Page 101 of Devious Secrets

My stomach rolls at the thought of what she’s been through at the hands of the evil in this place. Of what horror awaits me if Alexander doesn’t get to me.

“I can do it. I can get what you need.” The young girl shifts from one foot to the other, folding her arms over herself. More to keep herself warm than an attempt at modesty. She lost that long ago, I think.

“You could use a shower.” Cheryl makes a face and takes a small step back. “Those assholes don’t care where they stick their dick.”

“Alexander will never allow anyone near those files. He has them hidden.” I try to make her see reason, but I’m not sure where it’s going to get us even if she does decide to give up on her search.

“Cheryl! Are you down here?” Footsteps hurry down steps and the lights flicker to life.

My stomach twists.

Oleg.

I remember him from the wedding dinner. He’d been one of the last in a long line of well-wishers. He shook Alexander’s hand and congratulated him on our marriage. Alexander introduced him as one of the men who’s worked with him for a long time.

A fucking traitor!

He stands at the foot of the stairs for a moment, taking in the girl standing in front of Cheryl, before swinging his gaze to me. His eyes widen when he sees me.

“What the fuck is she doing here?” he nearly bellows, rage filling his expression.

“I told you I need that drive. If Stevan gets a hold of those pictures, I’m fucked.”

“I said I had it handled,” Oleg nearly growls.

“You haven’t handled anything. Marco gave Michael the okay to help us. If she won’t get the drive, we’ll trade her for it. That Volkov bastard won’t let his wife be harmed.” Her face flushes with irritation.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done? The hell you’re bringing down on us?” He steps forward, his hands flexing at his sides. “When Alexander finds out what you’ve done, he won’t rest until he’s killed everyone in this house. Including you.”

“Then I guess you’re going to have to use your big Russian muscles to protect me.” She sneers.

Oleg’s jaw tenses. He looks in my direction, then at the young girl. Hanging his head, he shakes it.

“You’ve been the worst mistake of my life,” he mutters, then snatches the key from her. I step back from the door when he forces the key into the lock.

“Oleg.” I put my hands up to ward him off as he swings the door open.

“What are you doing? You can’t let her go!” Cheryl reaches for the door, but Oleg shoves her back.

“You’re not fucking thinking.” He taps his temple as he rages at her. “The Volkovs aren’t a little fucking problem. If she has so much as a scratch on her when she gets returned to them, they will hunt down everyone associated with the DeAngelo family. Including you. Including me.”

“Then she doesn’t need to be returned,” Cheryl states casually, pulling out a small pistol from the deep pocket of her dress. It fits perfectly in her palm as she aims it at me.

“And how will you get that fucking drive, then?” he demands. “All of this over a damn divorce settlement. This should have been easy. A simple blackmail, but you fucked it all up.”

“Then I’ll fix it. We’ll get rid of her, you’ll take care of my husband, and it’s all done.” She pulls back the hammer, loading the chamber.

I step farther back into my little cell. There’s nowhere to hide in here. Nothing I can use to shield myself from her aim.

“I said I can help. Let me help!” the girl starts yelling. “Leave her alone!”

“This crazy bitch.” Oleg turns just as the girl runs into Cheryl. The gun goes off and a chunk of cement flies past my ear as the bullet lodges in the cinder blocks of the wall behind me.

Cheryl scrambles up to her knees as the young girl reaches for the gun, but Cheryl aims and shoots quickly. The young girl flies back. Blood sprays across my face as she hits the ground inside my cell.

“No!”

“You idiot! You couldn’t stop a little girl?” Cheryl turns her fury on Oleg, but he’s preoccupied.

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