Page 9 of Fractured Devotion

Ryker’s expression darkened into a frown while the woman holding onto his hand let out a startled gasp. “How do you know him, and what in the fuck does my family have to do with this?”

As Dallas began to circle the table, possibly to ease the tension, Vincenzo’s stern look stopped him in his tracks. Massimo leaned in slightly, his tone soothing yet firm.

“Calm down… we’re here to offer our assistance in untangling you from whatever fucking mess Lipovsky has woven around you. Sit down, and I’ll explain what’s going on.”

“Ryker, please.” The woman, still clutching his hand, gently pulled him, breaking the intense gaze he had locked with Massimo. “Maybe they can help. I can’t bear the thought of losing you, and if these gentlemen believe they can be of assistance, then it’s only right we hear them out.”

He turned to face her, cradling her face gently in his palm. His eyes softened as he caressed her lip with his thumb, a tender gesture. “You’re not going to lose me, Addison.”

She closed her eyes and sighed. “I might if Lipovsky has his way.” Directing her gaze at Massimo, she added, “The presence of his brothers here signals their trust in you. My husband may not grasp the gravity of the situation, but I do. I’m all too aware of the danger that man represents, and I refuse to let anything happen to us before we’ve had the chance to truly live.” Addison broke free of his hold and slid into an empty chair.

Ryker, after a brief moment of contemplation, took his place beside her. “Alright. I’m all ears,” he conceded, a readiness to listen now apparent in his posture.

Massimo nodded toward Dallas, who cleared his throat.

“Ryker, we know about the fight that landed you in prison—and we know that Lipovsky has something over you that made you come to Vegas. Drake is here because it would seem our brothers in Atlanta have tangled with Lipovsky as well.”

As they delved into the discussion, the door opened to reveal a new figure bearing a familial resemblance to Drake, Dallas, and Ryker. “My apologies for being late. I had to ensure my wife’s safety before coming from Atlanta.”

“Uncle, why are you here?” Dallas’s tone was edged with disbelief. “We didn’t ask for your help.”

“Actually…” Drake spoke, “I called him.”

“It would appear my past has finally caught up to my present.” Loren Dominic, Ryker and Dallas’ uncle, sat down at the table. “I’m sorry, Dallas, Ryker, I should have opened up about everything when you came to the club, but I was ashamed and feared it would only make you despise me more.”

“Fuck,” Ryker grumbled. “What else could there possibly be, Loren?”

I watched as he visibly flinched at the use of his name. Irritated that we’d seemed to get off track, I cleared my throat and spoke.

“Look, I get there is some kind of family drama going on beneath all this shit, but right now, the only thing I care about is finding the woman I love. And you,”—I pointed at Ryker—“seem to be right in the middle of it all.”

“He’s right, but I’m afraid it all starts with your father.” He cast a glance at Drake, then at Dallas and Ryker. “You now know he led a double life, one that was filled with evil and corruption. What you don’t know is that he was embroiled with the syndicate. He worked for the Russian mob until your brother killed him.” Loren turned and speared Drake with a glare. “I’d hoped that would be the end of things, but I was wrong. Ryker fell prey to his deceit and paid for it with his freedom. Now… he wants revenge.”

“How does my sister play into this?” Massimo leaned back in his chair.

I wanted to shake Loren Dominic and demand he speed up his story. I didn’t care about the Winston brothers or their fucked-up childhood. All I cared about was Carmela. She was the reason I was sitting at this table. She was all that mattered.

“Lipovsky runs one of the largest human trafficking rings in the world. My guess is you poked a hornet’s nest, and somehow, your sister was the payment for your meddling. As for Ryker… he’s a diversion and a means to an end.”

“What do you mean?” I sat up straighter in my chair. “How does this involve a boxing match?”

“Simple. Ryker will likely die at the hands of one of his men—all while making Lipovsky a lot of money. Not only that, but it will bring a lot of girls to the arena. Girls he can steal and sell off to the highest bidder.”

The room erupted into chaos as everyone spoke at once.

“Enough.” Vincenzo’s voice rose above everyone’s, silencing the room instantly. “Losing our shit won’t help Ryker, and it sure as shit won’t help us find Carmela.”

“Carmel…” Loren glanced at Massimo. “You’ve mentioned her twice now. What role does she have in this?”

“She was taken by a man named Manuel Costa. She was going to be sold off in Columbia, but we ruined their plans. Only… Lipovsky managed to get her on a helicopter before we could grab her. We nearly lost Alex that day as well.” Massimo glanced over at me, his eyes filled with sorrow.

That day marked a loss far deeper than they could have imagined. My body was shattered, teetering on the brink of what felt like irreparable damage, but it was my spirit that bore the heaviest wound. Every time I shut my eyes, the image of Carmela stretched across my mind’s canvas, her hand outstretched toward me as I slipped away through the door, surrendering to the open sky while the helicopter’s blades sliced through the dusk. Terror was etched into her features, a vivid portrayal of fear that has imprinted itself onto the very fabric of my being. It’s an image so potent, so deeply ingrained, it follows me into the realm of sleep, morphing into the specter that haunts my nights, a relentless reminder of the moment that changed everything.

“And you think she is still alive?” Loren spoke, but his eyes never left my own.

“Yes, there’s substantial evidence to support this. Whispers have been spreading about a woman who’s orchestrated the liberation of more than a hundred women from the confinements where Lipovsky had them trapped. Furthermore, there’s been a noticeable dent in his operations; several of his main operatives have been discovered deceased. In fact, one such incident occurred just this week.”

“I see. Then we must do whatever we can to find her.. and end Lipovsky for good.” Loren turned his eyes to Dallas. “You’ll never know how sorry I am for the lies I told and the secrets I kept, but I swear on my life, I will do whatever it takes to make sure you and your brothers are safe. I owe it to my sister.”

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