choice up to you." Then she lowers her weapon to point it straight at my chest.
I should have known she was working with the Russian mafia. It all makes sense now.
Keeping my hand steady, I aim for Franc's leg and pull the trigger. The bullet rips through the meaty part of his thigh, and he screams out in pain. It's not a debilitating injury, but it will keep him from sneaking up on me once he recovers from that kick to the balls.
And then I mimic my sister's stance and point the gun at her. "I guess we're at a crossroads," I tell her. "You could kill me…or not…but you also can't spend the money ifyou'redead."
"Marko!" she calls towards the open barn door. "Eli!"
She's calling in for reinforcements, but they never come. I'm surprised her hired help didn't run in here after the first shot was fired. Something must be wrong.
