“Why are you doing this?” I ask weakly, my fear drenching my words.
The boss stares at me, and just as it starts to feel like he’s trying to cut me in half with his piercing gaze, he says, “You work for Mazur.”
A slight frown forms on my forehead. “Yes?”
He waves a hand over the length of me. “You got shot during the attack. I saved you, and in return, you’ll answer all my questions.”
My frown deepens, and hesitantly I ask, “Did you attack the mansion?”
He nods before taking a seat on the high-back chair, making the thing look like a throne. The guard leaves the room, pulling the door shut behind him.
One less man to deal with.
My eyes settle back on the boss, the fact that he is responsible for the attack on the mansion making me absolutely terrified of him.
“I got shot because of you,” I breathe, quickly realizing this man is Tymon’s enemy, and by default, it means he’ll view me as his enemy as well.
My heart thumps rapidly in my chest, my mouth growing dryer than the desert.
Panicking, I ramble, “I’m just a maid. I know nothing about Mr. Mazur’s business dealings. I–”
He cuts me off, his tone brutally harsh, “It’s quite the coincidence that you bumped into me at Aqua the same day I was planning to attack.”
What?
My lips part, my frown deepening.
Aqua?
Then I remember, and my eyes widen. Quickly, I exclaim, “I don’t know who you are.”
His lion-like eyes lock with mine, and instantly I feel like prey that’s a second away from being torn apart.
God. Help me.
The corner of his mouth twitches, making my heartbeat hammer crazily against my ribs. More sweat coats my skin, prickles of fear rippling through me.
“I’m Gabriel Demir.” I’ve never heard the name before. “Head of the Turkish mafia.”
Pins and needles turn me into a block of ice. My lips part, then my heart sinks to the deepest pits of hell.
I won’t get out of this alive.
Slowly, I inhale a shocked breath, the gasp clearly audible.
His eyes narrow again as he takes in my shocked reaction. “Why were you at Aqua? Were you sent to spy on me?”
My head starts to shake, my hair tossing wildly over my shoulders. “I wasn’t there… to spy on you. I was at Aqua to get dinner… for Mr. Mazur. You saw the food… it splattered all over the sidewalk.” My fear tightens my voice.
Again, Gabriel stares at me until shallow breaths rush over my lips with terror.
He doesn’t believe me.
“I swear,” I exclaim, “I was only there to get an order of seafood for Mr. Mazur.”
I even got whipped. The proof is on my back.
Something stops me from showing the marks on my skin to this man.
He wouldn’t care.
The predatory look in his eyes and the dangerous aura around him tell me as much.
As soon as this man is sure there’s no information to gain from me, he’ll kill me.
My silence might be all that can keep me alive. Not that I have any information to share.
I just need to buy myself time until I’m stronger.
Slowly, Gabriel shakes his head, and as if he can read my thoughts, he warns, “Don’t try to lie to me. I know many creative ways to make someone talk.”
Torture.
God.
Again, pins and needles spread over me, reminding me I’m still shaking like a leaf in a hurricane-force wind.
My eyes flick to the shackle around my ankle.
I’ve survived so much, but how will I escape this nightmare?
Slowly, my gaze lifts to meet Gabriel’s, then he asks, “What’s your name?”
I swallow hard on my fear before answering, “Lara… Lara Nowak.”
“How long have you worked for Mazur?”
“Since I was twelve.”
His head tilts slightly, and I’m not sure if he believes me because I can’t get a read on him. All I can say for sure is he’s dangerous, and I’m in a world of trouble.
With Tymon, I knew what to expect. I grew used to the punishments.
But with Gabriel, I have no idea what he’s capable of doing. Beatings I can handle. Wounds and broken bones heal.
What if…
Oh, God.
My cheeks go numb, a lump forming in my throat.
I’m a virgin. Tymon never allowed relationships between staff, not that it mattered because I’m too plain looking. It was my one saving grace. No one showed any interest in me.
Instinctively I scoot as far back on the bed as I can go. “Please don’t hurt me,” the feeble plea falls over my lips. “I’m just a maid.”
Still, Gabriel only stares at me, putting the fear of God in me.
“Where would Mazur go to hide?”
A wave of dizziness hits, making dots dance before my vision. I’m not used to all the emotions spiraling through me.
With Tymon, everything was a routine. One I grew accustomed to since birth.
Being in the hands of the enemy, not able to anticipate his next move, is nerve-wracking as hell.