Red Reaper - Soldiers of Fortune [book one]

Chapter FIFTY EIGHT

Lucky O'Cléirigh

Stopped on the old underpass that runs beneath the Bay Bridge, Brody kills the engine and I sit up in the back of the car, stretching out my stiff, static-charged muscles to peer through the foggy window.. The wind blusters violently outside and several shadowy figures linger around in the darkness, leaning casually against their black SUV's, waiting patiently..

The Detective climbs out of the driver's seat and circles the car to haul me from the back with the grip of an iron vice clamped firmly around my forearm.. "Owh! Brody! Stop!" I whimper in weak protest.. After days with no food and processing the emotionally exhausting knowledge that I am going to be sold into slavery, my resistance is as destroyed as my desire to live..

I have so little hope left in me that there is nothing to do but accept the destiny I am so deserving of.. Some people are just born cursed and I have been damned ever since I could remember.. No amount of masking my feelings or pretending to be somebody I'm not could fend off this inevitable downfall.. If this is God's will.. So be it.. I am resigned to apathy..

Nikolaj can take nothing from me if there is nothing to take.. I will become empty, hollow inside, void of any spirit..

My shoulders slump when I see that Stori is one of the men waiting for me beside one of the cars and I tremble in fear, certain that Nikolaj must be hiding behind those tinted windows..

The Banker takes a prowling step forward, breaking away from his Bratva brothers to collect me, like the proverbial meat I am being sold to the lions.. But before Stori can open his mouth to negotiate his terms for the sale, a heavy set Latina man with a pencil thin moustache and a fancy burgundy suit climbs from the back of one of the SUV parked across the road.. He ambles towards us like a fat toad in a trenchcoat all while looking down his bulbous red nose at me..

"You were not lying, mi amigo! Muy niña hermosa, she is well worth the asking price.." Brody thrusts me forward for inspection, holding onto me by a fistful of my hair as the stocky stranger grabs me by the chin, tilting my head back, his vicious gaze burning into me.. "You are coming home with me, Chica-"

In his empty amethyst eyes I see nothing, not a hint of sympathy or a glimmer of remorse.. This heinous frog of a man is dead inside..

"Why the fuck for iz he here?! We had a fucking deal, Donovan!" Stori snipes, striding forward with a furious scowl to argue as the man in red rolls his eyes with bored disinterest..

"Typical Commie Russky, there is no equal opportunity here.. Money talks in America, and I am flushed.." The toad laughs in a cold and mocking manner as he waves a dismissive hand.. "The girl is mine.."

Stori ignores the man in red, seething through grinding, gritted teeth.. "You would fuck the Bratva out of what iz owed, Donovan? The brotherhood doez not forget-"

"Fuck Kalashnik! Yeh' boss didn'ee even have the courtesy to show up, he sent you, his fuckin' lap dog! The way I see it, he's the one goin' back on his word.." Brody hauls me back to his side, returning his possessive grip to my arm as my eyes flick between the two men who fight over the privilege of my purchase.. "This is an open market, so let the biddin' war begin, gentl'men.."