Page 56 of Torn Souls

Huck’s eyes blaze with need when he sees her in all her glory. Kirill reaches down and adjusts himself in his slacks. When Oaklynn sees their reactions, she swallows hard and fans her blushing face with her hand.

“Come,Solnishko,” Kirill takes her hand from his brother and threads it through the crook of his arm. “We have some things to discuss while we head to our destination.”

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

Oaklynn’s question hangs in the air but goes unanswered until we’re all situated in the large, armored SUV which is, thankfully, big enough for all of us. Before I pull away from our home, I check my weapons one more time.

Angelo might demand for people to be unarmed to enter Second Circle, but he knows that rule doesn’t apply to me. It never will. He respected that in the past and tonight better be no different.

“We’ll be going to Second Circle, Oaklynn,” Kirill tells her, his hand resting on her thigh where the slit of her dress exposes her soft skin.

I glance in the rearview mirror and see her tense with his words. “I’ve heard things about that place,” Oaklynn’s voice is questioning. “It’s a brothel.”

Maxim makes a humming sound and nods. “It is. It’s also one of the many businesses owned by Angelo Amato.”

“Italian mob,” Oaklynn breathes.

“Yes,” Huck confirms from his seat next to me. “We don’t do a lot of business with him, but we have an alliance of sorts.”

I glance again to find Oaklynn shooting Huck a look, her eyebrow raised. “Of sorts?”

Kirill shrugs, the movement far too casual for a man like him. He’s trying to make her comfortable, to downplay the situation. But I don’t think our woman is buying it.

“We work together when needed. He stays in his part of the city, and we stay in ours. There are lines neither of us are willing to cross and I don’t just mean in terms of our territory.”

Oaklynn nods like she understands; maybe she does. When she takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, I’m amazed by her strength once again.

“Why are you being so open with me?”

Her question catches me a little off guard, but it shouldn’t. She’s coming into her own the more time she spends with us. It’s amazing to watch. I can’t wait to see her in full bloom.

“Because we want you to know that we trust you,” Kirill answers simply. “We want you to feel empowered knowing that you have four of the most powerful men in the city at your feet worshiping you, giving you everything they are, trusting you without question. It will make you become what you are meant to be.”

“And what’s that?” The question is hesitant, vulnerable.

“Our queen.”

“What is my role tonight? What do you expect?”

Kirill smirks, pride shining in his eyes. “Just be yourself and take one more step toward your destiny.”

Oaklynn sits up a little straighter and I can almost see the crown on her head as she does. “Understood,” there is no waver in her voice, only steel.

Even though dread still curls in my gut, I can’t help but start to look forward to this meeting. Chambers tried to break our woman, but she was always made of stronger stuff.

It won’t be long until he finds out just how strong she is.

CHAPTER 19

OAKLYNN

Kirill’s hand on the small of my back as he guides me into the inner sanctum of Second Circle is the only thing grounding me in the moment. I’m sure if my men were to listen hard enough then they would be able to hear the pounding of my heart, even over the deep bass of the music pumping through the building.

The converted warehouse is huge and I’m sure there are hidden secrets in this building, but I don’t care about them right now. I’m only capable of focusing on what is right in front of me at the moment. And that’s the broad back of Romeo, Angelo’s brother and second.

He met us at the front door of Second Circle, which most people wouldn’t look twice at from the outside. They certainly wouldn’t believe some of the depravity I’m currently being assaulted by.

Everything in the main area of the warehouse is dark but dripping with luxurious touches. There are rich textures on the wall and the lighting makes it seem like you really have walked into the second circle of hell. The air is warm but not stifling.

---