The one enemy Boris has never been able to overthrow.
Knowing I have to somehow seduce a capo makes fear shudder through me. If I’m successful, it will incur the wrath of the most feared man in Bulgaria.
The man whose shadow sits over every criminal operation in this country while Boris Pavlov circles endlessly, desperate to claw his way into a seat of power he has never been able to claim.
“It should be easy for you to seduce Torrisi. He’s a known playboy and can’t resist a pretty face.”
I lower my gaze toward the polished surface of the desk, watching the reflection of the office lights shimmer across the wood while the familiar sense of helplessness settles into my bones.
I have no choice but to do as I’m ordered. If I resist, Simi will be hurt.
Boris lights a cigar, and a thick cloud of smoke curls toward the ceiling.
“You will gain his attention,” he continues, his tone impatient. “You will encourage him to follow you out of the bar, which is in the hotel he’s staying in. Lead him to the side of the building.”
Where the men will be waiting, ready to ambush the capo.
My father never keeps prisoners breathing unless he plans to tear answers out of them piece by piece, and a familiar heaviness settles in my chest because I already know how this will unfold. They will beat him, and it will be my job to keep him breathing so they can torture him day in and day out.
Patch them up. Stop the bleeding. Force water and food down their throats while they choke on pain. Clean wounds and close gashes because no doctor ever comes to this house.
After years of practice, I’ve become good at first aid. Good enough to keep men alive through things that should have killed them.
Besides being payment for Anton Belinsky, this has always been my role. I have to play nurse to men who will die anyway.
If anything about this insane plan goes wrong, the consequences will be catastrophic, and yet my father sits there calmly, confident that I will obey like I always do.
My father does not need to threaten me out loud.
He never does.
The unspoken threat is always there, like an invisible blade to my throat.
If I refuse…if I fail…if I do anything except exactly what he wants, the person who suffers will not be me.
It will be my sweet baby daughter who’s already seen too much violence in her short four years.
Boris watches me for a moment longer, then barks, “You will not disappoint me, Nina.”
No matter how much I hate him, no matter how badly I want to run, I will walk into that bar tomorrow night and do exactly what he demands.
For Simi.
After leaving the office, I hurry to the other wing of the mansion, and as I near the suite Simi is held in, Ivan’s heartless eyes lock on me.
He waits for me to stop in front of the door, and then smirking, he stares down at me. “Hmm…I'm not sure I should allow you to see the brat today.”
He always taunts me, and at least once every few days, he refuses me entry.
Anger pours into my chest. I hate that every vile person in this mansion has power over me. There isn’t anything I can do without risking Simi, and it kills me.
Ivan leans down until I feel his breath on my ear. “You can be glad I’m not allowed to fuck you. I’d make you pay to see the brat.” There’s a low hum in the back of his throat. “At night, I picture all the things you’d allow me to do to you.”
His words coat my skin with another layer of filth before he finally pulls back and opens the door.
I shoot forward, my heart slamming so hard it hurts as my gaze locks on Simi.
Tanya moves to stand by Ivan near the door while my precious daughter scrambles up from where she’s coloring, running with unsteady little legs toward me. Her arms reach for me as she cries, “Mama!”
