Page 16 of Taken By My Grumpy Pakhan

“One hundred thou… One hundred thousand?”

Oh my god, my savings are only enough to pay off half the debt.

“I told you I was—fuck!” Eyepatch's fist driving back into his abdomen pulled out the guttural cry from him.

“Please!” I was on my knees before I knew it. “Please don’t take him away. He’s all I have. We’ll pay back. Just give us some time and we’ll pack, I promise.”

“Your brother here has had the whole of six months and that is way beyond our mercy period,” the man said. “The boss will be here soon and the account needs to check.”

The boss? So he wasn’t the one in charge?

“Sorry, miss, but the only options are to take him in, chop him up and get the money from the trade or whatever the boss—”

“No!” My voice was almost a scream. Even Leo’s eyes widened at the realization of how dire the situation was.

“You can’t do that to him. He’s just a kid.”

“Someone’s got to pay, ma’am, and if it ain’t him, it’ll be my neck on the table and I ain’t that gracious.”

“Then take mine.”

The room grew quiet.

“Gen…”

I ignored Leo’s voice. No way I would let my family be completely wiped away. He had to live. Someone had to live.

“I’ll do anything. I will work till the money is complete. You own the big club, right?” I rambled off, my mind no longer keeping track of the nonsense I was vomiting.

There was only one thing that mattered and it was Leo.

“… I will work till my legs give out. I’ll scrub the floors, clean up after your guests, anything. Please don’t hurt my brother.” My voice broke.

“You’ll do anything, huh?”

It was a heavy question, but now wasn’t the time to consider consequences. I was fucked either way.

“Anything.”

He regarded me for a moment before whipping out his phone and stepping out.

“Gen, don’t do this, you don’t know what these people are capable of—”

“Shut up.” I was pissed at him, my body was shaking with fury, but beneath all of it was a sliver of guilt and a voice that whispered how this was all my fault and things would’ve been different if I stayed or took him with me.

“It’s quite the sacrifice for this ungrateful brat,” Alexei commented. “You sure he’s worth it?”

“Don’t make the pretty lady change her mind, you idiot. It’s been a long time since I've seen a fresh piece of pretty.”

My skin crawled with Eyepatch’s comment, but I focused on the door, praying the man returned with good news. Whatever that meant for me.

“She has the looks, killer legs and a pretty face.” His voice preceded him. “Sure thing, boss.”

He resurfaced with a smile. “You’ve cut yourself a deal, beautiful, but your brother stays with us till your side of the bargain is complete.”

Chapter Five

Genevieve