Page 16 of Volatile Waters

Whitney. Nodding, I said, “Yes. I was there when she was born. April ninth.”

“Sounds like the date is burned into memory.”

How could it not be? The curse had been a fetus in her mother’s stomach when her mother was forced to take my virginity. And she had been an infant about to be born when her mother had been murdered right in front of me.

Mrs. Thompson squeezed my fingers again. “That date is burned into my soul.”

Her son’s death. I exhaled through a twitch of feeling in my chest. I didn’t like it.

Maybe she saw the opening—a glimpse of sympathy. “The people she is with, unfortunately, have not given her the most loving home. Please, leave her be. No more punishment for her.” I could hear the hope in Mrs. Thompson’s voice, to save one child, since another was tragically lost.

With all Seafoam’s child had been through, before even being born, my interest was piqued. “Where is she?” She shook her head, eyes full of worry. I squeezed her fingers back, hard. “Don’t make me show you the rough side of my fucks.”

Slap!

I sat there, stunned that this woman had the nerve to strike me.

Kirill laughed from the back seat. “No blood in the rental, Yury.”

Mrs. Thompson faked bravery. I could tell by her trembling voice. “That was rude.”

I touched my burning skin and smirked. “I’m the one being rude?”

“You don’t say those things to a woman after having sex with her.”

A disturbed chuckle escaped me. “I thought you said you knew who I was.”

She recoiled. “I feel like I just slept with the devil.”

“Only his spawn.” Aggressively, I leaned into her. “Now, where is Whitney?”

She swallowed. “Can you promise me she will live?”

“Shouldn’t you be more concerned for Junior?”

Her eyes slammed shut. “So young, yet already so cruel.”

My spine straightened as her words sizzled against a sensation I would eventually learn to be my growing conscious. I warned, “Don’t forget it.”

The vehicle came to a stop before Adrian turned to face me. “I do believe you two have built up an appetite. Let’s eat.”

We had arrived at a restaurant, but I still needed to know the whereabouts of Marina. “You guys, go in. Mrs. Thompson and I have more to discuss.”

While Kirill exited the SUV, he patted my shoulder. “Discussions? Is that what we’re calling it now?”

With everyone out and entering the local restaurant, except the two of us, I softly spoke to her. “Where is Marina?”

Mrs. Thompson rolled her eyes. “Of course, you know her name.” I waited. She exhaled, I believe, for many reasons. “As much as I despise her, she is not to blame. Harold treated her as if merely a toy.”

I was confused because that was Marina’s purpose. “But she is for his entertainment.”

Mrs. Thompson cringed. “Yury, she is human! How can you treat her with such disregard?” She grabbed at her chest with a desperation that lured me in. I watched her actions, completely intrigued. “We humans have hearts. We have emotions. We have souls. Ones you men are damaging with heinous crimes.”

“You speak as if you are a slave yourself.”

“Aren’t I, in a way? I mean, I sold this damaged soul of mine to the devil by standing by and watching, not turning anyone in.”

In a knee-jerk reaction, I grabbed her hair and the nape of her neck, yanking us face to face again. “That is a deadly threat.”