Page 8 of Scarred (Russian Sinners 2)

And that was all it took. Bile rose up and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. I threw up all over Malcome Schmidt and his expensive shoes as cameras flashed capturing the moment.

I sensed more than saw my father freeze behind me. He deserved nothing less. I should have puked on him too. As I straightened, I saw Malcome’s stare go from shock to pure hate. I had just humiliated him in front of the whole world.

“Get her outta here,” he gritted through his clenched teeth, fury all over his face.

My father grabbed my arm and dragged me through Malcome’s massive home to the first guest bathroom. Thankfully, I didn’t throw up on myself, although my breath was horrible. I needed to wash off my mouth and my face.

“You stupid bitch,” he shouted at me as I splashed water over my face.

I ignored him. There were pre-packaged toothbrushes and travel size toothpaste, so I quickly unwrapped them and brushed my teeth. It was a weird thing to have laying around a guest bathroom, I mused to myself. Unless there was a line of people that got sick from seeing Malcome Schmidt.

No doubt there were several lines,I thought to myself

“I swear you are dumb as a rock,” he continued raging. “How Anastasia is friends with you, I’ll never understand. Can’t you do anything right?”

Hearing my friend’s name sent a pang to my heart. I was so worried about her. The entire time I was brushing my teeth and cleaning up, he berated me on my worthlessness and stupidity. I was used to hearing him belittle me by now so it didn’t bother me at all.

I straighten up, grabbing my glasses. “Are you done?”

I didn’t see it coming. I never expected him to do it outside of our home. His fist connected with my cheek and pain exploded through my face. I watched him stunned, my brain trying to process what just happened. My father must have realized the same moment he went too far at the wrong place and the wrong time.

I glanced at the mirror and noticed the area around my cheekbone already started turning purplish blue. Instead of being furious that he hit me, I was happy. It meant I couldn't show my face around Malcome and the rest of these people.

I should have taunted him sooner and saved myself some agony!

I turned to face my father, locking my eyes with him and was surprised to see honest to God fear in them. But he wasn’t worried about hurting me; he had done that plenty of times over the last few years. It was fear from having to explain to Malcome what he had done. He damaged something Malcome already considered his property.

“You will go back home,” he ordered me. “Don’t talk to anyone on your way out. Just get back in the car and have the driver take you back home.”

Placing my sunglasses on my face, I went around him, leaving him standing in the guest bathroom of Malcome’s home. It didn’t require a genius to know he was shitting his pants in fear to face Malcome Schmidt. He demanded my presence and here I was leaving with a bruised cheek after I puked all over him.

It was a small victory. The mistake was on my father thinking I would follow his direction. As I exited the building, I bypassed the car that brought us to the party and flagged a cab. I was going to find my brother.

Twenty minutes later, I was entering the luxury casino. I should have changed before I came here, but I didn't have the time or convenience. Time was something that was quickly running out for me and this was the first opportunity I've had since returning from what had started out as the best summer trip I'd ever taken and ended a nightmare that Malcome's men or my father's hadn't been all over me.

Malcome Schmidt’s party was the first outing I’ve had since I got back from Russia. I wouldn’t have gone if my father wasn’t insisting, but I had to admit, it worked out for the best. If I stayed home, it would have been hard to sneak out and lose the guards Malcome had trailing after me and reporting my every move.

I made an appearance, and my picture would probably be blasted all over the papers tomorrow. I hoped it would be the one where he was covered in puke, since that represented him perfectly. Symbolism was spot on in that scenario.

I could still feel the man’s sweaty hands on my wrist, his horrible smelling cologne and his cruel eyes. I didn't even have a chance to really see the party that was around me as my attention had been solely on the danger in front of me.

Malcome Schmidt knew I couldn’t stand his creepy, clammy touch, and he relished in that knowledge. It made him more excited. Although, I was glad I spoiled his plans by getting sick all over him. It was only fitting that now the fucking bastard smelled bad too. That had actually been my saving grace... well that and the bruise that was quickly spreading across my throbbing cheek.

The neon flashing lights of the slot machines, the high-pitched chimes and music assaulted my senses as I made my way across the casino floor. The loud shouts of the table dealers made me slightly jumpy. The last time I had been in a casino was with Anastasia. It was also the night Malcome Schmidt noticed Anastasia for the first time. There had been no mistaking he had wanted her. And, he almost succeeded in trapping her but Anastasia's family had power and influence. And they weren't indebted to him... unlike my family. My warning to her grandfather was enough to free her from his grasp.

After she slipped through his fingers, his full attention returned to me, and there had been consequences for my part in him losing her... ones that resulted in a few of the hidden scars on my body.

Just thinking about how things ended in Russia caused anxiety to flood through my veins. I was worried sick for Anastasia and Scarlett. I couldn’t believe the nightmare of those last two days in Russia.

Anastasia kidnapped again! And then the following morning, Scarlett disappeared too. I touched base with Anastasia’s father every day but he couldn’t tell me anything. It was always the same,I am sorry, we can’t talk about it, but we are searching. It has been over two weeks.

Scarlett’s family was initially distrustful, believing it was our scheme to avoid her marriage. Then once they realized it wasn’t a scheme, they freaked out. Although I didn’t feel very sorry for them. They’d have to explain to the man she was promised to that they had lost his intended bride. Gosh, what a clusterfuck!

As soon as Brian brought me back to the U.S., we both went to see Anastasia’s dad. Her dad decided to reach out to his contacts to help search for Anastasia, while he asked Brian to go back and find Scarlett. Anastasia’s dad didn’t want to reach out to Scarlett’s family. She kept her distance from her family for the most part, and Mr. Manciatti didn’t like them at all. His description of Scarlett’s family was thugs that barely tethered the thin line of the legal side of the justice system. Either way, Brian was now back in Russia looking for Scarlett while Anastasia’s dad hired someone to go after Anastasia.

Anastasia’s dad was beside himself. I always envied Anastasia for her family. No matter what she did, they always had her back. They’d burn the whole world down before letting anything bad happen to her. Unlike my family that pretty much didn’t care whether I lived or died. Not a single phone call from either of my parents all summer. Although I wasn’t sure if my mother even noticed I wasn’t there. She wasn’t lucid most of the time anymore.

Damn it, Olivia. Concentrate!

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