Billie and the Russian Beast - Theodora Taylor Page 0,5

account’s accumulated nearly thirty thousand dollars.

I’d been planning on giving the money to Natalie if Clem didn’t find a way to pay his child support before that, but I’d be willing to pay some of that toward this if it meant getting my brother out of danger.

“Three hundred thousand dollars,” the Russian answers.

I’m glad I refused to take the drink. If I had, it would be flying from my mouth right now.

“He lost that much in one poker hand?”

Cheslav shrugs. “It is not called high-stakes for nothing. And I always bet big, not little.”

I shake my head. “I can’t…I can’t pay that. That’s worth more than my house.”

“I believe you are making wrong comparison here.” Cheslav steps closer to me. His demeanor going from amused to menacing in a hot second. “Is that amount worth more than your brother’s life? That is the real question you should be asking.”

Horror ices through me, and I struggle to show a calm composure. “You’d kill him? Over money? I mean, you’re a hockey player. Killing people who owe you money can’t be a good look.”

“You are correct, I am merely a hockey player,” he agrees with a cool nod. “But I am also a man with a certain reputation. These games of mine…they are extremely exclusive. Trust is very necessary. Yet, your brother slipped past my background check. So will I kill him?”

Cheslav casts his eyes to the side as if honestly considering my question. “No, of course, I will not do that. But a month from now, will he suffer an unfortunate accident that ends his career and makes it so he cannot walk for the rest of his life—one that the authorities will assure you has nothing to do with me?”

He shrugs again, but lets me know, “That is for certain.”

For a moment. For several moments, I am unable to speak. Fear crawls up my spine, while I grasp for my voice.

But I’m still the same Billie who scraped up enough money to get her brother the rest of the way through college and changed her life for the better.

I make my voice strong to point out, “That’s insane. This is an illegal game. Completely unsanctioned. And you’re a professional hockey player, and if I go to the press with your threats…”

“Yes, I’m professional hockey player,” he agrees, somehow looking both amused and bored. “Very famous. Very well-liked and sought after by many women. Also, my family is very powerful. Here, and back in Russia. So if you go to press with claim they will either not believe you or my very powerful family will make sure story never sees light of day. Either way, my threat will be promise made true while your threats are nothing but little nips at my heels.”

Once again, I find myself struggling to swallow. I want to fight. I want to figure out a way of my brother owing this monster so much money. But at the end of the day, I don’t think he’s bluffing. About his family or what he’ll do to my brother if that debt isn’t paid.

“Okay,” I whisper. “I’ll sell my house. I’ll get you the money.”

He crooks his head, the amused look coming back over his face, but not reaching his eyes. “Do you really think you’ll have enough time to come up with this money before your brother’s unfortunate accident?”

I blink and translate. “So you’re saying I only have a month to come up with this money or Clem gets hurt?”

“Or five days,” he answers.

I scrunch my forehead, not understanding. “It’s going to take me more than five days for me to get my hands on that kind of money.”

A beat of silence passes. Then he stares at me with an unwavering intensity as he says, “Or you could give me something I want in that five days. Something worth this amount of money.”

My heart stutters in warning but somehow I manage to ask, “What do I have that would be worth that much money to you?”

He picks up his drink and takes a sip. “You. For five days. Doing whatever I want, however I want it, until it is time for you to go.” He gazes at me over the rim of his glass. “I would consider this a fair exchange.”

Chapter Four

My breath catches as his words rock through me. Did he…?

My pulse flutters madly. I have the silly urge to look over both shoulders. Did he really just ask for me to spend five days with