That she’s independent doesn’t surprise me either.
What does surprise me is her father’s acceptance of her choices.
“We can help with her safety,” Daniil says. He pulls a card from his pocket, handing it to him. “Protection is what we do.”
Theo studies the card and then looks up, a curious expression on his face. “I heard about you. You’re some kind of royalty.”
“Technically, yes.” Daniil inclines his head. “But I left that life behind. Politics wasn’t for me, and my wife didn’t like the constant danger. We decided to start over here while doing something I’d like to think is worthwhile.”
“Like taking down a sex trafficking ring?”
The two men lock gazes, and I’m having a hard time understanding what’s happening between them.
Mutual respect or something else? It’s hard to tell but I’m not about to get involved. My only concern is Allora’s safety, whatever that entails.
Mr. Sterling turns to me. “I’m going to have a couple of guys hang out in the parking lot tonight. They don’t know exactly what they’re looking for, but you’ll have backup if you need it. Just text this number. They can be up here in a matter of seconds.” He holds out his phone, and I obligingly add the contact to mine.
“Have we heard from Chaos and Rage?” I ask Daniil.
He nods. “They’re on the way home. The cops took over the forensics but there was nothing else to be done tonight. That area butts up against the national forest, so there’s a lot of ground to cover and not enough people to do it.”
“There has to be a reason he went that direction, though,” I muse aloud. “Like, he was headed somewhere and bailed out once he realized he wasn’t going to lose me.”
“You think there’s some kind of facility out there, where they keep the trafficked women?”
“Facility, headquarters, safe house…” I shrug. “It could be anything but my gut tells me it’s out there. We just have to find it.”
“Then we will.” There’s a finality to Mr. Sterling’s voice that tells me it’s not optional.
“And my people are happy to help,” Daniil says. “It’s not about money—this area is my home now too. I want my family and friends to be safe.”
Mr. Sterling hesitates. “I won’t claim to be a saint. The club has business dealings that aren’t completely…legal. But sex trafficking? Uh uh. No way. We’re not into that.”
“Glad to hear it,” Daniil says diplomatically. “So let me know what you need. In the meantime, we’ll figure out the best way to keep Allora safe.”
“Let’s meet up tomorrow,” Mr. Sterling says. “After she’s had some sleep and time to think about what she wants to do.”
The men shake hands, Mr. Sterling nods at me, and then he disappears down the hall.
I eye Daniil curiously. “What just happened?”
“We made an ally,” he says quietly. “I’ve heard about the Renegade Demons. They have their fingers in a lot of both legal and illegal little pies, but you know what they say—keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
I scowl. “So, you’re using what happened to Allora as a tactical move?”
“It’s not like I planned this. But now that the opportunity has presented itself, why not build a relationship? It’s better than not having one at all, or worse, having an acrimonious one.”
It makes sense, even though I don’t know how I feel about it.
This is about Allora, though.
Daniil has the resources to do almost anything he wants but I understand the need to forge alliances whenever and wherever he can.
“Look, we don’t want to raise our families in an area where there’s an active sex trafficking ring. And if we’re on the same page with that, why not work together to get rid of it?”
“How can you trust him?” I ask.
He shrugs. “My gut, I guess. The way he looked at his daughter. His willingness to talk even though he doesn’t know me from Adam. Guys like that don’t trust easily.”
