Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Charleigh

I’m reeling from the bombshell news Dominika so gleefully dumped on me, her eyes literally glittering as she did, like she was informing me I won the lottery or something. That’s how excited she was to lay her horror on me, and I think she even stood a little taller when she did, so pleased she was with herself.

I have no doubt she would have been that much more happy had I fallen to my knees and begged for mercy, shedding tears all over her stilettos.

And as if the news that I am going to be auctioned like a human piece of cattle isn’t horrifying enough, a troll of a man who acts like he walks on water seems to have taken a liking to me.

As if the deal is done. The sale is made and the buyer is awaiting delivery.

My thoughts ricochet back and forth between this man, who seems only to use a first name—Alexei—and the betrayal I feel on the part of the brothers. Haven’t our intimate moments meant anything? Didn’t they look in my eyes as they came?

What about my power?

The power I stupidly thought I held over them…

Any my plan to pit them against Dimitri, to the point of mutual destruction.

What is wrong with these people?

And Alexei. Seriously, how did such an unappealing specimen of sub-humanity come into the sort of power where people all but bow and kiss his feet when he enters a room?

Truly. When he arrived, the few club members in attendance, enjoying their lovely wine, stopped talking. They looked at each other briefly with expressions I didn’t understand, then jumped to their feet and smiled in his direction.

I observe all this in a brief moment because after that, I have to focus on the creature before me, whose rheumy eyes look me over like I am a tasty meal.

By contrast, and not for the first time today, it’s all I can do not to vomit.

Alexei’s complexion—I shudder every time I think his name—is an unhealthy yellow-gray. His puffy face is dotted with protruding moles, and what little hair he has is combed over his head, held in place with some sort of greasy substance.

I know this because he’s of a height where, in my heels, I look down on the top of his head.

His smoke-tinged voice drips with carnality, and when he runs a smoke-stained finger along my bare bicep, I involuntarily recoil.

It’s like being touched by a piece of rotten garbage. And he probably has no freaking idea I feel this way about his repulsive ass.

Naturally, Dominika’s right there, shoving me toward him.

“Charleigh,” he croons. “I’ve heard so much about you.” His tone is flat but oily and runs down my skin, leaving a smelly, sticky residue I want to scratch until I bleed.

Once again, my stomach flips, like some sort of warning bell.

I glance at Dominika who is, of course, beaming. She’s behind all this. It’s clear as day.

How a grotesque man like this generates the reaction he does in those around him—Dominika’s fawning and the attention of the club members—is beyond me. But when I think about it further, I guess it’s not. I’m learning about this world, and its strange idiosyncrasies.

Money is all you need.

And the more you have, the better. Nothing else matters. That’s the rule here, where power and respect are bought rather than earned.

“Who is that gross man? And why won’t he leave me alone?” I ask Niko later. I’m torn between relief at seeing a familiar face, and the temptation to stab him in the heart for wanting to sell me at auction.

Niko’s looking at me, but isn’t really focused, and clearly does not see the pleading in my eyes. The question is, can he do anything to help?

Willhe do anything to help?

Please, please let this be a nightmare I wake from. Maybe I should have been a praying person, one of devout faith like my mother.

A lot of good that did her.

No amount of praying is going to release me from this, not that God wants to hear what I have to say anyway.

And thank goodness Mother isn’t around to see what’s become of our family. If she were still here, this would surely kill her.

I thought Niko might provide some hope, and if not some hope, some insights. But when I see his reaction, or lack thereof, I’m not so sure.

He looks around the lounge like he’s searching for something. “I’ll remind him of the rules,” he says distractedly. “I… I have some things to take care of today.”

He finally looks at me, and there’s something different about him, something I’ve not seen before. He’s dark and cold. Hard. His lips twitch, I’m pretty sure involuntarily.

“Niko? What’s going on?” I ask.

Across the room, the bartender is waving at me to come pick up the drinks he’s poured. I throw him a pleading look, not at all certain he can read it, but I am desperate for a few more moments with Niko.

He rubs his chin, then scrapes his hair back and off his forehead. “We just got word that a shipment containing important cargo is missing. I… I don’t have time for anything else right now.”

I see a flash of regret in his eyes, or maybe I want to see it so badly, I am imagining it. But his brusqueness really says it all. He has priorities and for me to think I might be one of them is naïve and stupid.

“What kind of cargo, Niko?”

“Guns,” he says simply. “I have to go.”

I watch him retreat. What had he been looking for in the lounge? It’s nearly empty, aside from the men drinking expensive wine, and the troll Alexei, being fawned over by Dominika, and watched over by the men who I finally figured out are his bodyguards.

I want to believe Niko stopped by to check on me. True, he has no time for me right now. He’s got to take care of business.

But we have a connection. Right?

Yeah, a connection to an auction.

I shudder to think that, on top of the things carried out in the club, the guys also have business dealings having to do with guns.

Guns.

I’ve been around guns a bit, since Pops buys and sells them. For him, it’s always been a necessary part of his business and why he got a firearms license. There are a lot of guns out there, and when people need money, they can be converted into quick cash.

But there were never more than two or three locked in a case behind the shop’s counter. And Niko is talking about a shipment.

How much is in a shipment?

I drop off the cocktails the bartender waved me over for and nearly run smack into Vadik.

“Oh. Excuse me,” I say with a polite laugh.

But he doesn’t move out of my way, as if he meant for us to collide.

Such an odd man.

“Come to my office, please,” he says.

**********

Charleigh

I look around the lounge. If I leave, will Dominika be mad?

“Don’t worry,” Vadik says. “The customers can get their own drinks from the bartender until the next girl clocks in.”

“Okay,” I say, and raise my eyebrows at the bartender, who nods back at me like everything is business as usual.

Which I guess it is. If nothing’s ever truly normal, then there’s no non-normal. Right?

I follow Vadik to his office and on the way, Dominika catches up. She glares at me, but Vadik shuts her down.

“Leave it, Dominika,” he growls without slowing his pace.

Well, shit.

I turn my back to her, pleased she can be overruled, and trot a couple steps to catch up to Vadik who, truth be told, is only slightly less intimidating than his club manager.

What is it about this guy? I’m well aware how the Alekseev brothers are selling me like I’m not even human, but Kir and Niko have… a certain humanity about them.

Vadik, not so much.

After we enter his office and he shuts the door, he takes a seat behind his massive desk, spotless save for a couple sheets of paper and two large computer screens. He leans back in his chair.

He does not invite me to sit.

Fine. He wants to be the alpha dog here. He’s welcome to it. I have no illusions that I am, or ever will be, at the top of the pack around here. Nor do I want to be.

He tilts his head before he speaks, as if to disarm me. Maybe to prove he does hide a bit of charm beneath that flinty exterior.

Not buying it.

“Seems as if you like my brothers. Especially Niko.”

I look at him, unsure how to reply. I wouldn’t say I particularly like Niko or any of the guys, knowing what they are about to do with me. I prefer to hate them in fact, but I’m not sure I’m pulling that off, either.

Vadik continues. “I noticed you turned to him just a while ago, with your concerns about Alexei.”

Oh. That.

“I… I did. I wasn’t sure what else to do. I’m sorry if that’s out of line. It’s just that the man scared me. And I guess I thought that since you protected me from Dimitri that maybe…”

My words taper off. These guys aren’t going to do shit for me. The only reason they tussled with Dimitri was for the power play. I’m of no importance aside from being a pawn in that game.

Vadik leans onto his desk, putting his hands together as if in prayer. But he’s not praying. Just posturing. “I’m not upset with you, Charleigh. It’s not a problem, your asking for help when you need it.”

Okay. Is he for real, or just fucking with me? Because he seems pissed off.

Or is he jealous?

Since I’m not sure, I keep quiet.

“We have some shit going down here, Charleigh. Things might seem tense over the next few days. Maybe longer.”

Whoa. Is he confiding in me?

Why would he do that?

“Niko… told me something about guns,” I venture. I’m not interested in their business dealings, but I can pretend to be.

Vadik nods. “Dimitri’s men have been back to the club, bragging about messing with my brothers and me.”

My ears perk up at this information. Can I find an opportunity to add to their drama?

Vadik laughs for a split second, and then shakes his head like he can’t believe Dimitri’s stupidity.

“They have?” I ask, hoping he’ll say more.

What does this mean for me? And why is he telling me?

I continue before he can answer. I can’t help it. “Vadik, are they going to buy me? Or try to? What about that man… Alexei?” I ask, my voice shaking.

He looks down, avoiding my gaze, which says it all.

He doesn’t give a shit about what happens to me, and yes, they’re selling my ass.

“You’ll kill me,” I whisper. “You’re sending me off with some horrible, dangerous, crazy men. I’ll end up dead somewhere, and you don’t care. You’re no better than my father. Actually, you are worse.”

I’m not normally one to poke a bear. But I want to do something to Vadik. I want to hurt him like he’s going to hurt me. And if I only have words, that’s what I’ll use.

But instead of being angry or insulted, the corner of his mouth crooks up into some sort of demented smile.

He likes it. He likes that I threw some vehemence his way. I wish I had more. He wishes I had more.

“I get it,” he says. “I wouldn’t be happy to be in your shoes either.”

As much as my high heels are killing me, I straighten up and pull my shoulders back. I might be powerless. But I have self-respect. And I didn’t have to spend money to get that, like the other clowns around here.

“Vadik, can you and your brothers buy me?”