I kick Mazur’s leg. “Wake up, fucker.”
I have him tied to a chair and men guarding the freezers, while others clean up the mess outside.
Emre comes in. “Grabowski is in the other freezer. What do you want to do with him?”
“Is he conscious?” I ask.
“Evet.”
“Watch Mazur while I question the other fucker.”
On my way to Grabowski, Luca stops me. “You need us for anything else?”
“Like helping with torture,” Viktor offers, giving me a hopeful look.
“Sure, why not. Just don’t kill the fucker until I have all my answers,” I warn him.
As we walk to the freezer, I glance at Viktor. “Thanks for tonight.”
“I always pay my debt.”
“You didn’t owe me shit,” I mutter as we stop outside the door. “The fight against the Sicilians was for Nikolas.”
Viktor shrugs. “I guess you owe me.”
“Just give me six months before you collect,” I joke.
He nods toward the door. “Let’s do this.”
We step inside, and I look at Grabowski with disgust. “I’m sure you know how this works. I ask a question. You answer. Don’t, and my friend’s going to make you suffer.”
I pull a chair closer and take a seat, my body protesting against the movement.
Viktor goes to stand behind the man. “Please be stubborn and refuse to answer the questions. I have a lot of pent-up frustration to take out on you.”
I chuckle, assuming he’s referring to Rosalie, the granddaughter of the Sicilian we helped Nikolas kill a couple of months back.
Leveling Grabowski with a bored look, I ask, “What business ties do you have with Mazur?”
He lets out a heavy breath, the cold air making it visible. “Sex trafficking.”
I raise an eyebrow, giving Viktor an apologetic look. “Seems he’s a talker.”
“A fucking pity,” Viktor mutters as he crosses his arms.
I lean forward, resting my forearms on my thighs. “I’m guessing you had Agnieska?”
“The whore was a gift from Mazur,” he spits out.
“Why separate mother and daughter?”
“Mazur used the daughter as a tool to keep the whore from trying to escape.” He lets out a sigh. “I know you’re going to kill me.”
“Why answer my questions?”
“Promise me a quick death of my choosing.”
“How would you like me to kill you?”
“A shot to the head.”
I nod. “Tell me everything about the role you played in keeping Agnieska and Lara apart.” I want every single fucking answer so I can give them to Lara.
“Like I said, the whore was a gift.” He tries to shrug, but with his hands tied behind his back, he can’t. “She served a purpose, and as long as I showed her photos of her daughter, she did anything I wanted.” He lets out a humorless chuckle. “It’s surprising what a woman will do for her child.”
“You used Agnieska as a sex slave?”
He nods. “The best one I ever had.”
It doesn’t take much for me to figure out the rest. “But you wore her out, and Lara was going to replace her?”
“Yes.”
“Why them?”
He gives me a wry smile. “I know they’re not beauties, but they have an innocence that can’t be ruined. It’s exquisite. Like sampling a rare dish. It melts on your tongue.”
My eyes flick up to Viktor, and I nod. Without any hesitation, he pulls his gun from behind his back, trains the barrel on Grabowski’s head, and pulls the trigger.
He fires another shot. “I fucking despise sex traffickers.”
“That makes two of us.”
Standing up, I walk out of the freezer, telling the guards, “Clean up the mess.”
Luca’s leaning against the wall, but there’s no sign of Nikolas. “Did Nikolas leave?”
He shakes his head. “He went to find a drink and call his wife.”
I nod. “You don’t have to stay. It’s over.”
“I know, but that would ruin the fun for Viktor, and I’d have to listen to him complain all the way home. Besides, I booked a room at a hotel.”
I chuckle, admiring the brotherly bond the two men have.
I walk to Mazur’s freezer, and seeing he’s still out cold, I glance at Emre. “I’m going to head home and shower. I won’t be long.”
“Yes, you will,” my cousin says as he shoves Mazur’s head. “He better wake up.”
“Call me the moment he does. Want me to bring you something from home?”
“Food.”
I nod, then ask Luca, “Need a ride?”
“I thought you’d never offer,” he chuckles. “No, I have a car waiting.” He turns his attention to Viktor. “You coming or staying?”
“Staying. I want to be here when the fucker wakes up. Rough him up a little.”
“The plane leaves at six am. With or without you,” Luca warns.
I shake Luca’s hand. “Thank you for tonight.”
“No problem. That’s what the Priesthood is for.”
Our eyes lock for a moment. After tonight, I’ll drop everything to help them.
When Luca heads down the hallway, I turn to Viktor. “Don’t kill Mazur, and don’t drive my cousin insane.”
He glances into the freezer. “Emre loves me.”
Shaking my head, I walk away. “You want me to bring you food, as well?”
“Yes. A lot. All the excitement is making me hungry.”
I gesture that I heard him before stopping at Elif’s office. “Mirac, we’re heading home.”
He kisses his wife, murmuring. “You go home. I’ll be there…” He glances at me, and I hold up two fingers. “I’ll be home in two hours.”
As we leave the building and I climb into the back of the SUV, I worry about the difficult time lying ahead for Lara and her mother.
I’ll have to get psychological help for Agnieska.
Fuck, I’m not sure whether sex slavery is something you can heal from.
Just give the woman a safe place and leave the rest to God.
Mirac brings the SUV to a stop in front of the house. Everything looks quiet, but I know it’s not the case. Climbing out, I head inside. I walk to my bedroom, needing to shower and change my clothes because the women will worry if they see the state I’m in.
I open the door and switch on the light, then freeze. Lara’s sitting on the bed, paging through a book. Her head snaps up, then she shoots off the bed.
“Oh my God! What happened?”
“Why aren’t you with your mother?”
“You answer first,” she demands as she slowly peels the fabric away from the dried blood on my arm.
“It’s nothing. Just a couple of scrapes.”
“Your arm is bleeding!” She scowls up at me. “Sit on the bed.”
“Yes, Lara Hanim,” I tease her. I take a seat, then repeat the question, “Why aren’t you with your mother?”
“She’s sleeping. After Nisa gave her enough food to feed a small army, she couldn’t stay awake.”
“How is she?”
Taking hold of the hem of my shirt, Lara pulls it over my head before carefully peeling the sleeve down my left arm.
Shaking her head, she answers, “I don’t know. I told her she’s safe here, but I don’t think she believes me.”
“It’s been ten years, baby. She just needs time. Be patient with her.”
“I know. I’m going to get the first aid kit.”
She darts out of the bedroom, and I look down at the torn skin. It’s really not that bad and should heal quickly.
When Lara returns, I let her fuss over me, thinking it will set her at ease. My eyes stay glued to her, searching for any signs that she’s not coping after the day from hell.
“How are you?” I ask when she wraps a bandage around my arm.
“I’m okay.”
“Lara.” I wait for her to meet my eyes. “Don’t lie to me.”
She stares at me for a moment, then continues to fasten the bandage. Once she’s satisfied, she starts to gather the used antiseptic wipes.
I take hold of her hand and pull her closer until she’s standing between my legs.
“How are you, baby?”
I watch as she fights to keep control over her emotions.
“Come here,” I murmur, pulling her onto my lap, so she’s straddling me. Placing a hand behind her head, I press her face into the crook of my neck. “Talk to me.”
Lara wraps her arms around me, burrowing as close to me as she can get, then she whispers, “I’m glad I have her back.”
“But?”
“I’m worried about her.”
“I’ll get a psychiatrist to help her through this.”
“What if she’s never the same again?”
I press a kiss to her hair. “That’s something you need to prepare yourself for. It’s been years, Lara. You’ve changed, and so has she. You’ll have to get to know each other again.”
“I know.” Her breaths fan against my neck. “At least I have her back.” Lara lifts her head, and her eyes meet mine. “Did you find out why Mazur told me she was dead?”
I nod. “But I feel it’s something your mother needs to tell you. When she’s ready. Don’t push her for answers on what happened to her over the past ten years.”
Worry tightens her features. “Is it that bad?”
I nod again. “She’s going to need a lot of care and time. That’s all we can give her.” A tear spirals down her cheek, and I reach up to brush it away. “Just be strong for your mother, and I’ll be strong for you. Okay?”
“Okay.” She hesitates, then asks, “Did you kill Tymon?”
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
I shake my head. She doesn’t need to hear what I have planned for him. “He’ll die soon. Don’t worry.”
Lara lifts her hand to my face and frames my jaw. “Thank you for saving my mom.”
“You’re welcome, Ödülüm.”
