Page 86 of Immaculate Deception (Romanoff Bratva)

“Good.”

I look up at her in confusion. Her eyes blaze.

“I don’t want anyone to see how much I’m hurting,” she says fiercely. “Not you or Taras or anyone else. I hold my head high because if I don’t, then I’ll collapse into a puddle. I miss my daughter every day, I miss my mom, and I miss being free. But I’ll never let Taras fucking Kreshnik know that for a single goddamn second.”

I don’t feel any better, but Rose’s words give me the motivation I need to stand up. To lift my chin. To power through whatever is about to happen.

I stand and disrobe quickly, then slip on the dress.

It fits sickeningly well. Like a reminder that my body doesn’t belong to me anymore. Thin straps, a plunging neckline, and a far-too-short hem that skims the tops of my thighs.

Rose helps me brush and curl my hair and dabs matching red lipstick on my lips. “You’ve got great lips,” she says, standing back and admiring her work. “Beautiful.”

It’s a nice compliment. But we both know it doesn’t mean a whole lot right now.

“I know it’s hard to doll up for that slime ball, but if you don’t, it’s so much worse,” Rose advises. “Laugh at his shitty jokes, bat your eyes at him, and smile as much as you can. If he thinks you’re having a nice time, he’ll be gentler. It’s the fighters who get broken, Arya.”

“Go along to get along,” I rephrase, nodding my head in understanding. “I can do that.”

She bites her lip. “It’s harder than it sounds. Especially for a fiery girl like you. But you can do this. Just stay focused.”

Focused on what?I want to ask.

But there isn’t time.

Before I can ask, a guard throws open the door and stands silently in the hallway. His command is clear enough that it doesn’t need to be spoken.

Come with me.

Rose gives me one last hug and kisses my temple before I leave.

I hope to God I make it back.

28

Dima

Burnham Park, Chicago

Gennady’s words are ringing in my ear.

We found her.

We found Arya.

I can’t believe it. Six weeks of absolutely nothing. And now both of my targets get dropped into my lap like fucking Christmas presents. I’m going to kill The Butcher. I’m going to rescue Arya. I’m going to save my—

“…but you have to go right now, Dima.”

I snap back to reality. “Now?Are you kidding me?”

“The man sounded terrified. He said that she’s gotten mixed up with some really bad people. He gave me a name and a bar where these guys will be tonight. You have to go right now if you want to get her.”

I growl in frustration and squeeze the burner phone so hard I think it might snap.

My target is disappearing into the distance. But Arya is out there somewhere. She and my son, with no one else in this world who gives a fuck or even knows about them. I’m all they have.

But I have to choose.

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