Bratva's Brat (Loftry University Playthings 2)

Chapter 17

Grigori

Blood roarsin my ears as I exit the booth. No one will think to look inside until after the entire auction is complete. I've been to enough of these to know that the stream of women will go on far into the night. Seeing her in there, put on display for everyone to ogle to bid over - an anger I've never known before sweeps through me. She was mine. Anyone else who thought they had a right to her could kill themselves now and save me the trouble.

I watch as a low-level man drags her away, counting down the doors to remember which is hers. I step back inside and grab the phone from the bidder's lifeless hands. The texts make it clear that she's the only one he's interested in bidding on tonight. I won't have to stay here and babysit the phone. The only problem will be when the bidding man doesn't show up at home. Usually, if you're done bidding, even if you're a proxy, you leave to prepare for your winnings. This gives me a small gap to grab Chelsea and get her away before alerting too much attention.

The idea of killing everyone in here doesn't bother me. They all need to die just from looking at her naked flesh. I just don't want to start a turf war in a state that's not even my home territory. If I lose, that will just put my other holdings in jeopardy. Just having her back in my arms safe and sound is reward enough. I can let go of the hate and anger just to have her.

Pulling out a rag, I wipe down every surface I touched, ensuring this bidder-by-proxy's murder isn't instantly tied to me. Once they realize she's gone, I'm pretty sure they'll have a good idea. Straightening my tie, I step back out and start walking down the hallway. Even if someone does see me, they won't know that I'm not supposed to be here. If every booth is full, that's enough names and faces that they might pause, giving me time to come in for the kill. Reaching into my coat, I slide my fingers over the cool metal of my gun, my heart calming just a touch.

I come to her door and lay my ear against the wood. There's a faint shuffling noise, but nothing that would make me think someone is in there with her. Either way, I stick my hand back into my coat as I turn the knob and ease the door open. I'm barely in the room before something flies over my head and wraps around my neck. Crouching down, I slide my hand in between before it can make full contact, giving me some leverage over my attacker. I turn my hand so that my palm faces out before gripping the fabric and pulling it away from my neck.

A small body collides with my back as I yank and tug, the pressure against the fabric soft but insistent. Snarling, I duck underneath and turn around, gun poised at the person. Seconds go by as I stare at those beautiful eyes I've longed for these past few weeks. Sliding it back into my holster, I grab her and slam her into me. I need to feel her body. I need to know she's okay. The tighter I hug her, the more she squirms. Pulling back, I watch those beautiful eyes well up with tears until they spill over onto her cheeks. At that moment, I'd kill anyone to make them go away.

I want her to tell me why she's crying - they don't look like happy tears at all. Sobs wrench from her body, wracking her tiny frame. I go to pull her in again, but she pushes me away.

"We need to leave Lastachka. Come. Now."

"Not without her."

I glance over at the woman on the bed, a frown pulling at my forehead. I don't recognize her. Perhaps she's from the university? Either way, I don't have time to escape with Chelsea and someone who can't even walk.

"We have no time. We must leave her."

"No."

Her answer is resounding and firm. Never once has she ever spoken to me like this. The master in me wants nothing more than to rise up to the challenge she's giving me; however, the man is as proud as I can ever be. I don't know what they did to her in here, and I don't want to know - not yet at least - but she still has her spirit. That's the most important part. I think through my options. I don't want to disappoint her, but there's no feasible way to take this stranger out of here, not and have her still live.

I don't even have time to argue with her with the cold butt of a gun presses against the back of my head. Fuck. If it were just me, I'd turn and fight him, damn my life. With Chelsea here, I can't chance her. What will happen to her if I'm dead?"

"I go to check on my prize, just to see if she's doing okay, and what do I find instead? A joke of a jailbreak. Your reputation precedes you, Grigori, but I must admit that even I wasn't expecting you to come here and take what's mine."

I turn slowly, making no sudden movements. Icy blue eyes with just a hint of green stare back at me. Eyes like that should look evil; instead, his light up with some hidden glee, as if he's enjoying this exchange. His dark hair, peppered with silver on the sides, is cut into a shorter style that gives him an air of authority without making him look too old.

"She was never yours. She was stolen from me."

"That's not how I hear it. Sources say you put her up as bait. Doesn't seem all that chivalrous to me. And now, here you are, white knight, coming to rescue your damsel." He looks past me to the sheet still dangling from her hands. "Looks like she doesn't need saving after all."

The hurt, anger, and confusion in her eyes gut me. I had to do it. At the time, I thought this was the best way: that I prepared her enough to be safe. The moment she was gone, I knew I was wrong. Nothing was more important to me than her. If I have to let this man hurt me to prove that, then so be it.

"You know my name, but I have no idea who you are."

His smile widens. "I'm Nikolai, and you're fucking up in a place far from home."

"We're businessmen," I counter. "Can't we come to some arrangement? I'd hate to cause an incident in your territory."

"But you already have, my boy," he chuckles, waving the gun in my face. "You're stealing my woman. That's already an incident, and you can't spin it any other way."

Another man comes into the space, whispering to Nikolai. I can't pick up on much, but John Anderson is clear as day. My face drains as my brain comes up with scenarios that would involve him. Has my being here compromised the school somehow?

"Let's make a deal."

Those four words were the last I expected from him. Putting the gun away, he motions for us to sit on the bed while his lackey brings in a chair from another room. Unease fills me, but I shove it aside for the sake of Chelsea. I have to be on high alert to make sure nothing else happens to her.

"I have some cargo that needs to be moved and rather quickly." A young man is shoved into the room, dark hair tousled about his face. "My sources say you know a Dean Anderson at Loftry University. Take this boy with you, and you can have your girl, no fuss."

My jaw about drops. No way it's that easy.

"What's the catch?"

"The catch is, you cannot allow anyone to know you have him. Even if it means pulling this jackass's tongue out so he can't talk." Nikolai levels a glare at the boy before continuing. "I'm willing to overlook this whole mess in exchange for you helping me out. Now, do we have a deal?"

"No deal."

The moment Chelsea opens her mouth, I want to drag her across my lap and spank her ass; however, that would be too distracting and give Nikolai an opening I don't want him to have.

"Oh. And what deal would you make? Surely you want to leave with this man, or would you rather come home with me?"

"I'm not leaving without her."

He frowns, looking over at the other woman on the bed.

"You would risk your freedom for her? Is she a friend of yours?"

"She listened to me."

Chelsea looks about, helplessly shrugging her shoulders. I want to gather her into my arms, but I need to be a show of force and strength in case Nikolai wants to change the deal. He leans over, conversing with the man from earlier. After a few moments, Nikolai gives a nod.

"I am giving you a gift by giving you Chelsea back. I feel that I'm being more than generous. However, seeing as I need you both to leave soon, I'll let you take her, but you'll have to pay for Chelsea." Pulling up the phone, he scrolls for a moment. "Eight hundred thousand is what I paid for her. For the added grief of you killing my man, let's call it an even one million."

"Done." I don't even give Chelsea a chance to respond.

"I'll have a gurney brought to you. What happens after you leave here is out of my control." He rises to leave but pauses and pins me with a glare. "Oh, and if I ever see you in the state of Florida again, I'll kill you. Make no mistake that you have made an enemy out of me. I just happen to need your assistance at the moment. After that, you're useless to me. Fail to pay me by the end of business tomorrow, and I’ll swarm your place, making you watch as I fuck the life out of your girl before allowing you to join her in death.”