“Vadik, you sick fuck. You let them go. Let both of them go.”
He laughed. “There’s a chance I might let your pretty sister go, but you and Nessuno—you’re going nowhere. As I’m sure you’re aware, Nessuno has something of mine. Something I can’t afford to part with.”
The chip. The motherfucking chip.
“You can take it out of her. Then you can let her go.”
He feigned a look of thought. “This is true. I could take it out, let her go. But that wouldn’t be any fun, now, would it?” He straightened his shoulders then scowled at Doe still on hands and knees. She didn’t even move when the chip was mentioned. It was like she was there, but wasn’t. Just by looking at her, I knew she was back to compartmentalizing. Vadik was right. It was like a switch, only…she switched off from reality, retreating to the farthest corner of her mind. All these weeks of trying to let her see her own strength, this fucker came and ruined it with a simple goddamn collar. The necklace I gave her wasn’t around her neck. She had no weapon. No way of fighting back.
Vadik gave me a sideways look, then back down at Doe. “Stand, pet,” he ordered. And true as fuck, Doe stood from the floor, straightening.
I no longer had a heart. I no longer had air in my lungs. All I had was pain as I watched in horror how easily Doe obeyed him. Her master.
“You see, Valenti heir. You might have enjoyed her for a while, thought you made her yours. But the truth is, she’s still mine. And always will be.”
“Doe,” I said softly. “Look at me. Look at me, Doe.”
Nothing. Not even a flinch.
“Fuck!” I screamed, pulling at the ropes around my wrists so goddamn hard, I clenched my jaw and felt sweat bead on my forehead. “Goddamn you, Vadik!”
He laughed. Karina cried. I screamed. And Doe remained silent.
“Now, to get back on topic.” Vadik let go of the gold chain, letting it hang down Doe’s naked breasts. “I think it’s time our little doll finds out the truth about her, how shall I put it…heritage?”
“Fuck you!” I growled.
Vadik launched forward and slapped me across the face with the back of his hand. It stung but didn’t hurt as much as the sight of Doe being humiliated.
I tasted blood as my head jerked to the side, the sound of his assault resonating around the room. But then, Doe moved. She looked up and right at me, her dark eyes alert, yet scared. Our gazes locked, and everything around me faded to black. It was just us, Doe and me. It was only a second, but it felt like forever—the moment we looked into each other’s eyes.
Vadik started to turn back around, and Doe’s gaze dropped to the floor again, as if she had never moved. But relief flowed through me like a goddamn river of hope. She wasn’t compartmentalizing. She was here, in this room—with us.
She was still my Doe.
Chapter 20
Doe
No one knew Vadik as well as I did. If there was ever someone who had a direct line to his mind, it was me. I knew if I kept defying him, if I kept fighting him, he would only keep retaliating harder, more fiercely. There was no end to his cruelty, and if I had any chance at winning this war with him, I had to play the part. I had to do everything I could to keep him from feeling threatened because if he did, we would have no chance of surviving the devil within him.
It was easy to pretend, especially after he placed the collar around my neck. It felt familiar—too familiar—and playing the part of his slave came naturally. For years, I obeyed him. For years, I acted the way he demanded of me. It was the only way to protect myself. But now I wasn’t doing it for me. I was doing it for them—Antonio and Karina. The risk had never been this high, and there was no margin for error. But when Vadik slapped Antonio, I forgot my role and looked up. The ache that spread through my chest was too great, and in that moment, all I wanted to do was rip Vadik apart.
Our gazes locked, and for a second, Antonio and I stared at each other. It was only a moment, but it was all I needed to make him see, to make him understand. And he did. I saw it in his eyes, the recognition…the hope. With one simple look, the connection between Antonio and me sparked, and it was all we needed. That, and a little faith.
Vadik turned, and I looked down. My heart was beating inside my throat, my stomach feeling as if it had been turned inside out.
“I think it’s time our little girl found out who her real father is…well, was.”
My eyes remained downcast.
“So, are you going to tell her, or should I?” I heard him ask, and my curiosity piqued. My father? Did they know who my real father was?
“Don’t do this, Vadik,” Antonio pleaded. “She doesn’t need to know.”
“You’re right,” Vadik replied. “She doesn’t need to know, but does she want to know? Let’s find out, shall we?”
My chest tightened.