Chapter 1
Sofia's POV
That crystal chandelier overhead blazed with blinding light, making this group of scumbags look like angels. FUCK, how ironic.
2 AM in the VIP section of Vegas's most badass underground casino, and everyone was staring at me. I hated this feeling, but I had to pretend I loved it.
"To Sofia! Our money tree!" Viktor Reeves raised his champagne. "Two million in one night—DAMN, new record!"
This pack of well-dressed criminals and their trophy girlfriends started clapping. My facial muscles tensed as I forced out a fake smile.
You bastards, if I wasn't being forced into this, who the hell would want to put on this act with you?
"Thank you." I took the champagne, my fingers trembling slightly. Those psychology professors at Berkeley would probably die of rage if they saw me like this now.
Viktor Reeves put his rough hand on my shoulder. His cologne was so strong it made me want to puke.
"My little genius," he said, his Russian accent thicker now. "You're living proof that psychology is deadlier than bullets."
I nodded, continuing the performance. "People always reveal their weaknesses, you just have to know how to listen."
That part was actually true. The first thing I learned at Berkeley, back before my life went completely to hell—before I went from being human to being a money-making tool. Now I used that knowledge to find rich men's soft spots, make them fall head over heels for me, willingly empty their wallets.
"Two million! The queen strikes again!" some guy shouted, raising his glass.
I glanced at Tony Smith in the corner. This guy was like a stone—never smiled, never pretended to like me. As Viktor's bodyguard, he looked at me like I was already dead. Under that black suit was nothing but muscle, and those black eyes made my skin crawl.
SHIT, I quickly looked away. Tony always made me feel like he knew everything, knew all my inner fears.
"Speech! Speech!" the crowd started chanting.
I raised my glass with a slight smile. "To human weakness. To the great Reeves family!"
These idiots laughed their asses off, completely unaware that what I'd just said included them too.
Viktor's fingers dug painfully into my shoulder. "So young, so smart," he said. "That's why you're my—"
The music suddenly stopped.
The instant silence made the air freeze. Everyone looked like they'd been hit with a pause button, glasses suspended mid-air, smiles frozen on faces.
BANG!
The heavy double doors were violently shoved open, the crash against the wall so loud it made my eardrums ache.
A man burst in like an enraged beast—tall, dark-haired, with the same ice-blue eyes as Viktor, but burning with intense fury.
Then I saw the gun.
The black barrel pointed straight at my heart.
"Nobody FUCKING move!" he roared, his voice making the glasses tremble. Security immediately drew their weapons, turning the whole room into a deadly standoff. "Anyone moves an inch and I'll blow this bitch's head off!"
Viktor's hand slipped off my shoulder. "Alexei? Have you lost your mind?"
My blood instantly turned to ice.
Alexei? The documentary filmmaker I'd been seducing for the past three weeks? That gentle, considerate rich boy?
His eyes locked onto mine, hatred like poison ready to drown me.
"Ask your perfect little weapon," he sneered, "ask her what kind of game she's been playing for three weeks."
No, no, no. This couldn't be happening.
I never knew his last name. Never knew he was—
"Who taught you to seduce multiple men at the same time?" Each word shot at me like a bullet. "Was it this old bastard who taught you?"
The world started spinning. I felt my stomach churning.
"I... I didn't know..." I stammered.
"Didn't know WHAT?" Alexei roared, veins bulging on his face. "Didn't know I'm Viktor Reeves's SON?"
A collective gasp echoed through the room. Viktor stepped forward, his face ashen. "Jesus... you're her target?"
Alexei finally shifted his murderous gaze from me to his father.
"Surprise!" Alexei snarled. "Your psychological weapon has been working me for weeks. What did you want? Money? Or just to humiliate me?"
Viktor walked toward his son, hand extended. "Put the gun down, son. This really is a misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?" Alexei let out a harsh laugh. "Like your DAMN criminal empire is a misunderstanding? You know what she told me? Said she was writing her PhD dissertation on trauma victims. How fucking IRONIC!"
I stood there, completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard against my chest that each beat felt like it might explode.
Viktor's face darkened. "Alexei, you don't understand the situation."
"I understand PERFECTLY!" Alexei shouted, his finger tightening on the trigger. "How many people have you destroyed with these dirty tactics? Now you won't even spare your own son?"
The air was thick enough to cut. I watched father and son glare at each other across the gaming table.
Then before I could react, I felt a gust of wind behind me. Tony's hand clamped around my upper arm like a steel trap, expressionlessly dragging me backward.
"Boss?" Tony said coldly. "Orders?"
Viktor didn't look at me. His attention was entirely on his son. "Take her to the back. I'll handle this... family matter."
Suddenly, my legs gave out and I collapsed to the floor.
"PLEASE!" I grabbed Viktor's pants leg, tears instantly streaming down my face. "I really didn't know! I swear I didn't know he was your son!"
Viktor looked down at me, his eyes cold as if looking at trash. "Let go."
I turned to Alexei, my eyes desperately pleading. When he saw me kneeling on the floor, he froze completely.
Anger? Hatred? Or... pain?
"WAIT!" Alexei suddenly shouted, raising the gun again, but this time not at me—at Viktor. "Dad, STOP!"
Viktor turned around, his eyes becoming dangerous. "Alexei, stay out of this."
"FUCK, she's a victim too! This isn't her FAULT!"
"She's a defective tool," Viktor said coldly. "Should be disposed of."
"She's not a tool! She's a PERSON!" Alexei lunged forward a step. "If you really care about me, let her go!"
Viktor's face grew terrifyingly dark. He gestured to his security.
"Enough."
Instantly, four men charged at Alexei from different directions. Alexei raised his gun, but he couldn't handle this many trained bodyguards alone.
"Let her GO!" Alexei shouted while resisting. "Sofia, I'm SORRY!"
One guard grabbed him from behind while another wrestled away his gun. Alexei struggled desperately, his eyes never leaving me.
"Don't do this to her! She didn't do anything WRONG!"
Viktor slapped his son across the face, the sound so loud the entire room heard it. "You've disgraced our family name!"
"I'd rather be disgraced than become a monster like YOU!" Alexei struggled and roared.
"Get him out of here!" Viktor bellowed. "Lock him up!"
The guards started dragging Alexei toward the door. He fought all the way, never taking his eyes off me.
"Sofia! I'll find a way!" His voice grew more distant. "I SWEAR!"
The door slammed shut. The room returned to deathly silence.
Viktor looked down at me. "Now, no one can save you."
Tony grabbed my hair and forcibly hauled me to my feet. The sharp pain made me scream.
"NO! DON'T!" I struggled desperately, my nails scraping against the floor with a piercing sound.
But Viktor had already turned away, starting to talk to the others as if I no longer existed.
Tony dragged me toward that door I feared most, like dragging a dead dog.
NO! NO! God, HELP ME!