Bad Move, Uncle. You Sent Your Princess to the Mob… Now Your Queen Runs It Novel

Chapter 2 One month ago. After Everett's right-hand man, Vince, brought Skylar to the border, he handed her over directly to the camp boss, Dragon. Dragon was dragging Skylar toward the iron cages when someone intercepted them. It was the head of the Live-Stream Unit, Cain. Dragon nodded. "Hey, Cain." Cain pointed at Skylar. "Clean her up. She's going on stage in an hour." Dragon hesitated. "Boss, she just got 'broken in' by the boys. She's covered in bruises. It ain't pretty. Want a different one?" Cain scowled and kicked Dragon hard in the gut. "Stop whining!

Half the recent shipment is either dead or buried-she's the only one left with a decent face. Her file says she did ballet. Put her in the dance line." Dragon nodded frantically. "Got it. I'll get it done." Skylar was dragged to a dressing room, hosed down, and caked in makeup. She stared at the stranger in the mirror. Her once-perfect skin was a roadmap of trauma, with a jagged scar running from her eyebrow down to her chin. That was a souvenir from her first failed escape attempt when she was whipped nearly to death. Back then, the pain in her eye was so intense she thought it would pop.

She thought she was going blind. Her hands-the hands Everett used to hold so gently-had been stripped of their fingernails, the tips still scarred from where they'd driven steel needles under the skin. She had stopped trying to run after that. Skylar was fitted with a wig and a mask to hide the damage, then lined up with a group of other girls. Cain stood in front of them, his voice a low growl. "When you go in there, keep your mouths shut. Just dance. If anyone tries to play hero or pull a stunt, you know what happens." Skylar knew.

In the Zone, "disobedient" women were passed around until they broke, then their organs were harvested and their remains tossed into the incinerator. She moved like a ghost, following the line out. Before entering the VIP suite, each girl was given an injection. Skylar tried to ask what it was, but she realized she couldn't make a sound. Cain saw her panic and smirked. "Big players in there tonight. Can't have you girls saying something you'll regret." They were led inside.

Skylar's heart nearly stopped when she saw him-Everett, sitting right in the center of the sofa, the undisputed king of the room. Her heart hammered against her ribs, she wanted to rip off her mask to let him see what they had done to her. But the moment she twitched, a mercenary in the corner leveled a rifle at her. She froze and began to dance. Everett leaned back, chatting idly with a business partner named Dorian. He wasn't holding a drink, he was peeling a mangosteen.

He finished peeling it and fed the fruit to Thalia, holding his hand out underneath her chin to catch the seeds as she spat them out. Dorian, the partner, chuckled at the sight. "Mr. Wilder, you and your lady are quite the pair." Everett actually smiled-a rare, genuine thing. He wiped his hands and pulled Thalia closer. "When you find something you thought you lost forever, you hold onto it tight." The room erupted in polite congratulations and toasts. Suddenly, someone piped up. "Hey, whatever happened to that girl, Skylar? She used to be your shadow.

Everywhere you went, she was right there." Everett's brow furrowed. It was as if he was only just remembering her existence. He signaled for the camp boss, Dragon. "It's been a month. Has Skylar learned some discipline yet? Bring her in." Dragon racked his brain before remembering the girl Everett's man had dropped off. He stepped forward, bowing his head. "Mr. Wilder, don't you worry. My men have been 'training' her thoroughly. I heard she was even screaming for you today." Dragon paused, then added, "But she's got a hell of a temper.

A few of my boys ended up in the infirmary because of her. She nearly took one guy's manhood off." He remembered her first day. Skylar had nearly torn the camp apart, demanding to be sent home. But nobody leaves the Zone in one piece. No matter how wild the horse, one needle makes them tame. After seven straight days of being "shared" by the guards, being tasered, and being beaten until she lost control, she hadn't mentioned "going home" again. Now, she was broken. The princess was gone. Hearing the description, Everett could practically see Skylar throwing a tantrum.

He had spoiled her so much that no one ever dared cross her. Of course she wouldn't take losing lightly. The partner, Dorian, looked concerned. "Everett, you raised that girl from a child. How could you send her to a place like this? This isn't a life for anyone. You aren't worried she'll break?" Everett flicked his lighter, watching the flame with an indifferent gaze. "I wanted her to see how hard the real world is for people. But if she's still out there hurting people, it sounds like she hasn't learned a damn thing." He looked up at Dragon.

"If she still hasn't found her manners, don't bother bringing her in. Get out." Dragon nodded quickly. "Of course, Mr. Wilder. Anything you need, just ask." He waved a hand to his men, signaling for the dancers to clear out. admin