Chapter 1 #4
From my cursory look, there were several binders of records.
“If you’d allow me, there’s a folder we keep of all the women that the Asamire buy from us.
I like to keep it updated should anything ever go south, just so I have a record of everything.
I know it’s old-fashioned to keep files that way, but it’s always seemed safer to me rather than keeping everything on a computer that can be hacked.
At least if I ever get raided down here, I could just destroy them and no one would ever be the wiser,” he continued.
“Which one?”
“The red one,” he replied, and I snorted.
“Fitting,” I said.
“I’d like to think so,” he smirked.
“Stay where you are. I’d like to not have to kill you,” I warned, and he nodded once. He folded his hands together and put them on the table. I pushed myself up from my seat and made my way to the shelf, quickly finding the binder he’d mentioned, and brought it back with me to the table.
“If my memory serves me correctly, they took her only a few weeks ago. It should be toward the front, as I sort it from most recent to oldest,” he explained.
I flipped it open and started thumbing through it. There were an alarming number of women, and this was only a small piece of it.
“This is just the ones that the Asamire took from you?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said.
“Lots of money to be made with the bodies of women,” I replied flatly. He was smart enough not to respond, but we both knew the truth.
I stopped when I came upon the face of my sister.
“We brought her here and had her examined by a doctor I trust. Whenever we find a virgin, we are to report to the Asamire. On the few pages of Irina’s file there, you’ll find a picture of her and the others they took from us that day.
There’s another page with an acquisition contract signed by Banu himself.
He has her,” he explained. I took several minutes to look over the paperwork.
I confirmed everything he said. There was a picture of half a dozen women along with her at the center.
“They were especially excited about Irina Kotova. Banu especially has a taste for women of her descent. He sampled a taste of her blood and visited me personally about her,” Vinny continued.
“How do I know you’re telling me the truth, and this isn’t just some grand scheme?”
“My phone is in my pocket. I recorded the conversation. Let me play it for you,” he offered.
“Stand up and take it out. If I think you’re playing me, I’ll shoot you. I don’t miss,” I demanded.
He nodded and followed my directions. He carefully avoided the gun in the holster in his belt and reached into his pocket.
He pulled it out slowly and placed it on the table before he sat back down.
He made sure to keep both hands above the table after that and casually pushed a few buttons on his phone.
I watched, ensuring that he wasn’t calling anyone.
The sound of a man came over the speaker and I sat back and listened.
The voice had a thick accent, possibly Russian or Eastern European himself, but it was hard to tell. I recognized Vinny as well as the two began to speak about several women together. I was only partially listening when I finally heard my sister’s name.
“Irina Kotova is mine. I want her. For your time and effort in her acquisition, I offer you a boon of five million, just for her,” Banu offered.
“And the rest?” Vinny answered.
“Ten million for all the ones we discussed,” Banu replied.
“These ones must be special to you,” Vinny said cautiously.
“They are. I am on the hunt for more virginal females. Keep up the good work. I expect to see more with your next batch.”
“Of course. It was a pleasure doing business with you, Banu.”
“As with you.”
The recording cut off after that.
“That’s everything I have, Natalia,” Vinny offered with a sad smile. “What will you do now?”
“You’ve been very helpful, Vinny. I think you and I can come to an agreement of sorts that doesn’t involve your death,” I responded softly.
“I would appreciate that,” he grinned.
“I’m going to take this with me,” I said and pointed to the binder.
“Understandable,” he agreed.
“Pass me your phone,” I instructed and when he did, I sent myself the recording and programmed my number into his phone.
“You and I are going to be allies. If you hear anything from Banu, I want to know about it. His whereabouts, if he comes for more girls. No matter how insignificant a detail, I want to know. If I find out you neglected to inform me of anything, I will kill you.”
“Got it.”
“Additionally, I want you to start spreading a rumor about a new badass in town. I want you to tell them that I killed everyone here in this room aside from you. You will leave out my name however,” I demanded.
He nodded one final time.
“I’ve never met anyone like you,” he whispered.
“Nor will you again,” I answered boldly.
“To next time,” he said, while picking up a glass of whiskey. He held it up in the air and took a big swig before I slipped out of the room and escaped from the lower confines of the Tropicana.