Part 25 (1/2)

”Monkey,” I greet and watch as her secret smile widens, but her body remains still.

After hearing my endearment, which I hadn't tried to keep from him, he clears his throat then calls out, ”Come here, Casey.”

As she walks to him, she keeps her hands folded in front of her, but meets his gaze without losing contact. Once she makes it to him, he swings around and positions his chair in front of her. His hands come to her arms and he soothingly moves them up and down.

”My sweet girl,” he starts and she half-smiles, but even from here I know it's not real. ”You'll do as I tell you, okay?”

”Yes, sir,” she voices with yet another nod.

As Viktor moves her long, dark hair from her shoulder and to her back, he whispers something in Russian that I don't understand. The knock at the door calls for all our attention.

”Enter,” Viktor clips before letting Casey go and turning back around in his chair, carefully folding his hands on his desk.

When Aimes walks in, I see he's dressed much differently than he was before. His black cargo pants, black turtle neck, and black boots are nothing compared to his darkened expression. Cilas walks in behind him with his usual scowl of distaste.

”You're looking well,” Viktor oozes, scoping Aimes up and down.

”Jesus Christ,” Aimes utters back, looking at Viktor then to Casey. ”I've been here before, haven't I? You'd think those men thought I wasn't welcome.”

Viktor casts me a sinful, know-all smile as I turn back to him for his return. ”Hoss and his invalids must've already arrived.”

Before Cilas is able to close the door, Viktor calls out to him. ”Go sit with Anna. No one, not even the president of this club, Hoss Lattimore, gets to her. Do you understand?”

The ever-silent Cilas nods before grabbing the handle, closing the door, and leaving us all to business.

”Gotta say,” Aimes starts, pulling up an empty chair from behind me and sitting. He makes himself comfortable before continuing. ”Those men stink.”

”They do,” Viktor agrees. ”But I've got no time to discuss the personal hygiene of the men who dwell in this cesspool of a community.”

Aimes' eyes come to mine, and he smiles then winks with the eye Viktor can't see. Casey stands rigid by Viktor's side as Aimes turns and looks to her.

”This the girl?”

”This is Casey,” Viktor corrects, his tone tight and terse.

”Come to me, darlin',” Aimes calls to her, but she doesn't move.

Instead, she turns her gaze to Viktor, who barely smiles. I don't miss the sadness in his expression as he nods toward the direction of Aimes. Sucking in a needed breath, Casey begins walking around the desk to him. With only his profile in my view, I see Aimes giving her a soft look in rea.s.surance.

Once she's closed the distance, Casey stands and looks to the ground. Aimes doesn't allow this for long before moving his hand to her chin and lightly pulling it up.

”Casey,” he says quietly. ”I'm Dextor.”

”h.e.l.lo,” she whispers, forgetting her place. She quickly amends herself while correcting her posture and looking him in the eye. ”Sir.”

”How old are you?” he asks, his eye boring into hers.

She s.h.i.+vers slightly then answers, ”Eleven.”

”Eleven,” he repeats before looking over her shoulder to a very interested Viktor. ”Well, you're a pretty girl.”

When Aimes makes a move to touch her small face again, Viktor raises his hand. His one-word answer tells me he's not at all interested in losing Casey as his own. ”Enough.”

Aimes drops his hand and turns his head to me, but I can't read his expression.

”I'll take both. I want her and the other girl.”

Viktor doesn't respond, but all eyes, including Casey's, s.h.i.+ft to him. He contemplates briefly before offering, ”She's one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Are you sure you've got that kind of funding?”

The side I can see of Aimes' face goes rigid. ”How the f.u.c.k is she worth more than the other girl?”

”That's the price. Take it or leave it.”

”This is bad business, Mr. Koslov, and I'm inclined to call you out on it.”

”It's not,” Viktor chimes back. ”But I've no intention of giving her away for a penny less than what she's worth.”

Viktor's pus.h.i.+ng. And he's doing it on purpose. Anyone abreast of the situation could see as clearly as I do that he wants Casey for Anna.

”You understand this is business,” Viktor adds.

”Yes,” Aimes clips. ”I do.”

”Casey,” Viktor calls, and she turns around in her place quickly. Aimes' hand reaches out and grabs hers. She doesn't pull away, but the rise and fall of her chest and the shaking of her chin are a clear indication she's scared. ”Dextor wants to take you home.”

If Viktor is waiting for Casey to dare a response, it doesn't come. Her shoulders rise slightly, tightening with anxiety, and from where I'm sitting, her knees become unsteady. Aimes says nothing and she dares to tear her eyes away from Viktor, darting directly to mine. Once they do, she breathes in deeply.

Before she's able to vocalize her thought to Viktor's claim, the door swings open and Dog stands on the other side of it. His eyes are wide, his clothes are dirty, and he's out of breath. ”Hoss is looking for Hangar. He's been looking for a while. Dee Dee said we had to talk to you.”

”Yes, Dog. I'm aware Hoss has returned. Close the f.u.c.king door behind you and tell Hoss I'll be with him when I'm finished.”

”Sir,” Dog interrupts.

Aimes' eyes come to mine in confusion as Viktor motions his hands to those in front of him. ”I'm in a meeting! Do you not see this?”

”He's p.i.s.sed, sir,” Dog states plainly.

Viktor raises his hand to keep him from speaking then starts to stand. ”If he's so insistent, tell Hoss that Hangar's downstairs.”

Downstairs.

The bas.e.m.e.nt is downstairs; the same place Hangar had Anna strung up as he beat her.

”Mr. Ahrens, you'll need to excuse me. I do apologize for the interruption. We're not finished with our business, but I've got to see to something of greater importance.” I don't miss Viktor's heated tone, and neither does Aimes.

Aimes stands, places his hand on Casey's shoulder, and gives her a nudge in Viktor's direction. She walks to him carefully as Viktor extends his arm. Once she's to him, he places it around her shoulders.