Page 94 of Sinner's Sacrifice
She focused on his aunt, and something told her she needed to give a detailed explanation before Yvgeny’s aunt was going to believe her. “I got pregnant when I was eighteen, but something went wrong right after the first trimester. The baby died inside me. I didn’t know, and it took a while for things to become obvious. And when I say obvious, I mean me damn near bleeding out on my bathroom floor. By the time I got to a hospital, I was on death’s door and had a massive infection in my uterus. They had to remove it, or I would have died.”
She took in another breath. “Allow me to repeat that to ensure there are no misunderstandings. I do not have a uterus.”
She gave them a moment to process her information bomb shell, then added, “So, all of you can just fuck off.”
Yvgeny’s aunt drew herself up. “I would like to speak with you about your...history. Perhaps there are things that could be done.”
“No,” Sam said, like it was the last nail in the coffin lid. “You and your guys, and all these other out-of-towners showed up here thinking you could take whatever you wanted. Well, you can’t have something that will never exist.”
There was a long pause.
“She’s still valuable,” the guy on the floor said. “Name your price, Anna.” He spoke to Yvgeny’s aunt.
“I am not for sale, you arrogant asshole,” Sam said. Anger set her blood boiling.
“Or sell us the other woman,” the asshole said as if he were negotiating a real estate sale.
Next to her, Nika hissed. “Son of a bitch.”
Sam looked at her. “Is he talking about you?”
“Probably,” Nika said, one hand on the butt of her gun. “But I want to know if this is connected to the human trafficking ring the task force I’m on is investigating, or if it’s unrelated.”
“We do not trade or sell people,” Yvgeny’s aunt said in the coldest tone Sam had ever heard in her life.
The Brit barked out a bitter laugh. “Your high standards are only going to make your family extinct faster. We are dying out,” he said, his voice getting louder and louder until the last word was a shout.
“You moron,” Yvgeny growled. “Your actions have jeopardized the safety and secrecy of all of us.”
“There’s more to these people than I thought,” Brian said softly. “Like it’s some kind of dispute between members of an international crime ring?”
“If you enjoy breathing,” Nika said as softly. “Keep that to yourself.”
He looked at her, disappointment and disgust crossing his face for a second before he schooled his features into his polite mask.
“Here’s some friendly advice,” Nika told him. “Don’t jump to conclusions until you have all the facts.”
“Do you have all the facts?” Brian asked.
“No, but I know enough.”
“Enough for what?” the FBI agent asked, crossing his arms over his chest and turning to face Nika.
“Trust,” she responded, with no hesitation. “I trust Baz.”
Brian grunted, then looked at Sam. “Do you trust Yvgeny?”
A string of moments passed through her mind. Yvgeny’s angry and worried expression when he confronted her and the scum bag she’d followed out of the hotel. The desire and need on his features when he’d caged her between his hands on the elevator. The rage and concern in every muscle of his body when he opened the door of the secure truck/ambulance. The ecstasy when he climaxed inside her.
“Yes,” she said, surprising herself a little. “I trust him.” She looked at the young FBI agent. “I don’t understand half of what’s going on here, but—” She glanced at the screen again. “His actions tell me he’s a good man.”
Brian looked from Nika to Sam, then shook his head. “I’m going to get fired,” he muttered.
“By who?” Nika asked with a hard edge to her voice.
“By everybody.” He ran one hand through his hair. “I don’t know what the hell is going on, but none of it is normal.” He glared at Nika. “They’re talking about extinction, like they’re some kind of new species of human.”
“It could be a cultural thing,” Sam suggested. “Or they all have the same fetish.”