My entire family is dead, and I’m held captive by Viktor Vetrov.
God.
The couple of times I tried to fight back didn’t help one bit. Viktor is a million times stronger than me. The man is highly trained and easily tosses me around like I’m some ragdoll.
What’s going to become of me?
Viktor said I’d be safe here, but how do I trust the words of the man who helped kill my family?
My only hope is that his family will intervene, especially Isabella Koslov. She’s against anything sex trafficking-related. Surely she’ll help me?
The thought that they burned down my home and the only two people who loved me shudders through my body. Nikolas Stathoulis took all the money.
I have nothing.
Even if I manage to escape, how will I get to New York, and will the Cosa Nostra even take me in? I’m not a part of the five families. I’m nothing to them.
Viktor was right. I have nowhere to go.
Feeling destitute and forlorn, I have no idea what I’m going to do. I don’t know what my future holds.
God, I don’t even know if I’ll live to see tomorrow.
Slowly my tears dry up until emptiness is all that remains.
Realizing that the monster who captured me is the only person I have right now in this godforsaken world is an extremely bitter pill to swallow.
Maybe if I do as he says, he’ll leave me be. It will give me the time I need to process the trauma and figure out what to do.
My body is weak from the dark emotions ravaging me, but still, I push myself up and climb off the bed. I go to the bathroom and splash water over my face. When I look into the mirror, I see red marks on my neck from where Viktor’s fingers were.
Lifting my shirt, there are more red abrasions from where the windowsill scraped against my stomach when he yanked me back into the room.
At least I’m not bleeding.
It could’ve been worse.
My shoulders slump, and it doesn’t sit well with me that I’m trying to make the nightmare not as horrible.
Before my emotions can spiral out of control again, I walk back into the bedroom and put all the furniture in its respective places.
I suck in a fortifying breath of air, then leave the bedroom and slowly inch my way down the hallway. The fear that’s become my constant companion since I laid eyes on Viktor doubles with every step I take.
When I take the stairs down, I peek in the direction of the living room and see Viktor sitting on a couch, nursing a drink. He seems deep in thought as he stares at the liquid in the tumbler.
Dressed in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, he still looks every bit the daunting enemy he is. But even in my distraught state, I still have to admit the man is deadly attractive.
If I weren’t caught in this nightmare, I’d easily fall for his good looks.
But I know better.
I know what power lies beneath his skin and the brutality he’s capable of.
I pause at the foot of the stairs, and my eyes drift over his exposed forearms, the veins snaking beneath his skin only making him seem invincible.
I'll never be able to fight him off.
Glancing over the living area, I take in all the luxury. All around the mansion, the furnishings are the same dark wood as in my bedroom. There’s a soft, white leather couch and a massive entertainment system with a TV that fills most of the one wall. The kitchen is state-of-the-art with granite tops, and there’s an open-plan dining room.