I apologized in feminine submissiveness, if only to appease him. “I’m sorry, Alexie. Truly. I want to obey you, but I think I’m dehydrated. I don’t feel the urge to go more than that.”
He studied me, and I had a feeling he could see through my bullshit. No, I wasn’t sorry, and no, I didn’t want to please him, but hey, at least I was being honest.
With a scowl, he unrolled toilet paper and forced his hand between my legs to wipe me dry. He then pulled me up, flushed the toilet, and washed his hands.
“Why did you throw up?”
I shuddered, feeling cold now. “I don’t know,” I whispered, looking away.
“Do not lie to me,” he snapped, drying his hands on the towel. “You do know.”
I swung back around. “As ifyoudon’t alreadyknow,” I seethed. “How dare you. There is only one liar here, and it’s not me.”
I hadn’t been feeling well long before he drugged and stole me, but I was sure the stress of my imprisonment, the pain killers he forced me to take on an empty stomach, and his bitter soup also added to the upset.
“I honestly do not know why you are sick, but if you do not fix your attitude,malishka,an upset stomach will be the least of your issues.” Alexie walked out of the bathroom.
I followed hot on his heels. “If you must know, I threw up because you forced me to eat when I was already feeling unwell.”
“I didn’t force you to eat. I thought you would be hungry. It has been a while since you had a full meal. If I’m being honest, you sound a little ungrateful.”
“Ungrateful?” I spat. “Me? I’m not the one who would hurt a child if their HOSTAGE didn’t eat.” I was yelling at the top of my lungs now, but I didn’t care who heard me. “You’re despicable.”
There was a brief silence where Alexie looked surprised at my outburst. Then he laughed. A deep full belly chuckle that made butterflies flutter in my stomach. Like the good kind of turmoil. I wished he laughed like this more.
“What’s so funny?” I demanded.
He shook his head and started walking toward the door.
I ran after him. “Seriously, tell me. Please.”
Alexie turned toward me, capturing me before I could collide into him. “I can’t believe you got conned by a kid.”
Stupefied, I croaked, “What do you mean?”
Alexie sighed. “I mean Roman is my protégé. He is here for room and board, but I would never hurt him for something so benign. I’m not a monster.”
My mouth dropped open. But he was a monster. He kidnapped me. What kind of person did that to another?
Alexie wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close like we hadn’t just been fighting. “You need rest and some more food,malishka.I don’t like the pallor of your skin.”
I was shellshocked. I didn’t know what to say. So of course I opened my mouth and said something stupid. “I can’t eat your food. It tastes bitter to me,” I squeaked.
He froze.
Yikes.
“Like aspirin,” I expounded, trying to un-offend him. “I’m not sure about the seasoning, but it gave the soup a…medicinal taste. I…I don’t know how else to describe it.” I pulled back so I could look up at him. “But I forced myself to eat it because I was afraid you would hurt Roman.”
Alexie released me and pulled out his cell phone. A couple button presses later, he was rapidly speaking Russian into the receiver. Worried, I backed away, not understanding what he was saying, but I could tell he was very angry. I could also tell from the way he held his body that he was contemplating murder. I sat on the edge of the bed and wondered about my fate.
When he hung up, he stormed into his closet and pulled out a larger black t-shirt. He then came to me, snatched my towel away, and pulled the clothing over my head. He then tugged me up to my feet. The shirt was a bit longer than most and fit me like a mini t-shirt dress.
“Go freshen up. You will find all the toiletries you need in the cabinets.” He then pushed me toward the bathroom to get me moving.
I decided to just do as he asked.
In the bathroom, I found pretty much extra of all the essentials, and even some items that I could use but would be no use to him. Had he stocked supplies for me? How did he even know what face creams and hair products I used?