Page 16 of Sheltering Hollis

But I didn’t believe for a second that she was okay. Hollis looked as delicate as a porcelain doll on the massive hotel bed. Her eyes were still empty, wide in her face.

“You are okay, baby. You’re here with me. You remember who I am, right?” Edging the chair closer to the bed so my knees nearly touched hers, I stared hard at her. “Hollis, you’re safe with me. I won’t hurt you. Breathe for me.”

“I’m okay.”

My heart broke. She was not okay.

“Gregor? What other names, malysh? That’s all I need. Do you remember any other names?” I asked. “I will take care of the rest.” Her eyes swung to me.

“Makarovich,” she said dully. “They said that name in that room. He was in charge.” She turned her face away from me towards the window, and I wanted to smash something. Paint the walls with their blood. Those men were dead. “Anton was the only other name. Someone said his name today before you came.” Her eyes had moved back to me but were refocused now on the spot on my shoulder as if she wasn’t looking at me.

Anton Makarovich. The fucker was here; that was the news I wanted. “This man?” I pulled my phone from my pocket and showed her a photo. “Him?”

She nodded. “Yes, he brought another group, and they bought some of the women today.” Hollis shivered, clutching the covers to her, but then her eyes shifted to mine. “He’s the one you’re looking for? That man?”

“Yes,” my voice was stern. “I came to Colombia to find him. The fucker used to be part of our Bratva. He started trafficking and dipping his toes into this shit. We don’t sanction this, and the asshole bolted before my pakhan, or I could pin him down.”

“Seems like other people are involved, too,” Hollis noted, tucking some hair behind an ear. I wanted to jump and dance that she was giving me any attitude. It seemed like a victory.

“You’re not wrong, but dismantling sex trafficking in Colombia is bigger than just my Bratva,” I sighed. “I’d like to say that I wear a cape and go around playing the hero, but that isn’t the case. I would hate that, and I don’t look good in tights.” I teased. I’d left out a lot of information, some backstory. I’d love to take down Rodriguez and his operation, but I couldn’t meddle in the cartels and their business primarily because I didn’t have the manpower. Maxim had shut the auctions down stateside. We’d done what we could. Sadly. It wasn’t enough, but sometimes you took the victories that you could.

She laughed, this time with her whole body. “I doubt that very much.” And then blushed as if she were imagining me in tights. I hope she was. “I’ll bet you look good in anything.”

“Unfortunately, I’m just here for Anton Makarovich. He’s going to die. Maybe this Gregor could be added to the list,” I eyed her carefully, considering her microexpressions. “Maybe I could find that doctor, too.” Her whole body went still, her hazel eyes flying to mine.

“What does someone have to do to be on the list?” she asked, her voice small.

Pulling my knife from my ankle sheath, I played it across my palm, lightly picking the nonexistent dirt under my nails, letting her eyes follow it. “Not much. I like to kill people. Bad people.” Her cheeks pinkened, and her breath quickened. She didn’t seem disturbed or surprised by the news.

“Ok.”

“Ok,” I agreed, watching her. “Gregor should be added then. Might as well be thorough.” I winked at her. There was no doubt that I was looking forward to killing the guy. If there was one thing I hated, it was those who preyed on the weak. My MC had our own code about that, one of the reasons I joined them in the first place.

“Yes.”

I nodded, taking her in. “Well, this should be interesting, malysh. We'll figure this out. And I’ll keep my promise. I'll get you back home to Olive. I’ll return with the clothes I sent Luka for in just a moment. We need to look the part.”

As I thought, Luka was prowling the small living space of the penthouse. He looked up immediately when I came through the doorway.

“Did you get any useful information from the girl, brat?” He was scowling at me.

“Actually, Luka, I’m going to surprise you.” His eyebrows pushed further towards his eyes at the words.

“I doubt it very much.” He rolled his eyes at me, which showed me how juvenile we’d gotten, but it always made me laugh.

“Makarovich is part of it. She’s heard the name twice, she told me.” I proceeded to fill him in on the clinic she mentioned.

“Well, hopefully, we can wind this up then.” Luka crossed his arms across his chest, scowling. “Don’t get caught up in this. We aren’t here to rescue everyone,” he admonished. “We didn’t bring the people for that. I already spoke to Maxim, and he doesn’t want you over your head with Rodriguez.”

“Of course, you spoke to Maxim.” Picking up the clothes and supplies that Luka brought for Hollis, I resisted the urge to punch him in the jaw. What a dick move. “Way to be a spy. Like, I give a shit what Maxim has to say. Make sure to tell him that.” Without another word, I returned to deliver everything to the only thing I cared about right now.

ELEVEN

Hollis

Dimitri had delivered the dress and toiletries to go with it, makeup, and, thank god, a toothbrush. It was my favorite item out of everything. If I had to do this, at least I’d do it with a clean mouth. Standing over the sink, I tried to stop myself after brushing my teeth for the third time.

I’m okay.

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