Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
Ava
T he touch of someone caressing my face startles me.
“It’s me.” I see Viktor as my eyes adjust. I feel groggy and disoriented. “You have to wake up and eat.” He sits on my bed.
“What time is it?”
“It’s almost eleven in the morning. How did you sleep?” He pushes a few strands of hair behind my ear. It’s sweet.
“Honestly, I don’t even remember falling asleep.”
“It was probably the sedative you took.”
“You gave me a sedative? Why would you do that? How could you?” I sit up, putting distance between us. He looks hurt by my reaction.
“I didn’t. The doctor prescribed them.” He stands. “Get ready. I expect you to be in the dining room in fifteen minutes.” His tone is back to demanding.
“And if I don’t?”
“You know the answer to that,” he answers as he leaves.
All this drama has me on edge. Suddenly I have a headache. What am I supposed to do? I’m not safe here. But I don’t want to be anywhere else. Why did Dad have to put me in this position? Despite his gambling, we were ok.
I jump in the shower, knowing that Viktor will come for me if I’m not downstairs in fifteen minutes. The hot water feels good on my body but does nothing for my headache. I dress in joggers and an off-the-shoulder sweatshirt trying to hide all the scratches on my arms. From the top of the stairs, I hear voices. They aren’t loud, but Viktor’s voice carries. He seems to be shouting orders.
“I want four men with her at all times. Another dozen walking the perimeter.”
“That’s a lot of resources you’re shuffling to protect one person.”
“She isn’t one person, Oliver. She’s going to be my wife.” His words sound so convincing I almost believe them, but it’s a lie.
“Good morning, Ava,” Oliver greets me as I reach the landing. Viktor turns.
“Good morning, Oliver.” I continue walking to the kitchen, ignoring Viktor’s stare.
“Let’s pick this up in an hour.” Viktor walks up behind me. “How are you feeling?” His voice is gentle. A one-eighty from the man who was shouting at Oliver seconds ago.
“Better. The shower helped.” I walk into the kitchen where Mary is cooking. “Good morning, Mary.”
“Good morning, Ms. O’Brien. Can I get you some coffee?”
“Yes, please.” I sit at the breakfast bar. Viktor looks at me and, after a second, sits beside me.
“Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes.”
“Thank you,” I respond with a smile. Mary goes back to the stove. I turn to look at Viktor. “Viktor, can I ask you something?” A question has been burning in the back of my mind that I feel I need to ask.
“Sure,” he says evenly. I eye Mary, unsure if I should ask in front of her. Viktor decides for me. “Mary, please bring breakfast to the dining room.” He stands and takes my hand, leading me out of the kitchen. At first, I want to resist, but my burning question needs to be asked.
“Am I safe?”
“Yes. Why would you ask that?”
“It just seems like ever since, you know…” I drop my voice, “… ‘the arrangement’ so much has happened. Like with Joe and the attack yesterday.”
“Ava, I swear to you, I’ll make sure that nothing like yesterday will ever happen again.”
“But at what cost?” I pull my hand from his and sit.
He’s quiet at first. I suppose he’s thinking about how he’s going to answer.
“It will be a greater cost if something happens to you,” he finally says.
I’m going to ask a follow-up question, but Mary walks in with brunch.
The food smells delicious. My mouth waters, reminding me I haven’t truly eaten since lunch yesterday, and even then, it wasn’t enough. We fall into peaceful silence or as peaceful as it can be. I eat while Viktor scrolls through his cell. When I can’t take another bite, I push my plate away. There’s still the main question I need to ask but don’t want to.
“Viktor?”
His eyes lift from his cell to me. I take a deep breath. “I’d like to change the terms of our arrangement. I want to go home.” I don’t know if this is what I really want, but what is the alternative?
“No.” His tone is flat.
“What do you mean, no ? Everything that is happening isn’t normal. You can’t deny it’s happening because I’m here.”
“We made a deal, and it’s final.” He stands, pushing his chair back.
“Viktor—”
“You’re confined to the house until further notice.”
“This isn’t fair. This is your mess, not mine.” My voice rises.
“I thought we already established that life isn’t fair. The arrangement stands.”
When he walks away, I leap out of my chair and stand in front of him.
“I’m not your fucking dog to order,” I scream in his face.
“You’ll be whatever I want you to be.”
The words are like a knife, and before I know it, my hand connects with his face. I take a step back when I realize what I’ve done. There’s rage in his eyes, which are no longer the color of amber. They’re dark as night. He grabs me by the throat.
“You are to never do that again, Ava. I’ve been lenient and gentle with you. But you’re pushing your boundaries to the limit.” He squeezes enough to get his point across, but I can tell he isn’t trying to hurt me. “Do I make myself clear?”
“You’re a fucking monster who’s going to get me killed.” I try to get away, but my efforts are pointless.
“Viktor,” Oliver calls.
“What?” he yells, still staring at me.
“Let her go. Our father has called.”
Viktor’s eyes never leave mine. “Do I make myself clear?” He repeats again, squeezing a little harder. “Ava.”
“Yes,” I scream, and he lets go. My hands go to my neck as I make sense of what just happened.
“Call if you need anything.”
I need an escape plan, and I need it yesterday. Staying is not an option. I don’t know who the bigger threat is—Viktor or the faceless people coming after me.