Page 64 of Sexting the Silverfox

“I will require that skill tonight, Mr. Winchester. And then, I will take Audrey back to New York with her brothers. She will return to her family safe and sound. In return, I will forget that you ever existed, and you and your daughter will always be safe from the Bratva, provided you don’t try something stupid. It is the only deal that I can offer.”

“You cold bastard,” I growl. “You know I’ll take it because I love Audrey, and I want her safe.”

“Precisely. All is fair in love and war, is it not?”

Nausea unfurls in my throat, a bitter taste glazing my tongue as I look at this man and wonder how a marvelous creature like Audrey came to be with half of his genetic profile.

“You disgust me,” I say, peculiarly calmly.

Grigori flashes a smile. “I am well aware. But we need each other, at least for tonight. After it’s done, you have my word. No one will touch you or your family. No one.”

“You don’t deserve your children,” I reply. “Even Vitaly and Anton are too good for you. Loyal men, capable men. I know enough about them from Audrey to actually understand why they are still in your service. They love you, but you don’t deserve their love.”

“I don’t deserve much of anything, Mr. Winchester, which is why I always take what I want. It’s how I was raised, and it’s how I intend to leave this world. Until then, however, it is my solemn duty to uphold the Fedorov values against any and all who try to make a move against us. And right now, Arkady Abramovic has my daughter, the woman you love, in his clutches. Surely, you want to get her away from him.”

“I want to get her away from anything pertaining to the Bratva.”

“I’m afraid that’s nothing more than wishful thinking.”

I can see why he says such things. I wonder if he’s aware that there is already a plan hatching in the back of my head. Ideas forming. Ways to take advantage of this complex web of lies and treachery.

Grigori doesn’t know that I know about his involvement in the kidnapping attempt on his daughter. Audrey doesn’t know he had a hand in it. Arkady doesn’t know I’m here, negotiating with Grigori. He probably thinks I’m the ultimate stooge after his little game of so-called cooperation. I’ll be only too happy to prove them all wrong.

“Fine, Grigori. I’ll help you. I’ll handle Arkady if that’s what it takes to save Audrey.”

“I’m glad we’re able to reach an agreement,” he says, offering his hand.

I shake it. Firmly. Briefly. But it’s enough to give him that smidge of confidence that he clearly so desperately needs.

Chapter 26

Audrey

As night falls over Chicago, I am taken out of the stinky apartment and loaded into the back of a black sedan. I’m getting flashbacks of the first time that Arkady tried to take me, and I can’t help but wonder about him, watching him join me in the backseat. He is looking downright giddy and excited. It’s as if he’s going to the county fair with his prized cow. It irks me.

“How come you do so much of the dirty work yourself?” I ask.

The driver pulls out into the main road while I fiddle with the end of my zip tie. I don’t think I can loosen the damn thing. Its edge is eating into my skin.

“What do you mean?” Arkady replies, casually looking through his phone and texting.

“You were there; I saw you,” I tell him. “Watching The Emerald, watching me. You were there with your men when you tried to take me the first time.”

“With a precious asset such as yourself, Audrey, I had to make sure. First, I needed to confirm your identity. You know how rats can be—they chatter but there’s no substance. Second, I needed to be present in case things went sideways.”

“They did go sideways,” I shoot back with a smirk.

He shrugs. “Yes, well, I didn’t take the ex-military boyfriend into account. Lesson learned. But then your daddy dearest came to town, and everything changed.”

“Is that why you tried to have me killed back at the hotel?”

“I’ll say it again because you clearly missed it the first time. That wasn’t me.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Arkady shrugs while I gaze out the car window. It’s tinted, but I still have a decent view of Chicago’s crummier streets as we’re taken across the south side to what I presume is our rendezvous point.

My chest tightens along with my throat with each turn. I struggle to breathe as I try to figure out my future. It’s all so uncertain now that I am not in control, and the odds are stacked against me. I cannot escape, nor can I fight these monsters.

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