Page 159 of Beautiful Cruelty

Two figures—a man and a woman—emerge from between the containers, and the others part to let them through.

The man moves with a fluid grace that sends ice through my veins.

The man stops first. His expensive suit seems to absorb the shadows around us, making him appear more wraith than human. But it's his eyes that pins me in place.

They're pale and predatory, like a snake sizing up its prey.

My breath catches in my throat when I recognize the woman behind him.

Sayanaa.

"Kirsan Evdokimovich. Sayanaa Kirsanovna." Olga's voice drips with honeyed respect as she inclines her head to them both. "The bastard's bride, just as you requested."

My legs threaten to give out as father and daughter look at me.Thisis the monster behind it all? The trafficker who destroyed so many lives? Who killed Irina? Who sold Polina to Pyotr?

"Excellent work, Olga Romanovna." His accent is lighter than I expected, cultured and precise. "You worked fast."

Olga gestures toward me with her gun. "You may inspect her if you like."

"There will be time for that later." Kirsan's gaze slides over me with clinical detachment, as if assessing livestock at auction. "She'll make an excellent addition to our premium collection."

Nausea roils my stomach. The way he talks about me—like I'm nothing more than merchandise to be cataloged and sold—makes my skin crawl. I think of all those girls Vadim tried to save through Svoboda. Is this what they felt, being sized up and categorized like objects?

A cold smile spreads across Kirsan's face as he steps closer. His cologne—expensive and cloying—fills my nostrils.

"Come now, Ms. McKinney. You and I are going to take a little trip together."

My stomach churns as his words sink in. This can't be happening. But the gun trained on me and the men surrounding us make the nightmare all too real.

"Mr. Walker was right about you," he continues, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from my face. I flinch away but there's nowhere to go. "Youarebeautiful. Worth far more than the pittance he was willing to sell you for."

The casual mention of Nathan sends ice through my veins. All those late nights at the office, the suspicious phone calls, the way he'd fuss over my appearance before events.

He'd been sizing me up.

Forsale.

"As you know, Ms. McKinney." Kirsan's pale eyes rake over me again, lingering in ways that make my skin crawl. "Your husband has something that is precious to me. So, it is only fair that I take something that is precious to him."

He licks his lips slowly as his grubby fingers cups my right breast and gives it a painful squeeze. I fight the urge to vomit.

Behind him, a savage smile spreads on Sayanaa's lips as she watches.

"Sayavochka!" He turns to her and smiles. "Daddy's brought you a new toy to play with. Now be a good girl and put her with the rest. But don't break this one just yet." He turns his snake-like gaze back towards me. "Not until Pyotr's bastard gives me whatIwant.Ponimayesh?"

"I understand,papochka." Sayanaa says as she steps closer and seizes my arm. "Hello, little thief."

I gaze back into her piercing blue eyes, my mouth pressed into a firm silent line.

Sayanaa's cold fingers trace along my neck, pushing my hair aside as she examines the bruises on my neck. Her touch makes my skin crawl as she examines the marks Vadim left.

“Such a pretty thing.” Her fingers drift to Mom's necklace still around my neck, and her lips curl into a cruel smile. “Far too pretty for cheap merchandise like you.”

Before I can react, she yanks hard, and snaps the delicate chain in the process.

No!

My heart leaps to my throat as I watch her throw it carelessly to the ground.

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