Page 3 of Avenging Azalea

Once more, I searched the mostly barren space for something off. But other than the few guards stationed at the doors and the two who walked in with us, there was no sign of a threat.

“Let me alter that. We have your payment, but it’s not in the way of funds.”

My men shuffled behind me, pulling their guns. I held up my hand, telling them to stand down as my eyes bounced from one Mancini head to the next.

“Stop playing games, and tell me what you mean. If you don’t, I’ll leave right now and tell my father that you reneged on the payment.”

“As I mentioned before…we were expecting Dimitri,” Cesare said, looking at Saul. He rose and walked across the room to what looked like a box covered in a sheet. Gripping the material, he pulled it off. A girl was curled up in the back corner of the cage.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing as I pointed at the obviously terrified teenager.

“What the fuck is this?”

“The man who lost to your father never should’ve been allowed to play or to lose as much as he did. There was a technical oversight.”

“And this is our fucking problem, how?”

“When we went to collect…he didn’t have the cash, the house was worthless, and he had no other assets to sell off. So, we took his daughter as payment.”

“You what?” I yelled, setting Bella and Daisy off. They began to growl low, their bodies tensing. “Have you all lost your fucking minds? You want to give us a girl?” The anger inside of me was instant, and my voice echoed off the walls in the open space.

“Titus, please spare us the infuriated display. We both know that your father will happily take a beautiful sixteen-year-old in lieu of the money owed. He has very particular tastes, and she ticks all the boxes. Brunette, petite, young, and willing to do whatever is needed to save her family from death.”

Cesare waved his hand at me like I was the one being ridiculous as he picked up his drink. My teeth ground together. Not only was this insulting, but my mind was suddenly racing. Had others paid off debts this way? My mind went to the girls my father flaunted around. I’d never suspected they weren’t willingly with him, but now…now, I wasn’t so sure.

“So, let me see if I understand this correctly. You fuck up and let a man who doesn’t have two cents to rub together into your high-stakes poker game. He loses to my father, and instead of fronting the money in his stead and having him work it off, you kidnap his daughter and use her as payment. Do I have that right?”

“You make it sound worse than it is.” Cesare walked over to the cage, but the girl didn’t shy away when he opened the door. “Come on, my dear, let’s show Mr. Mikhailov what he’s getting.”

The girl crawled out and slowly stood. She was dressed like any other teen, and for all I knew, they’d swiped her off the streets and slapped the debtor's name on her. Jeans with rips that I didn’t think were just fashion adorned her legs, and an extra-large hoodie made her seem even more petite. She kept her eyes down, her long hair hiding most of her features as he grabbed her arm and escorted her closer.

“Ryadom,” I said. Bella and Daisy took the cue and stepped back, relaxing.

Cesare walked the girl right up to me. Her hands stayed clasped in front of her as she lifted her chin to look up. She was stunning, and I could see where she would be exquisite as she got older and grew out of the gangly teenage stage. Cesare was right. My father would’ve taken her in a heartbeat and kept her like a prize before he destroyed her innocence. I glared over at Cesare, pissed that I was being put in this position.

“And if your father doesn’t want her…I’m sure if you put her on the market, she will make back the money in no time.”

My hand curled into a fist, but I kept myself in check. “You want me to turn her into a sex worker?”

Cesare again shrugged. “What you decide is up to you. I’m merely offering suggestions.”

“And what if I refuse?”

Cesare sat down again and picked up his cigar. He took a few puffs and blew the smoke into the air. “Then I will put her to work to pay off her father’s debt and send installments. Should only take until she’s thirty before she’s free.”

I’d never known the Mancini family to be involved in human trafficking, but not hearing about it and it not happening were two different things. I glanced down at the girl again as Daisy stepped forward and nudged her hand. She rubbed Daisy’s snout, her small hand looking even smaller next to the massive head. She had a pixie quality to her in the way she moved.

Son of a bitch. This was the epitome of a rock and a hard place. My decision was made when Bella stepped forward, jealous that Daisy was getting all the attention. Instead of being frightened, the girl smiled and kneeled. She cooed softly to my dogs, and there was no way I could let her end up in a sex ring. I’d never fucking forgive myself.

“What’s your name,” I asked, and her big green eyes turned up to me.

“Fawn,” she said, her voice as sweet as she looked.

“And your last name?”

“I’m a Rayburn, but my stepfather is a Carmichael. He’s the one that owes the money.”

“Is that true,” I asked, looking at Cesare.