“Leo’s really gotten himself into a jam this time,” Henry murmured and tucked his hands into the front pockets of his slacks, ones that looked like they were made of discount polyester.
For all the money Henry had swindled out of people, he looked as cheap as a two-dollar bill.
“I’m not sure what Leo does or doesn’t do has to do with me.” I should’ve kept my mouth shut. Pissing off Leo and his goons wasn’t going to do me any favors.
But I was surprised—and proud—I sounded as strong as I did. Inside I was terrified, of course. I knew the situation wasn’t going to go in my favor.
“Leo and I don’t speak. He denounced me as his daughter quite a while ago when I refused to give him money and told him what a lowlife he was.”
Henry grinned again, this one more sharklike.
“And even if I did have the money, which I don’t, I sure as hell wouldn’t use it to bail Leo out. He’s on his own.” I didn’t bother looking at the man who’d been nothing but a sperm donor. Fuck him for getting me into this shit.
I looked back at Henry quickly, knowing I couldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him. I noticed how he looked over my shoulder at the two men behind me, something in his eyes causing them to move closer. I heard the shuffling of their feet, smelled the dirty sweat that clung to them as it filled my nose. I tensed, my muscles tightening. Although I’d taken a few self-defense classes in the past, I wasn’t a fool thinking I was any match for them.
“It’s not money I want from you, Galina.”
My heart stopped, then started racing over time.
“Leo finally offered compensation for his debt that I am satisfied with.” Henry’s grin couldn’t be called anything but perverse. “And that’s you—or more so your body and that sweet cherry you still have between your legs.”
I felt my eyes widen a second before pure horror washed through me. I looked over at Leo, but the bastard wasn’t looking at me, wouldn’t dare face me after the heinous act he’d just done.
“And don’t try saying you’re not as innocent as Leo said. I’ve been watching you, Galina. I know you don't take company with anyone. I know your daily habits, know you sleep alone every night.” Henry raked his beady-eyed gaze up and down my body and took a step toward me. “In fact, I’ve stood over your bed and watched you sleep, know you keep a pistol under your pillow.” He hummed as if that aroused him. “I even leaned down and smelled your hair on more than one occasion, wondering if your pussy smells just as sweet.”
Oh God. I took a step back, fear coursing through me, but my back slammed into one of his goons. Hands clamped around my arms, and I fought wildly, self-preservation rising up. I kicked and screamed, but it was only met with a bruising grip and laughter surrounding me. Soon enough, I was winded and defeated, tears springing to my eyes… ones I refused to let fall.
I didn’t confirm or deny what Henry said. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of breaking down. I looked at Leo once more. He was staring at me with what I could have assumed was guilt, but he also looked high as a kite.
“You were supposed to protect me,” I whispered. Those words were nothing but a pipe dream of a once vulnerable little girl. I had no mother, no father despite him standing right in front of me.
And he’d sold off my virginity to clear his debt. He sold me off as if I was a commodity.
“I think I’ll let some fucker buy your cherry for an exorbitant price. You don’t see many women still so innocent at your age.”
Like my age of twenty-one meant I was some spinster.
“And after you’ve been broken in—defiled, I’m sure—then I’ll take you for a ride before you really get used up.” I snapped my focus back to Henry. “But you look so sweet and delicious that I may not tire of you for some time. I may keep you as my personal pet for a while, Galina.” He was leering again like a sick fuck.
“And then what?” I sneered. Fuck him. Let him see my anger and wrath, even if it didn’t do any good.
His grin widened. I was pretty sure he liked me fighting back, probably got off on it. “And then I’ll sell you off nightly, recoup my money and then some.”
I struggled all over again, managing to kick the leg of the bastard holding me. He grunted and dug his fingers into me so hard I knew there would be black-and-blue marks on my flesh. I hissed in pain, and he jerked me closer to him, my back to his chest, before he wrapped a steely arm around my middle, stilling me.