I tilt my head, studying him.
His eyes are wild, darting between me, my men, and the door, as if he thinks he can make it.
"Maybe you did give me everything," I say.
He exhales, relief washing over his face.
"But if you live," I continue, "how many more girls will you take?"
His mouth opens, but no sound comes out.
I shrug and pull out my gun.
"I don't know," I say and run the barrel against my temple like I'm scratching an itch, "but I know exactly how many you'll take if I pull this trigger."
"No, wait."
BANG.
The shot echoes through the room as his head snaps back. Blood sprays across the couch, the wall, the floor.
He slumps sideways, his body twitching as bright red flows from the hole in his forehead.
I holster my gun and turn toward the door.
Victor is waiting in the hallway, his phone pressed to his ear. He glances at me as I step out, his expression unreadable.
"S-a terminat?" he asks.
I nod. "He's dead."
We start walking back down the hall.
"I've got someone working on the clearance," he says. "We'll need diplomatic cover. Fake credentials. Maybe an invitation to the summit. It's going to take some time, but I can make it happen."
"Before the auction next week?"
He nods. "I won't rest until we're there."
I follow him down the hallway, stepping over the broken door and out into the cold night air.
The car is waiting, the engine idling. I slide into the backseat, and Victor gets in on the other side.
The driver pulls away from the curb, and the building disappears behind us, our men in the SUVs following closely behind.
I stare out the window, my hands resting on my knees.
If the Volkov’s do use this place, then whoever I meet there will know about Elena, and I can use them as leverage to get her back.
No matter what it takes.
6
ELENA
Istare at myself in the mirror, at the girl trapped inside the glass. My hair is swept up in an elaborate twist that pulls at my scalp, and the dress cinches my waist until breathing becomes a conscious effort. Diamonds glitter at my wrists, cold and too tight, and his stupid emerald collar sits heavy against my throat.
It's day one of a three-day event here at Château d'Éclipse.