Page 86 of Caught By the Bratva Boss

I positioned my body in front of him. “Leave him alone. He’s just a kid. He’s innocent.”

Dominik’s eyes glittered with malice. “The innocence is what people will pay for,” he chuckled. “Some of my customers have very particular tastes.”

Half turning my body, I covered Timothy’s ears. The movement sent shockwaves of pain flooding through my body. “You’re sick. Sick and twisted. Daniil is going to kill you.”

Throwing back his head, Dominik laughed. “He will try, but he won’t get to you quickly enough to save you. But don’t worry.” He leaned closer still. “I’ll make sure he sees the videos of both of you. I want him to hear the noises you make when you take your last breaths.”

From above, a horn blared, or at least it sounded like a horn. A wide smile spread across his face. Standing, he stretched his arms above his head. “Showtime.”

More men entered the room, talking excitedly among themselves, and at first I didn’t know why they were here or what bad thing was going to happen next, but I didn’t have long to wait. The corners of the cage were lifted, and we were carried out and up some concrete stairs. The air was stale with the stench of booze and cigarette smoke, but I wasn’t in the place I had been kept before. These stairs were wider, and the room we were carried into looked more like a theater than a bar.

The cage was placed on the stage, the spotlight clicking on and illuminating us.

“Ladies and gentlemen. Our final lot for the evening. The son, the only son.” Piotre’s voice boomed out. “Of the infamous Daniil Popov. And his pregnant fiancée, Miss Lily Ridgeway.”

I wanted to scream at him that I wasn’t Daniil’s fiancée, but my tongue felt glued to the top of my mouth.

“Let’s see her.” Someone called from out of the darkness. And my blood ran cold.

“And the boy.” Someone else said.

“Of course.” The cage door was swung open, and Piotre reached inside. Grabbing hold of my leg, he began tugging me out.

“Lily,” Timothy screamed as I was dragged away from him. “Lily don—“

I gripped him with an iron-like grip. Whatever happened, I wouldn’t let him go. Kicking out with my foot, I caught Piotre in the chin and rocked his head back.

“Get the fuck up.” His hands dug into my arm. Grinding my flesh against the bone as he dragged me to my feet. And I could tell by the look on his face that the only thing stopping him from beating me senseless was the eyes of a dozen customers watching.

He didn’t want to damage the merchandise.

“Bring the boy.”

“No.” I heaved Timothy more firmly into my arms, even though my body was on fire. “No, leave him alone.”

I knew there were sick people in the world. But I would not let one of them touch Timothy. They wouldn’t even get to look at him. Twisting my body, I curled myself around him.

“Let go of the boy.” Piotre tried and failed to spin me around. Another man came up and tried to tug Timothy’s terrified body from my arms. I held on with everything I had.

“Lily,” he screamed for me, his small hands trying to find a hold in my satin dress.

“Let go of the boy.” Piotre’s fist hit my temple. Each word was punctuated by another blow. My vision darkened on the edges, spinning around me. I fell to my knees, vomit rushing up my throat as another blow was aimed at my already broken ribs. My grip on him slipped.

“Lily. Noo—“ his screech was enough to break my heart as he was wrenched away from me. Kicking and screaming, he was carried beyond the curtain.

“Timothy.” I tried to crawl to him, but Piotre’s booted foot slammed into my cheek, and I pitched forward. Curling up on myself as he aimed kick after kick into my body.

I drifted in and out of consciousness, so I didn’t know how much time had passed. It felt like an eternity filled with pain.

“I will kick that baby right out of your body.” Piotre’s fingers tangled into my hair and lifted me to my feet. Ripping the hair out by the roots.

“Behave.”

Wildly, I looked around. “Timothy,” I wailed. Wildly, I looked around, but there was no sign of him. I couldn’t even hear him crying anymore.

“Where have you taken him?”

“I would worry more about yourself than the brat, Lily.” Coming to stand behind me, Piotre whispered in my ear. His breath made me feel sick. “Now strip off that pretty dress for the ladies and gentlemen. Show them what they get for their money.”