Thirty Nine.

I avert my gaze from the men seated around the enormous table as I sit beside Aydem. Voices are being raised, hands banging against the table and guns visibly on display in a threatening manner.

Twenty minutes ago we entered the bar and was immediately escorted to the back as the Mc Carthy family were waiting for us.

"When you drink here, Aydem, I look the other way." The Irish Don grumbles. "Do not assume I am unaware that you are Sedar Ozturk's cousin."

"I didn't come here to start trouble with you. Instead, I have come here with some news about your son and if you'll let the lady talk, she'll tell you everything you need to know." Aydem replies calmly.

I peer up just in time to see Mr Mc Carthys features change into a scowl. "Why would I believe anything from an Esposito who-"

Aydem slams his open hand against the table, causing it to shake and I flinch with shock. "Finish that sentence and you'll never know where your sons body rests."

Something in the air quickly shifts, multiple tones of growls echo in the room and Mr Mc Carthy shoots up out of his chair, causing it to topple over.

"What did you just say?" His body shakes with anger.

I look at Aydem, gulping as he meets my gaze and nods his head. I shift my focus to Mr Mc Carthys.

"I'm so sorry." My voice is drenched in remorse. "But, Aydem speaks the truth. Your son is dead." I quickly breathe out.

"And how do you know this?"

I take a deep breath, knowing what I'm about to say will potentially end my life and if me getting shot in the head will give Aydem the advantage he needs to find our son...

I don't know why I'm sitting here second-guessing my confession.

"Because I'm the one that shot him," I speak loud and clear.

The sound of chairs crashing to the floor and guns being primed fills the dimly lighted room, and I remain seated with my head raised high, bracing myself for my punishment as many guns are pointing at my head.

"How dare you bring this savage into my home!" Mr Mc Carthy bellows as his mouth froths with spit.

Aydem sighs, rising to his feet also. "She was tricked. Trent was behind your son's death and Mila wanted to come here and tell you herself. Some respect would go a long way." His voice is raspy as he stands up for my honour

Mr Mc Carthy regains his composure immediately, nods to his men, and they return their firearms to their vests and take a seat.

"Accept my apologies, Miss..?"

"Starkk," I reply.

"Miss Starkk," he finishes as he continues to stand.

I glance up at Aydem who's still standing, he peers down at me and nods, giving me the all-clear to tell them what went down.

"Trent likes to exploit me to a world full of crime, sexual abuse and violence," I begin to explain, looking down at my hands on the table and I feel Aydems gaze on me as he settles back into his chair.

"One of his punishments was for me to hold a gun to your sons head. He told me there were no bullets inside the gun, that I was using it as a scare tactic to make him talk. I pulled the trigger twice before a bullet pierced your sons head. Trent was playing Russian roulette with your son's life and I didn't know who he was until after I had pulled the trigger." I raise my eyes to meet his as they glaze over with grief.

"I'm sorry. I am also sorry for the man I stabbed in an alleyway when he attempted to rape me, igniting the war between you, and, for the men, I shot at when you ambushed us on our way home from the hospital." Throughout my sincere apology, my voice stays strong.

After a few beats of the room being deathly silent, he stumbles back into his chair with his eyes glancing in my direction. However, I have the distinct impression that he is staring straight through me as he attempts to process the torrent of information I have dumped on him.

"What did they do with his body?" He says in a husky tone, swallowing back the pain that engulfs him. "Did they burn it?"

"No, they buried him, along with the gun I used to shoot him with, in the basement above the hidden tunnel via which they import and export their shipments on foot. Trent is attempting to use the gun against me as leverage, but he is oblivious that I am aware that he used the same gun to murder underage sex traffic victims."

Mr Mc Carthy nods his head, paying full attention to everything I just relayed back to him and he rubs his hand back and forth over the top of his bald head.

"He will pay with his life. It may not be today, tomorrow or the day after that. But, I can promise you that Trent Esposito, will not walk this earth long enough to settle down and marry the Russian princess." He stabs his index finger against the top of the mahogany table. "He waged a war the moment he paid my unloyal soldiers to follow you and attempt to rape you."

I gasp.

That bastard planned everything, blaming me just so he could torture my mind, body and soul. Rage consumes me and I instantly regret not murdering the cunt when I had ample amounts of opportunities to do so.

"He just didn't know it at the time and the small offering he proposed was only enough to hold us over until the time was right for us to strike."

"Looks like our timing was a bit off, boss." One of his men sneers. "Let us take care of him, I promise to bring Cillian's body home so we can honour him with a burial he deserves, Sir."

Mr Mc Carthy sits in his chair with his head nestled in his hand. "Granted. All rules where the Esposito family is concerned are now diminished, wipeout every single one of them along with their bloodline." He orders.

"No!" I shoot up out of my chair, yelping. "Not my son," I beg.

Aydem rises to his feet with his hands resting against the table as he looks Mr Mc Carthy in the eyes.

"The baby is off-limits." His voice is barely a whisper, but, it holds a strong dominant tone to it and my body tingles with submission.

"If he is an Esposito family member, my hands are tied." Mr Mc Carthy states firmly.

"He's off-limits or you will be waging a war with the Peker family and we both know you'll lose," Aydem growls as his left eye twitches.

"I'm sorry, but your threats have no place here, Aydem." Mr Mc Carthy rises, mirroring Aydems stance.

"It's not a threat, Liam. It's a promise."

"And why would I spare the life of an Esposito bastard?"

"Because that alleged Esposito bastard is my son, and if an Irishman touches a single hair on his head, your graves had well be prepared. Because the rules will also cease to apply to us." Aydem stands to his full height, buttons up his suit jacket, and then assists me in getting to my feet. "You've been warned." He growls as he guides me from the room.