Page 194 of Born in Depravity

Mikhail Volkov, Damien Vasiliev, Nikolay Sokolov.

His wide eyes met mine. “What?”

I nodded.

“Miss, are you saying …”

Again, I grabbed his forearm and nodded, pointing at the notebook.

“Please,” I begged, my voice coming out in whispers.

I just needed them.

His brown eyes took me in, as if trying to figure out what was happening. I looked down. The relationship I’d formed with these men wasn’t something I wanted to talk about, but especially not with the only real father figure in my life.

The door clicked open once more, and Roberto quickly stood, shoving the notebook in his pocket.

Father walked in, coming up short when his eyes landed on Roberto.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“I apologize, sir. I was checking on Miss.”

Father sneered at him and swung his hand, backslapping Roberto. I let out a small cry and tried to run to him when he fell on the floor, blood coming out of his mouth. He looked up at Father with wide eyes.

“Did I give you permission to come in and see her? I always knew you had a soft spot for the girl, but be really careful. That soft spot is going to get you killed.”

Roberto stood up with an expressionless face, bowing his head slightly to show his respect. “I apologize. It won’t happen again.”

Father waved his hand to Roberto, telling him to leave. I almost opened my mouth and begged him not to.

I didn’t want to be in this room alone with Father.

But Roberto walked away without looking back at me, and I wondered if he would call my men …

Or if he even knew how to get in contact with them.

The door closed behind him, and it felt like the slam of a finality in such a cold and dirty place.

I looked up at Father, the handle of the blade digging into the palm of my hand. I hadn’t gotten a chance to strap it to my legs, and I wondered how bad things would be for me if he found out I had a knife.

I didn’t want to imagine it, but I assumed it would be very, very bad.

Father pulled out his phone before smiling and looking at me. I tried not to flinch when he spoke. I failed.

“Someone is coming here to see you very soon, girl.”

I looked down at my lap, Roberto’s words coming back to me. Try not to make Father angry. Roberto would set me free as soon as he was able.

I just didn’t know if it would be soon enough. My whole body was shaking, only this time, I couldn’t tell if it was from the cold or fear.

“Don’t you want to know who is coming?”

No, I didn’t want to know. Anyone associated with him wasn’t anyone I wanted to see under any circumstances.

He came forward, his shadow looming over me. I flinched, but he grabbed my hair, pulling back until I looked him in the eyes.

I placed the blade beneath me and moved my hand up to his hands, hoping to lessen the grip. He didn’t let up. His lips curved in a smile, but I wasn’t fooled. I could see the rage in his eyes.

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