Page 48 of Bound By Hate (Born in Blood)

“Are you comforting me, boss?”

He quickly removes his hand and heads back to the car. “No. I just need to find Viktoriya for Sofiya’s sake. She won’t let me rest until her sister is found.”

“You don’t think Gleb had something to do with this?” I ask once we’re back in the car.

“Why do you say that?”

“He’s Viktoriya’s fiancé. He claims they were out together and then lost her. Isn’t that strange?”

“Gleb seemed set on wanting to marry Viktoriya. Why would he lie?”

I consider Mikhail’s words. WhywouldGleb lie? I have no idea, but I don’t trust him, and it isn’t just because he has the woman I want.

We’re pulling away from the club when I spot someone leaving the building. “Hold on.” I hurry back outside andapproach the person—it’s a woman wearing skimpy clothing. “Why were you in there?”

She eyes me over. “Are you the police?”

“No. I’m much worse. Who are you?”

“I’m a dancer here.”

“Is your boss inside? The club is closed.”

“He invited some of us girls over to dance for him. He’s inside. Why do you need him?”

I nod at Mikhail to come out, ignoring the dancer, and he follows me inside the club. It’s quiet inside. Low, sultry music is playing, but it’s not thumping from the speakers. This is a private party.

Overlooking the club is a balcony, and on that balcony is Damien Petrov himself. Mikhail storms off ahead of me as he walks up the stairs. Two women are dancing for Damien as he sits back on a couch. Mikhail walks past the women, making them stumble, and up to Damien.

“Is Viktoriya here?” he asks.

Damien slowly blinks up at him as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. “Who?”

“Viktoriya Morozova. You’ve met her before. She’s my wife’s sister. Is she here?”

He looks between Mikhail and myself before settling his gaze on Mikhail. “Why would she be here?”

“Because she’s missing,” I say, stepping forward. “We know she came here once before. Did she again?”

“You have an advantage in keeping this from us,” Mikhail warns.

Damien laughs while taking a sip from his glass. “I don’t have an advantage because she’s not here. I don’t care about that girl at all.”

“Do you know where she would be?” I ask. Mikhail looks ready to punch Damien, but I need to keep that from happening.Part of my job is making sure my boss stays safe. Without Mikhail, I wouldn’t have a job at all.

“Possibly.”

Steam practically comes from Mikhail’s ears. “Possibly? It’s a yes or no answer.”

“Fine.” He sets his drink down. “I don’t know exactly where she is, but I know who bought her.”

My body becomes rigid. “Bought her? What the fuck are you talking about?”

“There was an auction. She was sold.”

“To who?” Mikhail growls.

“To Akim Volkov. That’s all I know.” He sets his sights back on the dancing woman, but I lean down close to him, forcing him to look me in the eye.

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