Page 93 of Marked By the Mob

She takes a breath, her fingers twisting together in her lap. “Volkov uses the women he acquires as assets. He trains them, educates them, and places them in strategic positions. Some become companions to politicians. Others work in corporate settings where they can gather intelligence. A few, like me, are kept close to gather information on his rivals.”

My stomach turns. “And the FBI?”

“There are people inside the Bureau who know about the auction. Who use it.” Krystal’s voice drops to barely above a whisper. “They feed information to the organizers. They protect certain buyers. They make sure investigations go nowhere.”

The words confirm what I’ve been afraid to admit. The mole isn’t just someone who sold me out. They’re part of a larger network that’s been operating for years.

“Langford,” I say quietly.

Krystal’s eyes widen. “You think it’s him?”

“I don’t want to.” The admission hurts. “But the evidence keeps pointing in his direction. His brother-in-law’s security firmlaunders auction money. He had the clearance to access my files. He approved my operation, knowing it would fail.”

“But he’s been like a father to you,” Krystal says, her voice gentle. “I can’t believe he would do that. He’s always seemed to care so much for you.’

“I know.” My throat tightens again. “That’s what makes this so hard. Langford is the closest thing to family I have left. If he’s the one who betrayed me…”

I can’t finish the sentence. The thought is too painful.

Krystal reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Maybe there’s another explanation. Maybe someone is setting him up.”

“Maybe.” But I don’t believe it. Not anymore. The pieces fit too well. The timeline makes too much sense. And the message he sent offering to negotiate my return wasn’t about rescuing me. It was about containing the damage I could do to his operation.

“What are you going to do?” Krystal asks.

“Find proof.” I stand, my resolve hardening. “I’m going to dig until I have enough evidence to bury whoever’s responsible. Even if it’s Langford.”

Krystal stands too, her hazel eyes searching mine. “And then what? You turn him in? Go back to the FBI?”

The question stops me cold. A week ago, the answer would have been obvious. Of course I’d go back. The Bureau is my life, my purpose. It’s everything I’ve worked for. All I know. Or, at least, all I used to know before being bought at an auction and falling for three very dangerous men.

But now?

Now I’m not sure what I want anymore.

Before I can answer, a knock sounds at the door. Eduard’s voice comes through, calm but serious. “Emma, Krystal. We need you downstairs.”

I exchange glances with Krystal, my pulse quickening. Something’s wrong. I can hear it in Eduard’s tone.

We follow him down the hallway and stairs to the main foyer. Rurik and Artur are already there, their expressions hard. Through the tall windows, I can see several black SUVs parked in the circular drive.

My stomach drops.

Eduard turns to face us, his gray eyes locked on Krystal. “Volkov is here.”

Krystal goes pale, her hand gripping my arm hard enough to bruise. “No. No, he can’t be.”

“He’s demanding to see you,” Rurik says, his voice flat. “He says you were taken against your will and he’s here to retrieve his property.”

The word makes my blood boil.Property. Like Krystal is something he owns.

“You don’t have to go,” I say quickly, turning to face her. “You can stay here. They’ll protect you. Remember, you just said you wanted to stay.”

Eduard steps closer, his attention focused entirely on Krystal. “The choice is yours. You can go with Volkov, or you can choose to stay with us.”

Krystal’s breathing quickens, her eyes darting between us and the windows where Volkov’s vehicles wait. I watch him step out of the car with several of his bodyguards. There’s not much time. Krystal’s whole body trembles, and I can see the war playing out across her face. Fear of what Volkov will do if she refuses him. Hope that maybe, finally, she can be free.

“I…” Her voice breaks. “I don’t know.”