Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
I loved the sound of that.
He lifted his head to look at me. He released one of my hands to capture my cheek. Did he want to say something? I don’t know what’s going on but then he brushes his lips against mine, and everything fades away.
Andrei doesn’t pull out of me and I moan as he presses deep within me again. I don’t know how it’s possible, but he is still hard.
Time passes. Neither of us speak.
He kissed me again, slowly this time. There was no rush in his movements and I’m addicted to the feel of it. I don’t want him to stop. I want to be with him so completely. I wonder if there was a way for us to freeze in time in this moment, where there is nothing bad about to happen. We don’t need any more heartache. We’re together and it is calm and peaceful. We have each other and nothing could ever go wrong.
“I … I…” I don’t know if I can say the words. Would he laugh and mock me? “I enjoy living here, Andrei. Thank you for buying this house.”
It’s not what I truly wished to say, and he looked at me with such disappointment. Was he hoping I’d tell him I loved him? That I wanted to stay with him?
I’m so confused.
****
Twenty-four Hours Later
I don’t know what happened. One moment Leo and I were driving back home after going to the shelter, and the next moment, our car was being forced off the road. Tears flood my eyes as I recalled what happened next.
Leo had gotten out of the wreck first, and then helped me. The seat belt had been stuck, and I’d been upside down. He’d warned me that the moment he cut the belt, I was going to fall and I had to break it somehow, which I did. Again, it was all a bit fuzzy. He’d pulled me from the wreck, but the danger hadn’t ceased. We’d been forced off the road for a reason. They’d shot Leo, four times. His body jerked with each bullet and I’d screamed. He’d tried to protect, ordered me to run, which I had done without question.
I had so much guilt when it came to him, that to disobey him just didn’t sit well with me. So I ran, until someone shoved me to the earth, pulling my arms behind my back, and then forcing my head down. His hand had covered my mouth, preventing my screams. I couldn’t recall a time I’d been so afraid before. Even my wedding night hadn’t left me like this.
Bound up, stuffed in the back of a truck, I scented the oil and gas that surrounded me. No one was in the back with me. I was alone. They’d put a gag in my mouth, and a horrible bag that smelled like rotten fish on my head. My heart raced and the urge to vomit came over me multiple times. I couldn’t believe this was happening.
Just last night I thought about how peaceful it was. How much I wanted to stay within our tight little bubble where nothing would go wrong, and now I’m with an enemy of Andrei’s. Or was it Andrei?
I didn’t know anymore.
I curled up into a tighter ball, trying to control my fear. I wasn’t just a random woman off the streets. My life, my name, I’m connected to the most feared Bratva in the country, and I wouldn’t let my husband down by showing fear.
Letting the tears dry, I attempted to calm myself by deep breathing, by trying to convince myself that everything was going to be okay. Andrei would come and find me, but why would he? If I was with his enemy, he’d be able to get rid of me.
Ignoring the horrible thoughts running through my head, I attempted to focus on the now. On listening to the van as it moved.
“I’m going to be fine. I’m going to be fine.”
I didn’t believe a word I was saying. How could I? We’d been traveling for a long time. I wasn’t a fool. The longer we traveled, the further from home I got.
What about Leo? Was he alive or dead? He fought so hard for me, ordering me to leave so that I could be safe. Did they mean to harm him, or was I the target? I had so many questions. No answers. Andrei had warned me that I’d become the enemy, and people would want to hurt me just because I was associated with him. I had believed him, but I figured it wasn’t important. It was now.
Why hadn’t I thought about defending myself? Why did I have to be weak? I hated myself in that moment. I was so damn tired of being like this. If I made it out alive, I’d make sure I found the means to protect myself.