Captive of the Bratva King (Kingdoms #7)

1. Briar

1

brIAR

I ’m trapped inside my own body.

I hear the sound of ocean waves. I smell the salt in the air. I feel the warm sunshine against my closed eyelids.

But no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to open my eyes. They’re glued shut.

I can’t remember where I am or how I got here.

I try to open my mouth to ask for help, but the words remain stuck in my throat.

I feel so trapped here.

Someone’s stroking my hair. The soothing motion only makes my heart beat faster.

“Shhh,” the person says. “It’s all okay. You’re okay.”

I know I’m not.

My heart pounds even harder. And this time, I hear something else along with the ocean waves. The beep of a patient monitor.

I think I’ve done this before.

I think I tried to wake up before but couldn’t.

There’s a loud crashing noise in the distance. It sends my pulse skittering once again.

The air smells like smokeandmidnight now. I recognize this scent. It wraps around me like a warm embrace.

My body feelsheavy,like it won’t ever leave this bed. Like I won’t ever leave this place. Like I’ll be stuck here until the end of time.

The gunfire drowns out the sound of my beating heart.

I hear footsteps coming my way.

Sunlight is replaced by darkness.

Someone is standing beside me.Theylean down to kiss my forehead.

“You’re safe now, solnishko ,”the man says. “Nobody will ever touch you again.”

He scoops me into his arms.

I feel everything, but I still can’t open my eyes.

I still can’t say a word.

I still can’t recall why this man feels familiar.