Page 107 of Sapphire

She looks up at me, not sure if she should believe me or not.

“Sophie knows some mercenaries who have been able to get an invite to this sale,” I say, and Gracie visibly relaxes. “We have given him a blank cheque—whatever it takes to get her back, we will pay. We are going to bring her home, I promise.”

“But what happens if she isn’t for sale? Nikolai might want to keep her?”

“Then we go with Plan B—extraction—no matter what.”

37

ZOE

“Fuck, I love waking up with you in my bed.” Nikolai rolls over and pulls me into his arms.

I hate myself. I hate myself so much for betraying Mateo and Tomas like this, for willingly sleeping with Nikolai. But what choice do I have?

“You need to get ready. We must travel to the next place. We have to keep moving just for the moment, my queen, until I know the heat is off us,” Nikolai says.

I watch his naked form walk into the bathroom. I pray that Gracie is safe and that she was able to convince the boys to back off because if they don’t, I don’t know what Nikolai will do.

“Zoe, come here,” Nikolai calls from the bathroom.

I take a deep breath and walk toward the bathroom.

Nikolai sticks his head out of the shower. “I forgot to tell you. The video worked. They have gone home to Ibiza; I have someone following them. Gracie was with them.”

My stomach sinks. A tiny portion of me wanted them to fight and not go home.

Nikolai smiles as if he can read my mind. “There are photos on my phone if you don’t believe me.”

I shuffle back into the bedroom and pick up his phone. There’s no password, which is surprising, and I swipe and look in his photos and there, staring back at me, are surveillance photos of Mateo and Tomas boarding a private jet with Gracie and … is that Sophie? I zoom in and see that it is. My heart wants to burst. I see Tomas and Mateo holding hands, zoom in closer, and see their faces. They don’t look happy at all, and my heart aches. I miss them so much, I can feel my heart being ripped out as I stare at them. It’s been too long. I flick to the next photo, and it’s them arriving in Ibiza and being whisked away via limousine. I swipe again and it’s them arriving at a new house, and … is that my parents? Mackenzie? But how? I don’t understand. Are they all here trying to find me?

Hope starts to spring in my chest that they are not going to give up, my family won’t let them. I have renewed energy. I just need to be smart and play the long game. This will be all over soon either way.

“See? I told you—they left.”

Nikolai’s voice makes me jump, and I school my emotions and lock them back behind the iron gates. I stand up and walk to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He’s only wearing a towel and his skin is warm and glistening from his shower. I’m still dressed in a strappy nightdress.

“And I told you that my sister would convince them.”

He gives me a blinding smile as his hand squeezes my ass.

“Yes, you did. I should probably have more faith in you.”

I nod.

He picks me up, and I wrap my legs around his waist. “Now that you’re all mine, what am I going to do with you?”

“I think we can think of a couple of things.” I give him a flirtatious look.

* * *

“Sorry, Sapphire, in you go.”

Nikolai pushes me into the back of yet another windowless van. I’m sitting with the other girls as we move location again. I have never been so happy to be away from him. Last night he made me perform for him and Dmitri while the girls entertained some clients. I’m making myself sick with this façade; I hate him, he disgusts me. If I knew I could stab him in his sleep and not be killed in the process, I would. If I could put a bullet through Dmitri’s head, I would.

“Are you okay? We haven’t seen you in a couple of days,” Jade says, and I can see the worried looks on their faces.

“Where’s Gracie?” Ruby asks. “She isn’t here?”

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