Chapter One
Konstantin
I wipe the sweat from my brow, hitting the bag in front of me for the hundredth time in the past ten minutes with enough rage to kill a bull. Treachery is unacceptable in my world; stealing from the king is a death sentence, and Tomas Morales just signed his certificate. I hated having to end one of my own men, but it’s unacceptable to allow thievery to happen. I’ll listen to his pleas, however I’m sure there is nothing that can explain why he felt stealing a million dollars of my money is smart or appropriate.
“Boss, we have him in the room when you’re ready.” We’ve been letting him stew for hours after we visited him outside his home with a warning beatdown to get my money. He tried to run when I returned home, so now he’s been picked up to be dealt with, wasting not only my money, but also my time.
I nod, leaving my fists wrapped since I might be using them on his face if I don’t just blow his fucking brains out. Still, I want my money first. I can’t kill the fucker until I learn where my money is or how I’m going to get it back.
I crack my neck, leaving my shirt off because I want him to know that even though I’m the head of this organization, I’m the baddest motherfucker he’ll ever meet. He’d known that and still crossed me, so he has to be insane, stupid, or has brass balls.
The second I step into the room, I know it’s not the latter. The stench of piss hits me, and I’m sure that the coward understands he’s crossed the wrong person. “So, piece of shit, where is my money?”
“I don’t…” I gut punch him instantly. That answer isn’t going to be one I like, so he has no reason to finish whatever lie he’s going to spew.
“That’s not the right answer, Morales. Where is my money?” I ask, feeling my temper evening out. It’s not as if I’ll get it back anyway and this is just an exercise in futility.
“I needed it.” At least that’s a hint of honesty.
“Yes, my men tell me you spent it on pussy and drugs, Morales—a weak man’s needs.” I spent my life starving and cold in Russia and learned young that there were things you could live without, and there were things you couldn’t. Fleeing my homeland as a young boy, I realized vices were easy ways to end up in the situation my family had been in.
This man tied to a chair in front of me wasn’t a real man; instead, he was a pathetic being that I almost felt sorry for if it weren’t for the fact that it was my empire he was fucking with, my money he stole, and my reputation in question if I didn’t destroy him.
“Please. I’ll do anything to pay it back.”
“Pay it back? Pay it back?” I turn to my second-in-command. “Grigor, you hear this? Pay me back?” I chuckle hard, wondering if this bastard takes me for a fool. Turning back to the prick, I say, “Please enlighten me on how you can even fathom paying me back.”
“I have my daughter.” I ought to crack his skull right here. Is he trying to trade me his daughter for a million dollars?
“I don’t give a fuck if your daughter is the best dick-sucking queen in the world; she isn’t worth a million dollars.”
He scoffs. This bastard bound and going to meet his maker scoffs at me. “Not to you. I have her going up for auction next month. Her virginity is guaranteed to land two million.”
“What?” Grigor blurts out.
“I second that.” Who the fuck would pay that much to steal a girl’s innocence? How depraved do you have to be sell your child and more than likely against her will.
“Well, it’s the truth. I needed to secure the entrance fee for the auction, but she’s already had some interested buyers.”
“Bullshit.” I’m not interested in purchasing his kid, but I’m curious about the story he’s spinning.
“I swear. It’s in my bag.” I turn to my second and say, “Verify this information.”
I grab his hair and yank his head back, staring him in the face inches away so he can see my anger. “It doesn’t matter. You stole my money. You didn’t ask to borrow or negotiate a deal. You went in and as one of my trusted runners, stole from me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re sorry that you got caught. That is all.”
“Boss, here it is.” I open the file and look at the information. In one week, Daniella Morales will be auctioned for a minimum of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars. Everything has been set up and when I flip to the next page, my world is rocked.