Probably not, but there was nothing more he could do about it at the moment. “Yeah.”
“Who were you talking to?”
“The Valkyries.”
Her eyes lit with amusement as she crossed the room to him, her mere presence reducing all the static buzzing around in his head. Without her, he would still be an obsessive workaholic. Grace, and everything they’d been through together, had taught him what was truly important in life—family, and friends who had become family. It was the reason he’d decided to step back from his job and phase into retirement.
“Really. And what’s up with them?” she asked.
“I don’t know. But something.”
Trying to smother a grin and failing miserably, Grace slid into his lap and looped her arms around his neck. “I love that you care so much about them.”
He grunted. “Remember how much dark hair I still had when we met? Now look at me. They’ve aged me prematurely,” he grumbled.
She made a soft, purring sound and stroked her fingers through his hair, the scrape of her nails on his scalp sending tingles down his spine. “I should thank them, then. Because now you’re a silver fox.”
He chuckled at that, stroking a hand up her back as he gazed up at her. “God, I hope they stay out of trouble this time.”
“But they probably won’t.”
“No.” And he was worried that he wouldn’t be able to protect them this time. “Guess I’m going to have to make an unscheduled trip to London in the near future.”
****
Luka set his cutlery down on the fine china plate bearing the dinner his private chef had made for him, and glanced at his chiming work phone. An expensive, heavily encrypted piece of tech he changed weekly to mitigate the risk of being tracked.
A new order had just come in. From a previous client he’d worked with once before.
The specs given this time were impressively detailed and exact.
Biracial female—half Black, half white—mid-thirties. Five-six to five-ten, hundred-thirty to hundred-sixty pounds. And hot, which went without saying.
The guy definitely knew what he wanted, and had the money to back up the request. Luka typed back a response. Might take a while to find a target that matches.
Fine. Would rather wait and get what I want.
Okay with him. Any specific area you had in mind? This buyer was specific enough with everything else that he might have a preference for that. If not, it didn’t matter. Two of his guys were on call twenty-four-seven, ready to head out and scout for potential targets wherever he sent him.
Moseley area, Birmingham. Saw a woman there the other day I’d be interested in. He attached a picture.
Though unexpected, singling out a particular woman made Luka’s life that much easier. He’d already expanded his area of operations into London, but he had to be careful not to go too big to soon. Eventually he would branch out wider, maybe somewhere outside the UK. Got it. Will get someone on this and get back to you.
Pulling up another text, he scrolled through a list of pictures one of his guys had sent this afternoon. Potential targets for another client who wanted a thirty-something blonde MILF with big tits.
He dismissed the first three women after only a quick glance. Not hot enough. Numbers four to seven were better. But number eight… He’d do her.
He called Will. “Number eight from that batch. Where is she?”
“Hampstead. Commutes into the financial district for work. She’s an investment banker in London.”
So she worked and lived in London. That would make it easier to track her. “Family status?”
“Living with a guy, but doesn’t wear a ring. Not sure if they’re married.”
They’d have to do careful surveillance to figure out the easiest time to grab her. “Got a pick-up location in mind?” London was one of the most heavily surveilled cities on earth, making it hard to pull off a kidnapping without leaving video or photo evidence. As a result they didn’t take many targets from there, but the money offered in this case made the risk worthwhile.
It was crazy how much some men were willing to pay to buy the embodiment of their fantasies, and Luka was already on his way to being a rich man because of it. Turned out that old adage about whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger was real.
His life had gone to shit for a while after the Julia Green job. He’d been destitute. For months and months he’d scrambled to get from one day to the next, never knowing where he would lay his head at night, or where his next meal was coming from.
Then he’d met Elena. He’d fallen hard for her. Would have done anything and killed anyone for her. Then she had betrayed him and crushed his soul last year, nearly getting him killed in the process. For a while the pain of it, the heartbreak of losing her had made him want to die.
Now he understood that she had done him a huge favor. She’d taught him the truth. Women could never be trusted. They were all liars and manipulators, and no man in his right mind would ever give his heart to one.
But he’d gotten his revenge.
Elena had been his first capture and sale. Since then, he’d used everything he’d learned from her and the underground criminal world to build his new business. Making a killing off buying and selling women in the skin trade, and so far the cops hadn’t come near him. Another few months of work here, then he’d go somewhere else and set up shop there. Somewhere warm this time. Maybe the Balkans.
“She takes an art class every Tuesday night after work,” Will said. “The studio’s in a good spot for us. Narrow alley with two entrances. Fairly dark there at night, and not a lot of traffic around.”
Two days from now. Perfect. “Keep me posted. And we just got another job in Birmingham. I need you to start on this tomorrow. Specific target requested this time. I’ll send you the info.”
Slipping his phone into his pants pocket, he stood and walked for the dining room doorway. His bodyguard fell in step with him as he entered the hall. “Where are we going?” the man asked in Russian.
“The warehouse. Got a new shipment in I need to inspect. How’s your father doing today?”
The bodyguard’s expression softened. “He’s getting surgery tomorrow, thanks to you. We’re all incredibly grateful.”
Luka waved the thanks away, uncomfortable. For the few people he trusted and displayed unwavering loyalty to him, he was protective and generous. Finding people like that was rare, and more valuable than diamonds. This business was risky, and he had many rivals along with a list of enemies he’d earned along the way.
Paying for private surgery to remove a cancerous bowel lesion for the family member of his most trusted employee was nothing compared to what he got in return. “I’ll keep him and your family in my prayers.”
Yeah, he still prayed. Although he was pretty sure God had stopped listening to a sinner like him long ago.
If this new woman being kept at the warehouse met all the criteria his client wanted and passed the physical inspection Luka did personally with each target, he would set up the meeting location for the transfer. After that, it was only a matter of waiting for the wire transfer to go through with payment in full.
As soon as his men delivered the product, the transaction was complete. He didn’t know what happened to the women after that, and he didn’t care. As soon as one job was completed, it was right on to the next one.