AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I have no clue why he would want to marry me, only that I’ve agreed to do it, and that entails much more than holding hands and kissing on the altar. The implications send a chill through my core, and a slight warmth in my groin that’s hard to explain.
I push it away, ignoring the weird feeling I get when Viktor continues to stare at me.
“You are a lucky man to have such a beautiful daughter,” he says, stepping toward me and grabbing my arm. He grins at my father. “Expensive new toy. I’ll try not to break her.”
My dad doesn’t say anything. He just whimpers in his chair, unwilling to defend me or even look at what he’s done. I hate him with everything in my body, the realization that he just ruined my life flooding over me like cold water.
But as Viktor takes me out of the room, joined by two bodyguards with rifles over their chests, I know that I can’t take this back. I saved my dad’s life, but I’ve ended my own.
And things will never go back to normal.
2
Viktor
Ileave Sage in the limo with my guards as I make a pit stop at one of the seven high-stakes casinos I have scattered around the city. I’ve found that it’s better to keep my operations small and frequent, rather than risk a large bust from the police if they uncover something too big. They don’t care about the small gambling rings, as long as they don’t get out of hand.
Tonight, I’ll try my best not to let that happen, but when the stakes are high, it’s worth it to gambles sometimes.
I enter the building through a hidden side door, passing a few of my guards, who nod at me as I walk briskly past them.
Inside, the ambiance shifts, and it’s like I’ve stepped into another world. The bleakness of the rainy atmosphere outside is replaced with warmth and the thick scent of cigar smoke. As I walk through the casino, I feel the urge to sit down and play.
Roulette is my favorite game, but I try to stay away from the Russian variety. My life is more valuable than anyone else’s here. I’m the puppet master, and without me, everything would collapse.
This is my domain, my empire.
I make my way past the tables, pausing for a moment to watch someone win big on roulette. They’ll lose it all before the night is over, the glossy enthusiasm in their eyes turning to a dull heartache when they realize how quickly they lose everything.
It’s just like Mr. Thompson. He played a lot at my casinos. He was a regular who knew how to throw dice and keep going when he was on a winning streak, but the house always wins in the end. He lost it all and then some, resorting to trading his daughter in order to keep his life.
He’ll never be allowed in one of my casinos again, and that’s only if I don’t decide to kill him to set an example. I doubt Sage would be all that angry, considering that he threw her to the wolves to save himself.
I continue on from the roulette table, crossing through the double doors to the back rooms, where my next unfortunate customer after Mr. Thompson is chained to a chair. I don’t intend to spare Sergei in the same way I did for Mr. Thompson. He owes more, and there’s nothing he has to offer me to pay off his debts.
Ivan is standing just outside the room where Sergei is being held, his hands clasped together in front of him, and a grim look on his face.
“Cheer up,” I tell him, patting his shoulder as I push open the door. “I have good news. Come inside, and let’s deal with Sergei first, though.”
Ivan grunts, following me inside. He’s never been much of a talker, but he’s also my most obedient worker. Anything I want him to do, he does, no questions asked.
The air is warmer inside the room, and slightly humid from Sergei’s sweat. It smells stale and sour, like he’s been here for days, but my men only brought him in this afternoon. I would’ve gotten to him straight away, but I didn’t want to give Mr. Thompson the chance to pack his things and make a run for it.
Sergei is in the middle of the room, sitting in a chair with his arms and legs tied down. A single glaring bulb hangs over his head, just in front of him, making it hard for him to see. He knows it’s me, though, because he’s suddenly very still.
Ivan steps up to him first, taking the gag out of his mouth.
“Viktor,” Sergei stammers, “I can explain.”
I raise a hand to silence him. “You disappoint me, Sergei. You know the rules. Debts must be paid, and you shouldn’t gamble more than you can afford. I thought you were smarter than that.”
Sergei’s eyes dart around the room, looking for an escape that isn’t there. He’s still trying to wiggle his way out of this, just like he did when he was on a losing streak at my casino. I swear these people never learn, but I’m still going to try to teach him a lesson.
“Please, Viktor, I just need a little more time. I can get the money,” he blurts, sweat dripping from the end of his nose.
“You are to call me sir if you expect any pity from me,” I snap.
“Yes sir,” he chirps, hope returning to his distressed expression.
