Violent Beginnings (The Moretti Crime Family 2)

“Come in,” someone yells on the other side.

Markus pauses, and I can feel his eyes on me even though I’m not looking at him. “Remember what I said. Eyes on the ground. Quiet. Be seen and not heard.”

I swallow thickly and nod my head briefly. He doesn’t waste any time after that, opening the door and waltzing in like he owns the place. With my eyes trained on the floor, Markus is my only source of guidance. Pulling me behind him, he drags me inside the room.

The smell of smoke and men’s cologne clings to the air, and I hold back a cough. The legs of a chair come into view, and Markus gives me a gentle push in the direction of it. We both sit at the same time.

“What a pleasant surprise it is to see you, Markus.”

This must be the man he was looking for.

“Tony, I would love to say I came here to thank you, but I didn’t.”

“What seems to be the problem?”

“You. I purchased her at your last auction. Not only was she bruised from one of your men when I got her, but I also found out she wasn’t a virgin, which is essentially what I paid for.”

My mouth pops open. I’m dumbfounded. No way did he drive all the way here to complain about me. Then it hits me. What if he didn’t just come here to complain about me, but to return me? What if he’s going to leave me here?

Fear latches onto me, sinking its nails deep into my flesh. He wouldn’t leave me here, would he? The answer is yes, yes, he would.

“Virgin or not, she seems to have taken a liking to you. Are you looking to return her? We don’t offer returns generally, but she’s pretty enough, and she doesn’t seem too damaged. We could definitely resell her.”

Forget the rules. Forget what he told me to do. None of it matters if he gives me back to them. I’ll beg and plead if I have to, but I am leaving this place with him.

Latching onto his arm, I lift my head and find him staring at me. His expression is cold and deep like the ocean. Real genuine fear swirls in my gut.

“Please… I’ll be good,” I plead and grip him as tightly as I can.

Disappointment flickers in his eyes. “Shut your mouth,” he growls before looking away and back at Tony.

Tears well in my eyes, and Tony says, “We can take her and give you a new girl. A virgin, perhaps. You did pay a pretty penny for this one if I remember correctly.”

A second passes, and then another, and I swear my heart stops beating. My hands tremble uncontrollably, and I can’t even get a breath of air into my lungs. After everything, it comes down to this. I can see my one and only chance of saving my sister slipping through my fingers like grains of sand.

Finally, Markus answers, “No. I want to keep her, but I want another girl in return for my troubles.” I tug my hand away and practically melt into my seat with relief.

“Mmm, I’m not sure about that. To lose a girl would be a huge hit on the books. I know she’s not what you expected, but…”

“I want another girl,” Markus roars and slams his fists down on the heavy desk, driving home his point.

“We don’t have any new girls in yet. We do have one left over from the previous auction that never sold, but… I don’t know if you would want her.”

My heart grows wings in my chest, and it takes every ounce of restraint I have not to jump out of my chair and order him to take us to Julie.

“Let me see her,” Markus barks.

I’m so shocked. I don’t even know what to think. I can’t believe he came here to get Julie. Or that he cared enough to remember me asking about her when he first brought me to the cabin. I’m not sure if I want to hug him or run away from him. When he does things like this, it’s hard for me to remember how monstrous he is.

“We can take a walk down to the basement.” Tony shoves out of his chair, and the feet make a scraping sound against the floor that makes me shiver. “I will be honest, I’m not sure what use she will be to you. My men have been fucking her since the night of the auction.”

“Don’t care. I want to see her.” Markus ignores everything he’s said and comes to stand as well, grabbing onto my hand and pulling me up with him.

My throat tightens, and my heart clenches at the words Tony has said. I can’t imagine all that she has had to endure over the months, the pain, heartache, and loss.