Page 42 of Sold By The Siren

“I’m so sorry!” I say, beginning to cry myself. “This is all my fault!”

“No. It’s no one’s fault. Well, maybe a little bit yours, Mari,” my dad says, still in his calm, soothing voice, and adds a chuckle.

“I really am sorry,” I say again.

“I shouldn’t have tried to keep you sheltered from this world and the people in it for so long,” Dad says, looking over at Artyom, then the armed man next to him.

“Speaking of people like you,” Uncle Suki speaks calmly to Artyom now. “Blondie isn’t going to be happy if anything happens to Mari or any of us, you know?”

“I know,” Artyom answers.

Josef. I haven’t forgotten about him, but I have been overwhelmed with my family and our situation. We’re safe, for now. I hope Josef is too. I look at my uncle and give him a little nod. He’s trying to use the same strategy we used with Southside. I look over at Artyom. He has a calculating look on his face.

“Does Josef have protection while things are being sorted out? Can you at least send Ghost to watch out for him?” I ask.

“Ghost went on other assignment, soon as he got you here. I was hoping Josef would have been with you, but he can take care of himself.

“Josef went to see his associate, Katana. Then we were supposed to meet at his house after I stopped by my dad's house,” I explain.

Artyom’s eyes widen when he hears what I’m saying. He takes a walkie-talkie off his hip, making me even more nervous than I already was.

“Take us out!” he yells into the radio.

“What’s wrong?” I ask. “Tell me!”

“Katana has betrayed Yosef. He is working with the Siren now. Our boss, Ivan, contacted me when he found out.”

Artyom must be talking about Ivan Vasilek. I knew Joseph was connected with the Bratva, but I didn’t know he worked directly under the most prominent crime boss in all of Philadelphia.

Maybe I’ll have to start doing things like Josef would.

The man with the gun is looking at Artyom. I Punch his side and kick behind his knee. I grab his gun as he falls.

“Tell them to stop this boat now!” I yell as I point the gun at Artyom’s face. “We’re not going anywhere until we know Josef is safe!”

“Marika! What are you doing?” my dad yells.

“It’s okay, Daddy. I know exactly what I’m doing.”

“Easy, okay?” Artyom says.

I hold up the orange poker chip so he can see it.

“That’s my lucky chip!” he exclaims.

“Yes, and this gun is my ace right now,” I say as I feel the boat starting to move. “Stop the boat!”

“Nyet. You know poker, I see. I am calling your bluff. Also, if Josef lives and you die, he will pull trigger on me for sure,” he says.

Damn, he got me.

“Give me the gun, Mari. I won’t bluff! ” Uncle Suki says.

“Oh my God! Seriously, Uncle!” I yell at him. He might actually shoot Artyom if I were to give him the gun. My dad is more level-headed than my uncle and is the only one of us who seems calm, besides his yelling when I took this gun from Artyom’s man, but that was understandable. I handthe gun to Dad.

Uncle Suki kicks the chair, then howls in pain. Maybe we should have left him tied up.

“Please stay calm, Uncle,” I plead with him.

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