by J. L. Beck
“Okay, let me know what you need from me, and if I can help somehow,” I mumble into the phone, pulling Sophie onto my lap. Right now I need to keep her close, as close as humanly possible.
“Just watch over Sophie. Let me know if anything strange happens.” My muscles tense instantly as I remember last night.
“Last night Sophie said she saw her father. Mac said it’s stress and her mind is conjuring up things, but I don’t think she was hallucinating. She was truly afraid Ivan. And since her father lives in North Woods he can’t be here by coincidence, he’s here for something, most likely for her.” Saying the words out loud enrages me. I can feel the fear in Sophie’s body as she clings to my chest like a second skin.
“Maybe we can lure him out of hiding. If he’s looking for her and he’s on my territory breaking rules and laws then we need to put an end to him.”
“We are not using her as bait. I don’t want to put her in danger. We know where he lives so I say we go to him instead of trying to find him here. We just make sure he knows where we are going,” I say softly, stroking my hand down Sophie’s back and wishing I could end all of this right now. The last thing I want to do is let her father get close to her. Her reaction to his presence last night was unnerving and seeing her paralyzed with fear as she was, scared me to death, and angered me beyond words all at once.
“We don’t have to let him get close to her. Let me come up with a plan, I’ll talk to Xander and then I’ll be in touch with you. If you see him again don’t react. I know it will be hard but I want all the details before you get to kill him. I know you want revenge and trust me so do I, but we need to think about the bigger picture. Think about the other girl they will take if we don’t stop this.”
“Okay,” I agreed. It will be hard, but I’ll fucking do it. I know Ivan is right.
Sophie’s father needs to be killed, but I can wait if I have to. She’ll be safer that way and we can actually help some other girls in the process. Sophie’s father will die either way. I don’t know when or where, but one day I will kill him, even if Ivan said otherwise, I’ll still do it. I could never let the piece of shit live knowing what he did to my Sophie.
I hang up the phone and pull Sophie back into my arms.
“I don’t want to go back there,” she said with her voice trembling.
“I know and you don’t have to. We can figure something else out. It will be fine, don’t worry.”
“I don’t want to go, but I will. Ivan is right, we need to do this not only for us but for all the other girls they took and are still planning on taking.” I hold her even closer to me. I can’t believe how brave and selfless she is. Even after everything she went through, she still thinks about other people before she does herself.
***
Three days later, Xander sends us his private jet, inviting us to his place. If it wasn’t for Ivan and Violet vouching for him, I wouldn’t take Sophie on this trip in a million years, let alone staying in his mansion. The only reason we are on this plane right now is Ivan and Violet swearing up and down that we can trust the Rossi brothers.
Sophie is sitting next to me, holding my hand with a death grip. Violet is sitting across from us trying to hide her excitement about this trip. Obviously we are there for a serious matter but for Violet this is a chance to see her sister and I don’t hold her happiness against her.
“You know you don’t have to pretend Violet,” I give her a reassuring smile. “We know you’re excited to see your sister and there is nothing wrong with that.”
A huge smile spreads across her face, lightening up her features.
“Thank you for understanding. I just feel bad about being happy in the midst of all of this mess.”
We land shortly after on a small runway, and when we get out of the plane, there is a limo waiting for us. I keep Sophie tucked closely to my side the whole time. I don’t care how many times Ivan assures me we are safe here, I don’t trust anyone with Sophie's safety.
The ride to the mansion is short and when we pull up, Xander and Ella are already waiting at the door. As soon as the car stops, Violet is out the door, running up the stairs to meet her sister. They clash together, their arms wrapping around each other, followed by a little jumping up and down. Ivan follows closely behind, while I keep my distance, ushering Sophie out of the car and up the stairs. I don't like this.
“You must be Roman, Ivan’s brother,” Xander holds out his hand to me once I get closer. I shake it reluctantly, eyeing him cautiously. I met him once before, but I didn't have Sophie to protect then. Xander’s gaze holds my own.
“My brother told me I can trust you, but I'll be the judge of that.”
Xander smirks. “I have too much at risk bringing you here to hurt you or her.” His eyes move past me and to Sophie. She's looking down at the ground as if it's the most interesting thing she's ever seen and oh how I wish the danger was gone and I could wrap her up in my arms and go home. Satisfied with Xander’s response I give him a curt nod.
“Please, come in, dinner will be ready soon.” He waves his arm, motioning for all of us to come inside.
“We would like to discuss what we came here for as soon as possible,” Ivan tells Xander as we walk inside. My grip on Sophie's hand tightens as we walk into the mansion.
“Of course, let’s go sit down and have a drink. Damon should arrive shortly, and since this is his birthday dinner. I would be more than happy to discuss things before they get here.”
“They?” I interrupt… I don’t want even more people I don’t trust around us. I'm already losing my shit.
“Damon, his wife, and his best friend,” Xander explains, like it’s no big deal at all. I take the mansion in, which is designed tastefully, and the children’s toys littered across the living room as we pass.
We sit down at a large wooden dining room table. I glance over at Sophie and find her with wide eyes looking around the room as if she can’t believe how big and fancy this place is.
“So, I’ve done some more digging,” Ivan announces, getting straight to business. He's not the least bit phased by any of this.
“It looks like there is a small group of people within my share of the business that doesn’t agree with how I run things. They were loyal to your father and his ways.”
The moment Ivan mentions Rossi senior I see a disgust and hate flicker across Xander’s face and for the first time I think I might be able warm up to him after all. He seems to hate his father as much as anyone at this table.
“I couldn't find out who it is exactly but I did find out that there are other people from outside the business involved. I heard rumors that the auctions in Vegas are still going on but I couldn't find out when or where. Which means that someone else is supplying the girls.”
“I’m not surprised to be honest. I know my father had some dedicated followers and the auction was a very lucrative business for a lot of people. You take their sole income away you're going to have some upset folks.”
“Someone tried to take Sophie from my house, they had someone disable my alarm from the inside, and they paid him a lot of money to do so. Also, she's been seeing her father, as if he's watching her, maybe even trying to get to her…he was the one who sold her in the first place. I think he still wants to enter her into the auction, but I can't be sure and I don't want to risk her safety by using her as bait,” I tell Xander while trying not to show my anger over all of this. Getting mad doesn't change what needs to happen, or all that Sophie has endured at the hands of her father.
It’s hard to say these things out loud, especially with Sophie sitting beside me. I want vengeance for her. I want her to finally be free of the pain, the memories, and the fucking fear.
I want her to be free of her father.
Xander shakes his head fisting his drink in his hand. “Believe me, I know what you’re going through right now. You have my full support in finding the people responsible for this, and her father will pay for messing with my pe
ople.”
I’m about to thank him, when I’m surprised to hear some high pitch giggles coming from the hallway. I turn to look at the door, a moment later Damon appears in the doorway with a young women who I assume is his wife on his arm. Following closely behind them is another couple.
“There you are.” Xander beams. “You’ve met my brother Damon,” he starts introducing us. “This is his wife Keira and this is Damon’s best friend Hero and his girlfriend…”
“Elyse!” Sophie gasps beside me, standing up so suddenly that her chair falls backwards and crashes onto the marble floor. I stand at the same time every single hair on my body standing on end. I’m on high alert looking for the target of my rage. All eyes are on Sophie now. She’s looking at the doorway as if she is seeing a ghost, her face pale white, her eyes bugging out of her head.
“Sophie?” This other girl calls her name, sounding just as shocked to see Sophie here as Sophie is to see her.
“Oh my god, Elyse,” Sophie runs toward the girl, throwing her arms around her. I take a couple steps forward, unsure of who this woman is. “I thought you were dead,” Sophie admits, her voice straining. They both start to cry and I wonder how they could possibly know each other. Looking around at the other people in the room I know that they all are wondering the same thing. Hero I think is his name, eyes me cautiously as if I’m going to hurt the woman with her arms wrapped around Sophie.
“I-I thought…you were d-dead,” Sophie sobs.
Elyse looks puzzled. “Dead? Why would you think I was dead?”
Sophie pulls away just a little and I want to reach out and pull her into my chest. It’s obvious they know each other on some deep level. Maybe they’re friends?
“That’s what Mom and Dad told us. They said they went to your school to pick you up, but when they returned without you, they told us you had been killed.”
Mom and Dad? The pieces are starting to fall together. I look at the two girls again. Sophie has her hands on Elyse’s face, cradling her cheeks. Elyse has her arms around Sophie's torso. They both share the same heart shaped face, same button nose, and mousy brown hair.
Could they be sisters?
“No, no I’m fine. I don’t know why they would say that. I mean…they did...” Elyse trails off, like it’s hard for her to talk about whatever she’s trying to say.
“Oh my god, did they try to sell you too?” Sophie asks, concern written all over her face.
“Sell me?” Elyse’s eyes go impossibly wide. “What are you are talking about? They had me kidnapped, but…is that what happen to you? Did they sell you?”
“Yes, they did. They wanted me to marry someone, but I refused. I ended up in the same place Violet was. But like I said, I’m fine now. Tell me about this kidnapping. Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’ll explain everything, but first, I have to know, how are you here? Did Damon find you?”
Damon throws his hands into the air, a dramatic look on his face. “Damon didn’t do anything,” he says, talking in third person. “I don’t even know who this is chick is.”
“This is my sister,” Elyse explains, confirming my suspicion. She looks back at Sophie, concern marring her features. “If Damon didn’t bring you here, then who did? Are you okay? Is something going on?”
Sophie twists around to look at me. “Roman did, he brought me here. He and Ivan saved me…”
Tears start to form in Sophie’s eyes as she relives the memories in her mind and I can’t help but reach out to her. She lets go of her sister and comes over to me. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her against my chest. She turns her head to the side so she can still talk to her sister.
“After I refused to marry, dad was so furious with me, he told me that they were counting on the money and that I was going to bring it in some other way. Some men picked me up the same day. They held me prisoner for a few days, and then Ivan took over the place and he let me go. I didn’t have any place to go so Roman let me stay with him.”
I remember the day like it was yesterday. Her trembling body, her eyes that pierced mine, staring straight into my soul. She owned me that day, and with nothing more than a single look. When she should’ve been cowering in fear she was burrowing into my chest. She had been through so much since then and had only grown stronger with each day. I was sure she had no idea how amazing she truly was.
“Thank you,” Elyse says, looking me straight in the eyes. I almost laugh. She is thanking me. I’m the one who should be doing all the thanking. To be able to have Sophie in my life is more than I could have ever wished for. More than I deserve for sure.
“You really don’t have to thank me.” Elyse wouldn't be thanking me if she knew what I had done to her sister two weeks ago but I don’t say that out loud. I want to never think about that day again or how close I was to losing her forever.
Chapter Fourteen
Sophie
Dinner is served, but the last thing I want to do is eat. I feel like there is a bowling ball inside my stomach rolling around. The men drink, and nearly all the women have water, or juice. Xander leans back in his chair casually, smiling and talking, and Damon does the same. I watch my sister as if she is going to disappear at any moment. My mind is reeling. All I can think about how she’s supposed to be dead but she isn’t. She’s right here in front of me, smiling and talking.
I can’t believe this is real, Elyse, my baby sister. I thought I had lost her forever and now she is here, with me. Alive and happy…happier than I’ve ever seen her before. I listen to every single word that passes her lips. She explains how she met Hero in college and how our parents tried to get her to come back home. How they had her kidnapped by Hero’s father.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised after what they’ve done to me, but I am. I’m surprised because even though my parents were abusive to all of us, it seemed like Elyse had always been their favorite. She would get away with things when the rest of us would get punished. I never resented her for it though. In fact it was entirely the opposite. I was glad they weren’t so hard on my baby sister.
“Hey…” Roman leans into me, his lips grazing my ear as if he knows that I need him to save me from my own mind. His sensual voice caresses me from my thoughts. I twist in my chair to face him.
“Yeah?” I rasp, keeping my voice low. Elyse keeps glancing at me as I do her, and I have so many questions I want to ask her. I never expected to see her again...and now I feel like meeting Roman and being saved was even more of gift, because he brought me back to my sister.
“Are you okay? If this is too much for you I can have us go upstairs. We don’t have to stay here.” Roman’s assertiveness to make sure I’m happy and calm is so endearing. He cares about me so much and it shows in every single thing he does.
“It’s okay...I’m okay…” I smile, but he looks at me as if he doesn’t believe me. He doesn’t push the issues though. Truthfully, I am okay, never been better actually. I listen to everyone talk, laughter, and happiness fill the room until it’s almost suffocating.
“I know someone is skimming off the top…” Ivan’s voice carries into my ears and I feel Roman’s hand tighten in mine. What is he talking about? Skimming off the top? “Roman was given pills that were laced with some fucked up shit. The pills were ours, so they’re taking drugs and reselling them laced with something, turning a profit. It’s really something we need to worry about since Roman lost his damn mind and attacked Sophie.”
The room falls silent at Ivan’s words...and the first person I look too is Roman. He’s seething, the rage damn near boiling over inside him.
“What the fuck Ivan?” Roman releases my hand and pushes away from the table.
Ivan squeezes his eyes shut realizing what he just said, “Fuck, I’m sorry. I didn’t…”
Roman shakes his head and slams his fists down onto the table, earning a look from each person at the table. It’s clear everybody at the table is used to this kind of behavior, but my sisters flinching form in f
ront of us startled me, as did it her boyfriend.
“Calm the fuck down,” Hero growls, a vein in his forehead pops, and I know there is way too much testosterone being contained in this one room.
“Or what? You going to kick my ass? I eat bigger fucking assholes for breakfast then you,” Roman sneers, and I place my hand against his forearm trying to calm him, but it’s no good. He shrugs it off as if I’m nothing but an annoying little fly.
“Before or after you take your laced pills?” Hero digs his claws into a wound that hasn’t even healed yet, and I’m afraid that Roman is about to lose his head if I don’t reign him in soon. Before I can react, Roman is lurching across the table, his fist connecting with Hero’s face. But Hero was expecting it, shoving from his chair, and sends a right hook into the side of Roman’s face in return. Both of them take the hit like it’s nothing before they straighten back out, leaving the table between them.
Elyse is standing a few feet away from Hero cradling her belly and only then do I realize the small baby bump she’s been hiding. I want to rush over to her and ask her about it but the situation we are in right this second would not be a good time to do so.
“What the fuck?” Damon curses under his breath as he moves away from the table, Keria in his arms. He looks upset. I feel bad for ruining his party, and even worse for having a fight break out in someone else’s home.
“Roman.” Ivan’s deep voice fills the air as he shoves from his chair. He starts walking over to us as if his presence will make everything better. I’m standing as well now, attempting to hold Roman back, but there’s no point. He is stronger than me, and like a bull seconds away from charging. I don’t blame him for getting mad. I just don’t want him to get hurt…or hurt anyone else in the process.
“Stop…” I whisper.
Hero shakes his head, a sinister grin on his lips. “I know where Elyse came from...which means I know where Sophie came from, and I can tell you now they didn’t escape one abusive shit storm just to be placed in another.”
