Trafficked by Kim Purcell Read Free Book Online Page A

if it was permanent, not temporary. She wondered if the fake name had been his idea. He poked a fat finger toward her. “You better work your knuckles off, girl. The Platonovs are good people. You’re lucky to be with them.”
    He reminded her of the bad agent, the way he pointed at her. His nails were just as long. She looked away, trying not to cringe. She’d left the bad agent behind when she’d gotten on the plane to America, but he was following her still.
    â€œI will work hard,” she said, making the promise to Lillian and Sergey, not their creepy friend.
    â€œMaggie, how are you doing?” Paavo boomed.
    Maggie was peeking out of the dining room. Her face was shy, maybe even scared.
    â€œI brought you something.” He rummaged around in the roomy front pocket of his large pants and pulled out a wrapped lollipop.
    â€œThank you.” Maggie took it, then stepped backward fast, leaning into her mother, who rested her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. Hannah wondered if Lillian felt protective of Maggie around Paavo.
    â€œAre you staying for dinner?” Lillian asked. Hannah studied her face to see if she wanted him to stay. It was blank, not overly inviting.
    He glanced toward Hannah’s plate like he was going to take it. “No,” he said at last. “Rena is waiting.”
    The phone rang and Lillian hurried into the living room to answer it. Maggie returned to the dining room, sucking her lollipop. Paavo stood by the counter and Sergey offered him a beer from the refrigerator, which he accepted. From the dining room, Michael started screaming, and Sergey yelled for him to be quiet. Hannah stayed by the kitchen table, uncertain whether she should help Michael or stay out of the dining room altogether.
    Paavo murmured to Sergey in a voice too low for Lillian to hear from the living room, but loud enough for Hannah’s ears. “When I saw the picture,” he said, “I couldn’t believe you wanted her. But now I see, you don’t disappoint me.”
    Hannah was confused. Paavo was implying that Sergey had requested her specifically, before Olga had found her for him. But she didn’t know Sergey. She’d never seen him before in her life.
    â€œCome on.” Sergey laughed it off. “She’s here to clean our house and take care of the children, so Lillian can study.”
    Paavo gazed at her. “The pretty girls never work as hard.”
    â€œShe’ll be fine.” Sergey gave Hannah a tight smile.
    Thank God she hadn’t ended up with Paavo. He was speaking about her as though she were a piece of juicy meat that he’d like to wrap his tongue around.
    â€œWhat did Lillian say?” Paavo asked.
    â€œLillian’s a beautiful woman. She can handle it.”
    â€œYou’ll hear about it later,” Paavo said.
    Michael screamed again from the dining room. “Candy!”
    Hannah took this opportunity to hurry out of the kitchen. In the dining room, Maggie was waving her lollipop right in front of Michael, taunting him.
    â€œMaggie!” Hannah said sharply. “Give him a lick.”
    Maggie glanced at her, as if considering saying no, but then she reached the lollipop out and let him lick. Michael reached forward and grabbed the stick away.
    â€œHey!” Maggie said, reaching for it.
    Hannah let Michael suck on the lollipop for a moment. “That’s enough,” she said, prying it out of his hands. “Maggie, you can have it after dinner, like your mother says. Eat your chicken.”
    Hannah stared at Maggie’s food, her stomach rolling about. She spooned some more salad onto Michael’s plate, intentionally spilling some on the table, which she shoved into her mouth. Maggie watched her but didn’t say anything.
    Lillian came into the kitchen, having finished her call. “Are you certain you don’t want a little food?” Hannah heard her ask Paavo. “A