Chapter 4 - Pippa
I barely slept the previous night, tossing and turning, fearing the worst. Something tells me Lev Zolotov was only joking when he told me he’d kill me. But, I don’t want to take the risk. Besides, my only chance out was praying that Lenny Ramsey would call the cops to report the kidnapping. However, knowing that Lev wanted to kidnap his daughter, there’s no chance he’d try to save me, not without risking his daughter’s safety.
The anxiety gnaws at my insides, and I realize I’m all alone in the world. I have no parents, both of whom died when I was a teenager. I have no siblings, no grandparents, no friends. There’s no one who would miss me and that petrifying reality only makes my present circumstances more dire.
I’m my only shot at an escape.
The next morning, I wake up with a startled jerk, confused by my surroundings. It all comes back to me. Panic fills my lungs as I rush to the door. It’s locked. I look around the bathroom and notice that there’s no window. There’s one vent, but too small for me to squeeze through. Back in the room, I'm standing on a rickety wooden chair inspecting the grill on my window when the door slams open with such force that I nearly topple over. Regaining my balance, I spin around to see Lev leaning against the door frame, arms crossed and an unreadable expression on his face.
"Turns out you were telling the truth, Pippa," he says nonchalantly.
Suddenly, I feel weak in my knees. I quickly scramble down from the chair, and sit down on it, staring at him in disbelief.
“You look like you just got hit by a truck,” he sniggers, looking amused.
I shake my head, and stare up at him, feeling the need to give him a smile for some reason. At last, I can put this nightmare behind me now. “So, when can I leave?” I ask, my voice quivering with hope.
“Leave?” he drawls, as though perplexed at the question.
My hands begin to shake, afraid of where this might be going. “Please, you have no business with me,” I tell him. “You have to let me go.”
“But turns out you’re not that innocent.” His eyes move from mine and glance down my neck, my breasts, my belly, my thighs, and then back up again. It was the slightest movement, but I caught it, and something in his tone makes the heat rise in my neck.
“I… I’m not?” I ask. My voice comes out extra squeaky. Damn it.
“You were trying to run away, weren’t you?” He shakes his head to the window and then turns his gaze back to me.
I stare at him in disbelief. “Of course I was trying to run away,” I tell him. “What would you do, if you were in my position? I’ve been petrified, worried sick,” I try to reach for his empathy.
"You shouldn’t have tried to run,” he shrugs so calmly, like it’s the most foolish thing I could have done.
“But I had to try!” I say, panicking. “You can’t keep me here without cause. Please, Lev,” I try to appeal to his sense of logic. “What are you even going to do with me here? There’s nothing I can give you. I swear, there’s no one out there for me. No family, no ransom. I swear,” I beg. “I won’t tell anyone a soul. I won’t go to any authority; I won’t speak a word to Lenny. Just let me go.”
“Oh, trust me, sweetheart. I’m not afraid of any cops. And none of this changes a thing.”
My eyes almost fall out of my sockets when I hear what he’s saying. All my hope, my fears, my pleading, disappear to give way to rage at his impossible plan.
"Of course not," I mutter sarcastically and crossing my arms. "Why would facts change anything?"
"Feisty." Lev grins, clearly amused by my defiance. "I like that."
My irritation continues to grow as he remains calm and collected. It's infuriating how he refuses to engage in an argument with me by defending himself. He just lets me say what I want, without ever explaining himself and it’s making me borderline insane.
"Really?" I clench my fists, my anger rising even further. "Well, you know what I don't like? Being kidnapped and held captive by some Bratva boss who can't even handle admitting he's wrong!"
"Ouch," Lev winces theatrically, placing a hand over his heart. "That one hurt."
The one after other quick-witted response, all in that cool-tongued, teasing tone suddenly makes me calm, preventing me from losing all control. In his own way, he’s grounding me again, telling me I’m in no real danger.
Yet, he continues to toy with me, and I don’t know how to win at this game. And of course, I still don’t know what the game is.
“What do you want from me?” I ask, trying to understand. “If you know I’m not Lilah, and that I don’t pose a threat, why aren’t you letting me go?”
He looks taken by surprise, as though he himself is confused as to what he’s doing. I sense a weakness in his plan, and for a second want to break through his barrier, understand what’s going on in his mind. It opens a small window to his soul, this confusion, and I feel my anger melting away.
But then, I remind myself of the fact that he’s probably got a nuclear weapon somewhere in this house and honestly, it would be best if I can get as far away from here as I can.
Even if he is super handsome.
"What do I want from you?" he speaks to himself, taking a step closer. "You’re staying.”
I part my lips, and close them again, at a total and complete loss for words.
“Come on. You have to admit this is more exciting than your old life,” he cajoles.
"Exciting?" I scoff, narrowing my eyes at him. "Being taken away from everything I know and love by a stranger only to be brought into a house full of armed men—that's excitement to you?"
"Most people would kill for the chance to be in your position," Lev replies with a shrug, that infuriating smile still plastered on his face. "You're not exactly suffering here. I heard the jacuzzi in your bathroom is insane."
"Being held against my will?" I shake my head in disbelief. "You have a twisted sense of what constitutes 'suffering'."
"Perhaps," he concedes, his gaze never leaving mine. "But you have to admit, we make quite the pair."
Quite the pair? We? I sit there, stunned at how he’s viewing us as a team. It’s a strange revelation, this concept that I could be in a team with someone else. A thrill goes down my spine, at the thought that someone like Lev finds me interesting enough to not want to let me go. I’ve never had that before, but it’s a dangerous line to let myself cross.
Not to mention, this whole plan is absolutely insane. I look up from my hands, and stare into his blue eyes, for a moment drowning in them. His eyes flicker to my lips, breaking the enchantment, and I whisper—“You’re insufferable.”
"Thank you," Lev grins, clearly enjoying our banter. "I do try my best."
I take a deep breath, trying to remain calm since it’s so clear he likes getting a rise out of me. "So, to conclude. You know I was telling the truth," I say, my voice shaking slightly. "You know I'm not Lenny's daughter. And you’re not going to let me go?”
Lev leans against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest, his gaze locked on mine. "That sounds about right," he replies nonchalantly, as if we're discussing the weather instead of my freedom.
"Why?" I demand, my desperation for answers rising to the surface.
"What if I told you I enjoyed your company?" he counters, raising an eyebrow.
The blood gushes to my ears from what he just said, from how he’s staring at me. My hands tremble, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t find my voice. All of this…for my company?
“Impossible,” I tell him, looking up, feeling a hot flush of anger coloring my cheeks. "Please. Stop with the games.”
While I don’t know Lev Zolotov, I know he’s rich, successful and attractive enough to have far better company than me. He’s toying with me, teasing me, playing with me and now trying to do the same with my feelings. There’s no way a man like him would be into a nobody college girl like me. He’s being unnecessarily cruel.
"Please, Lev," I plead, my anger giving way to vulnerability at not wanting to get hurt in his mess. "Just let me go. I promise I won't tell anyone about this. Just… let me go home."
For a moment, it seems like he might actually consider my request. But then he shakes his head, his stormy blue-gray eyes darkening with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. "I can't do that, Pippa," he murmurs, his voice low and dangerous. "You see, I've become… rather fond of you."
"Excuse me?" I choke out, my heart thudding wildly in my chest. “I don’t know why you’re joking around about this and pretending you like me or something. It’s just plain mean,” my voice comes out in choked rasps.
"Like" might be an understatement," Lev admits. "I'm fascinated by you, Pippa. You entertain me and, sometimes, living in this house can get wretchedly boring. Once you get to know me, you’d know I’m many things, but a liar isn’t one of them.”
I sit there, stunned. From the short while I’ve known him, I’ve gauged enough to realize he’s speaking the truth. When he discovered I’m not Lilah, he came and told me so straight away. He’s been honest, and given that track record, there’s no reason he’d be lying now.
My pulse races with fear, fury, and something else entirely. This powerful, rich man finds me fascinating? A thrill goes down my spine at that thought. I’ve never had a man show such interest in me.
I shake my head, and he watches me do it. What am I thinking? I’ve probably got Stockholm syndrome or something. I’m crazy to try justify this behavior of his and need to get out.
"Lev," I whisper, trying one last time. "Please don't do this. I can’t just live here… forever."
"Sorry, Pippa," he replies, his eyes never leaving mine. "I’m sure it won’t be forever. Just for now, I need you here. But like I said before—I'm not your enemy. And whether you believe it or not, It’s just a harmless experiment. You might even come around, for all you know. Trust me, I’m not the enemy here."
"Could've fooled me," I mumble.
For some reason, he smiles. Then, without another word, he turns on his heel and leaves the room, slamming the door shut behind him and sealing my fate. As the sound echoes through the empty space, I crumble to the floor, my head in my hands, and wonder how I'll ever find a way to escape this impossible situation.
I look up and stare at the closed door, my heart pounding in my chest. Lev's words echo in my mind, taunting me with the truth—he's keeping me here because he finds me fascinating.
Sounds obsessive to me.
And despite my determination to hate him for it, I can't deny that there's a part of me that's inexplicably drawn to him, too.
No, I shake the thought away. I can't afford to get caught up in whatever twisted game Lev is playing. I need to focus on one thing and one thing only: getting out of here.
As I survey my surroundings, I take note of every possible exit route and weak point in the room. The window is barred, but maybe I can find a way to pry the grill off. The door is locked, but I'm sure I can figure out how to pick a lock.
Soon enough, a young woman with a name tag that reads Lana enters the room, her arms laden with a tray of food. "Hello, Miss," she greets me cautiously. "I brought you some dinner."
"Thanks, Lana," I reply, forcing a smile onto my face. I know she's just doing her job, but I can't help seeing her as an unwitting accomplice to my captivity. "You seem kind. I was wondering… if you’d like to stay and keep me company?"
Over the hour, I start to form a tentative bond with Lana, and share my meal with her. She seems genuinely concerned for my well-being, and I use that to my advantage, subtly asking questions about the house, its layout, and any potential security measures in place. It's not long before I have a mental map of the entire compound etched into my brain, along with the names and faces of everyone who works here.
"Tell me, Lana," I say just as I cast aside my tray, my voice dripping with faux sweetness. "Do you like working for Lev?"
Her eyes dart around nervously before she finally answers. "He's… not as bad as people think, Miss. He's done a lot for us, and we're grateful."
"Grateful enough to help him keep an innocent girl captive?" I shoot back, unable to contain my bitterness.
"Look, I don't know what's going on between you and the boss," she admits, her voice wavering. "But I can tell you this much—he's not as heartless as you think he is. There's more to him than meets the eye."
"Whatever you say, Lana," I reply, feigning disinterest.
“Sorry, Miss. I think I’ll have to get back to work now,” she murmurs. Just then, I notice some empty jugs of water by my bedside.
“Hey,” I jump up. “Would you mind taking these too?”
I carry two empty jugs and one half-full and purposely cause chaos as I put them on her tray, dropping the water all over the dishes.
“Oh!” she screams, almost dropping them. I jump in to help grab it just in time, balancing out the jugs and plates.
“So sorry, I’m such a klutz!” I giggle. “Let me help you to the door.”
She nods, momentarily disoriented, and picks up the tray while I hold up two jugs in my hand and walk with her to the door.
She doesn't realize that I study her movements on the exit keypad, memorizing the sequence of numbers she enters. The door creaks open, and she lays the tray down on the floor outside before taking the jugs from me.
"Enjoy your dinner, Pippa," Lana says with a warm smile. "Boss won't be home tonight, so you can rest easy in here. He’s requested you for dinner tomorrow."
"Thanks, Lana," I reply, trying to sound casual. "Have a good night." She leaves, locking me in.
Alone at last, I let out a whoop and a fist bump in the air. I finally have it all figured out. I’ve got the passcode for my escape.
***
That night, I wait for what seems like an eternity, ensuring the house has fallen silent before I make my move.
With Lev gone and everyone else asleep, this is the perfect opportunity to make my escape.
My fingers tremble as I type in the access code. The door clicks open, and I smile at the sweet sound of success.
I step out into the dimly-lit hallway. Every creaky floorboard and faint echo feels like a potential alarm, alerting Lev's men to my presence. I tiptoe down the corridor, relying on my agility and wits to remain undetected.
As I round a corner, I catch a glimpse of light coming out through the seams.
Damn it. Whoever could it be?
I decide to carry on, making my way through the hallway, each step as quiet as a whisper.
Please, don’t come out, I pray.
My heart races in my chest, terror coursing through me like electricity. I've made it this far, but there's still a long way to go before I can truly consider myself free.
As I approach a room, I hear voices—low and hushed—coming from within. I recognize one as Lev’s—smooth and deep, gravelly and husky.
No! He wasn’t supposed to be here. The door is slightly ajar, casting a sliver of light across the floor. Panic washes over me as I realize he's home and clearly engaged in some conversation. With no other choice, I duck into an alcove nearby, praying they won't discover me.
But I mess up. As I shift to hide in the shadows, my elbow knocks against a delicate vase perched on a nearby table. The sound of shattering porcelain echoes through the hallway, and I freeze, horrified at my own clumsiness.
"Did you hear that?" someone in the study asks.
"Stay here," Lev orders, his voice like ice. The door swings open, and I catch a glimpse of his stormy blue-gray eyes scanning the corridor. His gaze passes over me, but only for a moment. He quickly realizes what has happened.
"Miss Anderson," he calls out, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Lev, I—" I begin, stumbling over my words. But there's no convincing him otherwise. He knows exactly what I've been up to.
"Save your excuses," he snaps, stepping toward me. "Running away in the dead of night? Really? I thought you were smarter than that."
"Maybe I am," I retort, refusing to back down. "Maybe I'm tired of being treated like some sort of possession when all I want is my freedom."
"Your determination is admirable," he says, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "But you're only making things worse for yourself."
With an agility that belies his size, Lev lunges toward me. I turn on my heel to sprint in the other direction but realize it’s a dead end.
"Lev, please!" I cry out, turning to face him, desperate for any chance at mercy. "Just let me go!"
"Sorry, Sweetheart," he taunts, his words echoing through the hallway. "I never claimed to be a good man."
My legs tremble as I brace myself for the inevitable. He reaches my side and grabs my arm, his grip like iron, yanking me back toward him.
"Where do you think you're going?" he growls, pulling me back down the hallway toward my room. I try to dig my heels in, but it's useless. His strength overpowers me, making any resistance futile.
"Let me go!" I demand, wriggling in his grasp. "I didn't ask for any of this!"
"Yet here we are," he retorts smugly.
As he continues to drag me, Lev's cock accidentally grazes my ass. A thrill shoots down my spine, and I hate myself for feeling anything other than anger toward this man. But even as I struggle against him, I can't deny the way my body responds to his touch.
"Stop fighting, Pippa," he warns, his eyes darkening. "You're only making this harder on yourself."
"Like hell I will," I spit back, defiance surging through me.
“Fine then,” he sniggers. “You do you, Love.”
Love. The way he says it sends a heat creeping down my spine.
We reach my room, and he shoves me inside. I turn to say more, but something catches my eye. A mysterious man stands behind Lev, his stoic face giving away nothing. He watches our interaction with an unreadable expression, leaving me to wonder who he is and what his connection to Lev could be.
The door begins to close.
“Le—” I try to speak.
But it slams shut in my face.