I text him back right away.
Cleo: My father is making me leave the house. Callum isn’t here. I don’t know what to do.
His response is immediate.
Kai ?: I have eyes on you. I’ll make sure you’re safe. Do what you need to. Try to hide this phone on you if you can.
Cleo: I will.
I take less than ten minutes to powder my face the best I can and change into an appropriate dress. I grab a small clutch to hide the phone in before meeting my father in the main foyer.
“Perfect. Let’s get going.”
I don’t bother asking where we are going. He wouldn’t tell me, anyway. It’s not until we are parked outside the bar that I realize where we are.
Little Moscow.
It’s where the Bratva hang out. I only know this from the other kids in school. Sometimes they would make bets, daring some poor soul to take a step inside. It’s known for the rougher crowd it attracts.
So why are we here?
Father ushers me from the car to the front door. Once inside, a burly man leads us to a booth where Igor and his father, Ivan are waiting. Ivan eyes me hungrily.
“Sit, dear,” Ivan says patting the booth next to him.
When I glance at my father, he nods his permission.
I swallow hard. I do not want to be next to this man.
Once seated, he turns to my father, but his hand lands on my upper thigh, making me flinch.
“Such a beautiful girl. Too bad Killian refuses to consider me,” he says wistfully.
My father laughs. “She’s my daughter. It’s not his choice. If you have a better offer, I would be happy to hear it.”
His hand moves higher. “She’s innocent, yes?”
“Of course. She has never even kissed another. Isn’t that right, Cleo?”
My cheeks heat. Hopefully, they think it is from embarrassment and not the truth.
I have kissed a man.
I’ve kissed Kai.
Igor also forced his kiss upon me. I glance at him, noting the wink.
I nod, not trusting myself to speak the lies.
Ivan chuckles. “I think I will draw up an offer for you. She’s meek and innocent. I like that. Add in her young age and well you have my perfect woman.”
My father nods. “You requested a date with her so I will leave her with you, but I expect her back in a couple of hours, unharmed. Understood?”
The man nods as my father gets up to leave.
My heart is hammering in my chest.
Is he really going to leave me here alone?
