Chapter 17 - Valentina
Chapter 17 – Valentina
I wake up to the sound of Dmitri's voice and the sunshine on my face. I turn away from the offending light; I just want to sleep a little bit more. Is that too much to ask for? I'm extremely tired, but my bladder is full, and Dmitri moves around the room as he speaks to someone in Russian. I want to roll my eyes but instead roll onto my back and sit up in bed. I don't have to look to know that my hair is a mess. I brush it out of my eyes and look around the room for my nightgown.
Dmitri steps out of the closet wearing nothing but dark gray sweatpants low on his hips. His chest is bare in all its glory for me to see.
I want to cry.
I'm so tired from last night, and all I can think of is having him again, even though I know my body can't take it. He grows quiet as he looks at me. His eyes roam over my face and travel slowly down to my breasts. I hadn't even noticed that the sheet had slid down. Had I even been holding it close to my body? Normally, I would blush, but I'm too tired to do so. However, my nipples do harden at his assessment. He clears his throat.
"Good morning, Valentina," he finally speaks to me.
"Good morning, Dmitri," I reply back.
I think I notice a smile but quickly shrug it off. He walks over to the bed, bends down for my nightgown, and places it on my lap. He leans forward to place a quick kiss on my lips. I wish for him to linger, but I know that it wouldn't do me any good. He turns away from me to continue his conversation on the phone. I pull my nightgown over my head and back on my body. I'm proud that I can understand a little of his conversation, but instead of eavesdropping, I choose to go relieve myself.
I slide off the bed and walk to the bathroom on wobbly legs. What did he do to me last night? I sigh, knowing very well what he did. I practically begged him to. He's the reason I need so much sleep. I sigh as the pressure on my bladder disappears. I smile in happy relief. I can't help but let my mind wander as I wash my hands.
Last night was different. Besides my crying like a fool, there's something different about him. My head spins as I brush my teeth because as I watch him pace around and speak rapidly on the phone, nothing seems different. Not even a hair out of place.
I spit the toothpaste into the sink of running water and watch it go down the drain. I gargle some water and spit it out before turning off the faucet. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and find a hair tie to tie my hair into a somewhat decent bun. I roll my eyes when I see the pile of dirty clothes next to the hamper.
What's so hard about putting the clothes IN the hamper? I think as I just do it myself. I straighten up the rest of the bathroom before I make my exit. I walk out to see suitcases by the bedroom door. I hadn't noticed them before.
I sit down on the bench in front of our bed and watch him walk back and forth. As he finally hangs up the phone, yesterday comes back to me in a rush. I place my hand on my stomach and reassure myself that everything is okay. His intense eyes turn toward me.
"Are you okay?"
I nod, trying to muster a reassuring smile. "Yes, I'm okay."
He takes a deep breath, running a hand through his dark hair. "Valentina, I hope you understand why I'm doing this," he says, his eyes searching mine for any sign of doubt.
I swallow hard, feeling the weight of his words. "I do," I say quietly. "And I'm sorry for telling you to stop. I just... I don't want to lose you."
His expression softens, and he steps closer, reaching out to cup my cheek with his rough hand. "You won't lose me," he says firmly. "I promise."
My heart aches at his touch, and I lean into his hand, savoring the warmth and strength it offers. But then he pulls away, and the distance between us feels like a chasm.
"I have to go for a few days," he says, glancing at the suitcases by the door.
My stomach tightens with worry. "To where?"
He shakes his head. "I'm not going to tell you where I'm going. Not because I don't trust you, but because I don't want you to worry."
"How can I not worry?" I ask, my voice trembling. "Is it safe?"
"You know the answer to that," he says with a hint of resignation. "But I'm not going to lie to you. I'll come back."
His words are meant to reassure me, but they only deepen my fear. I want to beg him not to go, to stay here with me where it's safe—or at least safer—but I know better than to try and stop him. His mission is too important.
I nod again, forcing myself to believe in his promise.
"Okay," I whisper.
He leans down and presses a gentle kiss to my forehead before stepping back and grabbing one of the suitcases.
"I'll be back in a few days," he repeats, as if saying it enough times will make it true.
"Dmitri, promise me," I say.
He looks at me, his piercing eyes softening. "I promise, Valentina. I'll come back to you."
I nod, feeling a lump in my throat. "Good. Because I have something to tell you when you return."
His eyebrows shoot up in curiosity. "What is it? Tell me now."
I shake my head, a small smile playing on my lips. "No, Dmitri. You'll have to wait."
He steps closer, his expression turning playful. "Come on, tell me. I can't wait that long."
"Nope," I say, crossing my arms over my chest.
He narrows his eyes at me and then suddenly lunges forward, his fingers dancing along my sides. I squeal and try to squirm away, but he's relentless.
"Stop! Dmitri! Stop it!" I laugh, trying to push his hands away.
"Not until you tell me," he says, grinning as he continues to tickle me.
I gasp for breath between laughs. "Okay! Okay! I'll tell you when you come back safely!"
He finally stops, letting me catch my breath. I look up at him, still smiling but with a seriousness in my eyes. "Promise me you'll come back safely, and then you'll find out."
He leans down and kisses me gently on the lips. "I love you, Valentina," he murmurs against my mouth. "I always have."
Tears well up in my eyes at his words. I kiss him back with all the emotion I've been holding in. "I love you too, Dmitri," I whisper against his lips.
He pulls back and wipes a tear from my cheek with his thumb. We share one more lingering kiss before he picks up his suitcases and heads for the door.
My heart tightens in my chest, but I follow him outside, unable to let him leave without one more goodbye. As we step out, the cool morning air hits my face, and I see Alexei leaning against the car, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Ah, lovebirds," Alexei teases, crossing his arms. "Can't get enough of each other, can you?"
I feel my cheeks heat up, and I glance down at the ground, trying to hide my blush. Dmitri chuckles beside me and shakes his head.
"Shut up, Alexei," Dmitri says with a hint of amusement.
Alexei pushes off the car and walks over to us. He gives Dmitri a firm pat on the back before turning to me with a more serious expression.
"Don't worry, Valentina," Alexei says softly. "I'll make sure Dmitri comes back even if I don't."
I look up at him, my eyes wide with gratitude and fear. Before I can respond, Dmitri steps forward and places a hand on Alexei's shoulder.
"I leave no man behind," Dmitri says firmly.
Alexei nods, and Dmitri then turns back to me. He leans down and captures my lips in a deep kiss. The world seems to fall away as I lose myself in the moment.
Alexei's playful hoots bring us back to reality, and we pull apart reluctantly. I smile through the tears that threaten to spill over.
Dmitri brushes a strand of hair from my face and speaks softly. "There are guards in the house, Valentina. This is a new hideout, so it's safe."
I nod, swallowing hard as I try to keep my emotions in check. "Okay," I whisper.
He gives me one last lingering look before turning away and walking toward the car. I stand there, watching him get in. The car pulls away slowly at first, then speeds up as it disappears down the road.
I wrap my arms around myself, feeling the weight of his absence already pressing down on me. But I take a deep breath and remind myself of his promise. He will come back. He has to.
As I turn to go back inside the house, I catch sight of one of the guards standing by the door. He nods at me respectfully, and I force a small smile and step back into the house, closing the door behind me.
I’m dreaming about Dmitri, his warm touch and the safety of his embrace. The dream is so vivid that I almost believe it's real. But then, something cold and hard clamps over my mouth, and I wake up in fear.
My eyes fly open to darkness, and I struggle against the iron grip holding me down. My heart pounds in my chest like a drum. I try to scream, but the sound is muffled by the hand pressing against my lips.
"Calm down if you don’t want to die," a harsh voice hisses in my ear. The words send a chill down my spine, and I freeze, every muscle in my body tensing. "You should thank your stars that the boss wants you alive."
The hand loosens just enough for me to breathe, but not enough for me to cry out.
Tears well up in my eyes as I look into the shadowy face above me. "Please," I manage to whisper, my voice trembling with desperation. "Please don’t hurt me."
A cruel laugh echoes in the darkness, and the hand tightens again, cutting off my air. "That should be the least of your worries," the voice snarls.
I feel something hard hit the side of my head with a thud. It seems like my skull is radiating outwards in blinding waves. My vision blurs and darkens around the edges.
The last thing I hear is the voice muttering something before everything goes black.
I come to with a pounding headache and the sensation of cold metal digging into my wrists. My eyes flutter open, but the darkness makes it hard to see. My heart races as I realize I'm tied to a chair, the ropes cutting into my skin. This feeling is all too familiar. Memories of being bound and helpless flood back, and panic sets in.
I try to steady my breath, struggling to make my eyes adjust to the dim light. Shadows dance around me, but one figure stands out—tall and imposing. The scent of cigarette smoke fills the air, and I can barely make out the glowing tip of a cigarette in the darkness.
"Hello, Valentina," a voice says.
I blink rapidly as a blinding light suddenly turns on, making me wince. My eyes slowly adjust to the harsh illumination, and when my gaze focuses, I see him—Mikhail Kozlov. His piercing blue eyes bore into mine, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Did you really think Dmitri could protect you?" he sneers, his voice dripping with mockery.
My heart sinks at his words. I try to maintain a brave face, but inside, fear grips me tightly. Mikhail takes a drag from his cigarette and then flicks it away carelessly. He steps closer, circling around me like a predator sizing up its prey.
"You look surprised," he says with a laugh. "What did you think would happen? That Dmitri could keep you safe forever?"
He reaches out and runs his fingers through my hair before trailing them down my neck. I flinch at his touch, but there's nowhere for me to go.
"You see," he continues, "Dmitri might be good at playing hero, but he's just as vulnerable as anyone else." He leans in close to my ear and whispers, "And now you're here—right where you belong."
His hand moves lower, tracing the lines of my collarbone. I try to pull away, but the ropes hold me firmly in place. My breath comes in ragged gasps as I fight to stay calm.
"What's the matter?" Mikhail taunts. "Scared?"
He steps back and laughs again, clearly enjoying my discomfort. His arrogance infuriates me, but there's little I can do from this position.
"Dmitri can't save you now," Mikhail says coldly. "You're mine."
He walks behind me, his fingers trailing along my shoulders before he stops directly behind the chair. The sense of powerlessness is overwhelming, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of seeing me break.
I swallow hard, trying to keep my fear in check. "Let me go, Mikhail," I demand, my voice steadier than I feel. "Dmitri never targeted you directly. You know that."
Mikhail sneers, his piercing blue eyes filled with contempt. "Oh, Valentina," he says mockingly, circling me like a vulture. "This isn't just about Dmitri disrupting my plans. This is personal." He stops in front of me, leaning down so that his face is inches from mine. "Your father gave me the go-ahead to take you by force."
My heart sinks at his words. I can't still believe that my own father sold me to this monster.
Mikhail's lips curl into a sinister smile as he trails a finger down my face, sending shivers through my body. "I love virgins," he murmurs, his touch lingering on my skin. "And you, Valentina... you're mine to use at will."
A wave of revulsion crashes over me, but I refuse to let him see my fear. Instead, I force a laugh, the sound echoing in the cold room. Mikhail's expression falters for a moment, confusion flickering in his eyes.
"You think this is funny?" he growls.
I meet his gaze head-on, refusing to back down. "You're pathetic," I say. Mikhail's sinister smirk makes my skin crawl, but I force myself to meet his gaze. "Sorry to burst your bubble, Mikhail," I say, my voice steady despite the fear churning inside me, "but I'm pregnant. And it's Dmitri's child."
His expression shifts from smug satisfaction to shock and then to rage. The change is so quick it almost makes me flinch. His face reddens, and he steps closer, towering over me. "You whore!" he spits before his hand flies across my face in a resounding slap. My cheeks sting at the impact, and my vision blurs for a moment.
"You bitch," he snarls, his eyes blazing with fury. "You defiled yourself with that traitor!"
Tears sting my eyes, but I blink them back, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me break. I can taste blood in my mouth where my lip has split.
Mikhail's rage twists into something more sinister as he begins to smirk again. He leans in close, his breath hot against my ear. "Well," he says softly, his tone dripping with malice, "since you're not showing yet, it means you're not far along."
A chill runs down my spine as his words sink in.
"I can fix this," he continues, stepping back to look at me with cold calculation. "I can terminate this pregnancy and erase any trace of your infidelity."
My heart beats wildly in my chest. The thought of losing my child is unbearable. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything.
Mikhail's eyes gleam with satisfaction at the fear he sees in mine. He straightens up and calls out to someone. My pulse quickens as I hear footsteps approaching.