Page 123 of Kadra: The Unfeeling

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

“I thank my lucky starts you’re all mine.” — K

When you hear the word pedophiles your mind instantly goes to a low-life, hideous person who looks strange and lives in their parents’ basements or hides in a dark corner just waiting to prey on his or her next victim. What some fail to realize is that evil does not hide behind ugly faces or in the dark. No. Evil can be found in plain sight. It can hide behind the loving nature of a schoolteacher, a friendly neighbor, your kind and gentle priest, your own family. In the places some will least expect, like at this event where the guests are wealthy politicians and Hollywood elites.

It was clever. I’ll give them that.

These parasites promoted this ball as a charity event to raise money for underprivileged kids in this city when in reality it’s a facade so they can traffic the kids to rich sick bastards willing to pay for them. The photos of the kids decorating the walls of this room make me sick. To someone who has no idea the kind of business they’ll be dealing here tonight, would think that the pictures of the kids are to soften the guests’ hearts enough so they can open their wallets and donate to the charity and get the kids all they need to survive another year but I know the dark truth that hides beneath.

Those poor babies. My God. My stomach is turning just thinking of what would have happened to my Azariel if I hadn’t taken him from the street. Maybe his beautiful face would be up there too.

When vile rises I push it down and concentrate on what we’re here for.

The kids and putting an end to the Beauregard’s reign of terror in my city.

Sweet revenge.

For my younger self and for all those whose lives have been ruined by the family no one suspects.

Two Beauregards down just one to go.

The worst one.

The one currently on stage flashing a warm smile to the crowd while dressed like a GQ model. Logan always knew how to fake it just like his daddy, and just like his daddy he’s going to die tonight.

My blood boils as I watch him charm the rich assholes that look at him as if he was God’s gift to men. The bastard has the supply all these perverts crave and are salivating for, of course they hang onto his every word.

They’re all the same.

Sick and depraved with no moral code.

I’m no saint but I’m also not the devil. I would sacrifice a thousand sinners to save one innocent life. A thing none of these freaks in attendance would do, I’m sure.

Red clouds my vision and my right-hand twitches ready to use my knife on every single person here. I know I need to keep a level head so we can safely retrieve the kids and get them as far away from this hell but every second I stand here watching Logan put on a show as if he’s not the scum of the earth, it makes the rage spread through my body and all I can envision is the many ways I will bring him to his knees before I send him off to reunite with his father.

I look around the room for any sign of Crow and Vernon but I don’t see them anywhere. They’re off trying to find where the kids are being kept while Vitali and I have to endure this sham of an event waiting for the kids to be out so I can burn this building with every single one of these fuckers in it.

“Have I told you how fucking breathtakingly beautiful you look tonight?” The deep and husky voice says pulling me away from my head and catching my attention.

Suddenly, the pressure in my chest disappears and the red fog fades. Vitali has that effect on me. I could be on the edge ready to fall into chaos but with just his voice he can pull me back to safety.

My lips lift in a smile.

Ripping my gaze away from the filth talking shit on stage, I focus on the handsome man with two champagne glasses in hand, as he walks my way. “Yes but tell me some more.” I grin, feeling that warm and fuzzy feeling in my stomach that he’s always responsible for.

The tapered black suit pants and fitted black button-down that is open at the throat and rolled up at the sleeves make him stand out from all the pretentious men here with their designer tuxedos and clean-cut looks. My man looks like sin wrapped in a pretty black package that only I get to unwrapped.

We’re supposed to blend in and not stand out but for us that’s inevitable.

If my little sister were here she would say both Vitali and I look like the villains of the story. We’re dripping in black from head to toe, a total contrast to everyone around us who are wearing bright colors.

I like it though.

That we’re so different from other people. That he’s unlike anyone I ever met and only I get to see his loving light that shines from within through those stormy gray eyes.

My heart palpitates widely in my chest as he walks toward me, his gaze roaming up my body like he’s memorizing every detail, like he can’t look away. The moment his eyes meet mine, my next breath gets caught in the back of my throat. I’ve never had a man look at me like Vitali does. He looks at me with such blatant desire and raw need that I feel like I’m going to come out of my skin. My heart is

thundering in my chest, and my stomach is fluttering like a kaleidoscope has taken over my insides. I tried to breathe and failed. Then when I manage to suck in a deep breath, he goes and smiles.

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