Page 9 of Stolen Dove
My mother’s illness made matters worse. I wouldn’t have taken the trip if she had not insisted on it. She might not approve of my life, but she understands it and loves how I’ve taken over my father’s empire while feeding him to the vultures.
Still, my mother deserved more than she had been given and I’ve tried to make up for the past, but some damage can’t be undone. Her father sold her like chattel to my father for rights to his vineyard.
My brother and I were the only children she had before miscarrying three more times. My father had six other children with his mistresses. I hate what he did to her, parading his little leftovers with his mistresses in her face. Most of my half siblings hated him as well because they were the bastard children who were only used to promote his virility. He wanted nothing to do with them, just like he hadn’t with us. Now, I own everything from both sides of the law and will one day have someone to pass it all down to, although that doesn’t look to be happening soon. At least, not soon enough for my mother.
If I ever marry, I’ll never betray my wife. Fuck that noise. The damage had killed my mother’s heart and ruined her happiness. With all my power and money, I can’t get her to take the treatment. She wants to go on her own terms, and I’m not ready for that. Being here and not by her side only brings my pain and rage to the forefront of my mind. I need to get this meeting over with and head back to Spain in the morning.
I send up a silent prayer that she’ll come to her senses and get the treatment she needs before it’s too late. My phone buzzes, and it’s a message from the woman. Stop worrying. I’m well. Do what you have to. Maybe meet a beautiful girl.
I shake my head and whisper, “How does she know?”
As the head of the Serrano family, I have an obligation to the organization to keep the empire running smoothly. I decided to up my own actions to show my strength.
“Your mother?” Fernando says, coming into the room.
“You know it.” I roll my eyes and then go back to adjusting my tie. “Is my pilot ready to go in the morning?” I ask.
“He’s ready as soon as you are. The plane has been refueled and stocked. Ernesto is sleeping with his phone in the hangar as he waits for your call.”
“Good. I don’t want to be here any longer than necessary.” I didn’t get more than a two-minute call from Avanti when I landed. “Avanti makes my stomach turn. He’s weak and troubled. Maybe I should have contacted one of the other families.”
The sound of footsteps stops all conversation, and then there’s a steady knock on the door. Fernando walks over and grabs the handle, opening the door just enough to look out. “Can I help you?” His tone is brisk with the guy.
“Signor Avanti has a message for Señor Serrano.” Fernando closes the door and then looks at me. I give him the nod to open it to one of Avanti’s men. I take him in, and he’s not as large as most of Avanti’s guards and most definitely not as large as Fernando or myself.
“Señor Serrano, Signor Avanti will see you in ten minutes, although he asks that you be informed of tonight’s festivities.”
“Festivities?” I’m not in the mood to celebrate shit. I want to do business, and that’s it. I made it clear that I had no interest in attending.
“Yes. This is the annual Virgin Sale.” My eyes widen, and rage slams hard into my chest. This fucker deals in that kind of business. Immediately, I’m ready to leave and say fuck the deal. I’ll find a different shipper.
“Virgin Sale?” He can see the disgust in my voice, so he continues quickly with a hint of annoyance.
“Yes. The party begins as the guests arrive. You can purchase one night with a virgin via their handlers. Guests are free to negotiate the deals and depart to participate in the transaction.”
“That’s fucking disgusting,” I bark out, causing the little guy to flinch. Good. Let him feel my wrath.
He gains his composure just enough to continue his warning. “It is a profitable business that Mr. Avanti would hate to have ruined. If you do not purchase a lady for the evening, that is fine, but no one is allowed to depart before midnight or before every female has been purchased. If you do purchase a woman, all sales are final.”
Who the fuck does he think he is?
“Where is Avanti now? I need to speak with him immediately.” I don’t wait a second before brushing past the man, storming out of my room and down the grand staircase with my man and his following behind me. I already know where to find the bastard. He’s in his office surrounded by two of his men, sitting down in his chair with his feet kicked up on his desk. Damn, what a fool. I could have unloaded on him from that position, even with his guards. They barely move when I enter the room. They should have flinched. Fernando would have been prepared and had his gun out on someone’s head.
“Hello, Avanti. Can we discuss business privately?”
He drops his feet off his desk and then grabs his glass. “This is as private as it gets for now. You look a little heated, Serrano. Why don’t you have a drink and settle down?”
“I’ll pass on the drink and the pussy. I thought this was a party and not a prostitution ring,” I bark out while Avanti straightens his tie. Two of his men stand guard, eyeing me as if I’m a threat. I am, but I’m not stupid enough to do it without a plan. I might not like Avanti, but I have no reason to end his life—yet. Anyone that messes with my business isn’t left to talk about it, and should anything go wrong tonight, I will kill him easily.
He leans back in his chair, smug as possible while holding a glass of cheap scotch without a care in the world, rankling me even more. “Relax, Serrano. These women are here on their own accord. They want money, and we want pussy. Don’t you?”
Unlike this sick bastard, I have standards, and that doesn’t include paying for sex. The man has a wife, but I bet he’d screw as many of these women as he could. He’s just like my father, and that turns my disgust to hatred quickly. “I have no interest in participating in this. I don’t pay for pussy. I came to talk about my exports and nothing more.”
My temper’s hot. I’m on the cusp of telling him the fuck off, but it’s not wise at this juncture. “We have time to discuss this in the morning. You can stay in your room for the night if you don’t want to spend some pocket change, but I assure you some of these little morsels are worth the money.”
Fury rips through me. My time is money, and here I am wasting time. This fucker believes that he can get me to stay like I’m not the head of my own family. I’ll cancel the deal and shoot this prick in the face when he’s least expecting it. I don’t care if I lose the money. Never once have I had moral qualms when it comes to the people I deal with, but something about this whole selling of a barely legal girl’s virginity makes my stomach churn.
“I’ll be in my room.” I walk out of the office without another look at that poor excuse for a man, and then catch something out of the corner of my eye. The party has already started with well-dressed people all around. I can’t hide my disgust until I see her.