Chapter 10
Nina
Georgi drifts in and out of consciousness, then he mumbles, “Dad...”
“I’m here, son,” Mr. Torrisi says as he leans partially over the seat so he’s able to reach Georgi and pat his knee.
“No one…” Georgi fights to open his eyes. “No one touches…Nina and Simi.”
“Okay,” Mr. Torrisi’s eyes flick to me, and I bristle under his dangerous gaze.
“They stay…with me,” Georgi says, his voice barely audible, then he leans into me while I’m pressing a bunch of tissues to the wound on his forearm. His forehead rubs against the side of my neck as the SUV goes over a couple of bumps in the road.
As silence falls around us, and Simi leans into my other side, I struggle to shove all the memories of what happened today into the rotting pile of nightmares that are in the deepest, darkest corner of my soul.
I’ve had plenty of bad days before, but this one has shot past watching Mama die, having Anton forcefully take my virginity, the four miscarriages, and being kept away from Simi.
No, this one far surpasses them all. Being raped in front of Georgi made it a million times worse, and when Ivan dropped Simi, I almost died right then and there.
The god-awful hours flash through my broken mind. One devastating scene after another, the only good part being when Georgi risked his life to save Simi.
God. This man.
I have no idea what he’s made of. He’s incredibly strong, and I’m scared to hope. Maybe, just maybe, there’s a part of him that’s good. After all, he jumped over the banister to get to my little girl.
Making sure the other two men aren’t looking at me, I turn my face slightly, brushing my cheek against Georgi’s forehead.
Thank you for saving my precious daughter.
With Georgi out cold and leaning heavily into me, I glance over all the bruises on his body. The raw wounds around his wrists are going to take a while to heal. I need to clean them as soon as possible.
My first instinct is to make sure he doesn’t get an infection and die. It’s ingrained so deeply into me from the many men I’ve had to tend to in that torture chamber.
Only then does the realization sink in that I did the unthinkable. While I was still reeling from Anton raping me in front of Georgi, I didn’t think clearly and freed him. When he killed the guards, I ran to get to Simi.
The memory of Ivan letting go of her shudders through me, and I place my arm over her tiny body, pulling her tighter against me.
Suddenly, the SUV turns, and when I glance ahead, I see big gates swinging open.
We’re driven up the driveway, then the vehicle is brought to a stop in front of a mansion. Mr. Torrisi quickly gets out and opens the door on Georgi’s side before leaning in and grabbing hold of his son.
The other three men who were on the second floor with us come running to help, and when they haul Georgi out of the SUV, Mr. Torrisi barks, “Come, Nina!”
I pick Simi up as I scoot out of the backseat, and when I stand up, a woman comes running out of the mansion. “Georgi!” she cries, her face deathly pale. “Is he alive?”
“He’s just out cold,” Mr. Torrisi informs her.
I watch as she walks with them, concern etched deep into her beautiful features.
Wondering if she’s his girlfriend, I reluctantly follow them into the mansion, every nerve in my body on alert.
A weird feeling ripples through me, and I recognize it as jealousy. Georgi has been mine to take care of, but knowing that’s not my place anymore makes me feel a sense of loss.
I’m still kind of on automatic pilot as they carry Georgi into a room, and I stand to the side while they place him on a bed.
The woman takes hold of his hand and brushes her palm over his forehead. “Wake up. Please.”
When Atanas Petkov comes into the room with what looks like a first aid kit, the urge to tend to Georgi wars with my need to hide from the head of the Bulgarian mafia.
My need for survival wins out, and I slightly turn my back to him, hoping he doesn’t notice Simi and me.
“Nina,” Georgi suddenly mumbles, and my head snaps up, my gaze locking on him.
Seeing his eyes are open, but he looks dazed, I remain standing near the corner. I dare a glance at Atanas, but then luck abandons me once more, as his dark eyes lock on me.
My arms tighten around Simi, and I begin to shake my head.
“Georgi?” the woman asks.
“Hey,” he murmurs lovingly. “I’m okay.”
“You don’t look okay,” she sobs while my gaze remains imprisoned by Atanas Petkov.
“Where is your father?” he asks, his tone promising nothing but endless days of pain.
My mouth dries right up, and I begin to tremble as I reply with a pleading tone, “I don’t know.”
Atanas takes threatening steps toward me, and as I cringe back, Mr. Torrisi darts between us. “No one touches them.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Georgi struggling into a sitting position. “Come here, Nina.”
I don’t hesitate for a second and rush to where the woman is still standing beside the bed.
She gives me a questioning look before turning it on Georgi.
“She’s Boris Pavlov’s daughter. She will know where his hiding spots are,” Atanas says. “We should get the information out of her as quickly as possible.”
Georgi locks eyes with me. “Do you know where he is?” I quickly shake my head, and it has him glaring at Atanas. “She doesn’t know.”
“She could be lying,” he argues.
“She isn’t!” Georgi snaps.
“Let’s talk outside while Georgi gets his wounds treated,” Mr. Torrisi says, and luckily, Atanas leaves the room with him.
Georgi slumps back and inhales a heavy breath, his eyes flicking between the woman and me. “Nina, this is Raya, my sister.”
Oh.
When Santino opens the first aid kit and begins to dig around in it, Georgi says, “Nina will take care of me.”
Figuring as long as I’m of use to Georgi, Simi and I will be spared from being tortured, I quickly set her down on the bed and reach for the antiseptic bottle and some gauze.
“Before you get started, I need to shower,” Georgi informs me as he begins to move off the bed.
“What if you pass out?” Raya asks as she moves closer to help him up.
“I’ll be with him,” Santino replies, coming around the bed.
I quickly drop the items on the covers and pick up my daughter. Scurrying out of the way, we end up by the window.
“Does it hurt?” she whispers. “Your face.”
“No, it doesn’t hurt at all.” I press a kiss to her temple. “You’re being so good. I’m proud of you.”
“Where are Nina’s belongings?” Georgi asks Santino, making my gaze dart to them.
“Still in the SUV.”
“Bring everything.” Georgi’s gaze turns to me. “I’m sure you would like to freshen up as well.”
Simi yawns and leans her head on my shoulder. Daring to ask for some comfort for my daughter, the usual pleading look forms on my face. “Is there a room I can use so my daughter can get some sleep?”
Georgi points at the bed. “Make her comfortable. While we’re here, I want eyes on you at all times.”
Shit.
With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I walk to the bed and pull the covers back. Laying Simi down, I sit beside her and gently cover her.
“Mama, can you stay with me while I sleep?” she asks, her eyes filled with so much hope it hurts.
She thinks Georgi is our prince, and I don’t have the heart to tell her he’s not.
My heart shrivels in my chest as I force a smile to my face, hoping I’m not telling a lie as I reply, “Yes, milo moe.”
“Did you bring my clothes over from the hotel?” Georgi asks Raya.
“Yes.” She walks to the door. “I’ll get you something to wear. Go shower.”
She leaves the room, and I turn my head slightly, watching from my peripheral vision as Georgi and Santino go into the bathroom.
I listen as the door creaks, then my heartbeat speeds up violently as I gather Simi in my arms and run out into the hallway. I glance left, then right, and hightail it the way we came.
My heart thunders wildly, and remembering my last failed attempt to escape and the punishment of being forced to listen to Simi crying for a week, my sanity slips, and unbearable fear takes over.
“Fuck!” I hear Santino snap from the room, and it spurs me on.
When I run into a foyer, there are so many men, I come to a sudden stop and glance wildly around me before shooting toward another doorway.
Just as I enter the kitchen and my eyes lock on a woman, an arm comes around my middle, and I’m yanked backward.
The disappointment of my failed attempt to escape is too much to bear after all the hell I’ve already been through today. The wail leaving me sounds broken and hopeless, and for a moment, my fractured mind loses the battle to stay present in the moment.
My ability to make sense of everything vanishes. I think A growl escapes me, and I let out a hopeless scream.
I hear Simi crying.
Suddenly, my arms feel horribly empty, and I begin to weep for the loss that hasn’t registered yet.
Warmth wraps around me, and the familiar scent of blood and sweat that’s Georgi somehow gets through the broken shards in my mind.
“It’s okay. Shh…” It’s not me saying the words to Simi. The voice is much deeper, carrying a strength I’ll never have.
“This will help,” another deep voice says.
Something is pressed to my lips, and even though I register it’s water, it tastes too sweet.
The moment of insanity slowly retreats back into the darkness in my soul, and when my sight focuses, I find myself staring at a bicep, my head pressed to a solid chest that’s covered in bruises.
Georgi.
I take a deep breath of him, and it settles me in a way nothing ever has before.
“Is she okay?” I hear Raya ask.
“No.” That’s all Georgi answers while his hold on me loosens.
As soon as I’m able, I pull back and take stock of my surroundings. I’m back in the room, sitting on the bed with Georgi, and Raya is holding my daughter.
I shoot up, and I’m surprised when Raya doesn’t stop me from taking Simi. In fact, she hands her over to me.
Moving away from everyone, I go stand by the window again and press kisses to Simi’s face. “I’m sorry, milo moe.”
“Are you better, Mama?” she asks, her voice soft like always.
“Yes. Much better,” I lie.
“I’m going to shower,” Georgi announces. “Nina, don’t try to leave again.”
I don’t respond and keep bouncing Simi lightly, hoping to comfort her from the scare I must’ve given her.
This time, Raya stays in the room, and as soon as the men go into the ensuite bathroom, she comes closer.
I shoot her a cautious look before glancing at Simi’s face. Her eyes are drooping again, and knowing I won’t escape tonight, I walk to the bed and lay her down.
Covering her body with the blanket, I lean over her and press more kisses to her forehead. “Sleep, malka. Mama will stay with you, and when you wake, I’ll be here.”
“Promise.” Her eyebrows knot together as she turns onto her side and snuggles closer to me.
“I promise.”
Her mouth curves up in a happy smile, as if she hasn’t suffered horrible ordeals today. “Yay. Finally. I’m so happy, Mama.”
When she closes her eyes and snuggles even more against me, I struggle not to break down and cry.
That something so small as me sitting with her while she sleeps is enough to make her happy.
“Can I get you something to drink or eat?” Raya suddenly asks in my language.
It reminds me that Georgi also knows Bulgarian, and I only have the luxury now to be surprised by the revelation.
I shake my head and brush my hand over Simi’s hair.
“Shit, Georgi got blood on the covers. I’ll go get fresh ones quickly.” Raya walks to the door, then stops to look at me. “Please don’t try to run.”
I stare at her for a moment before I nod. Watching her leave, I hear the shower turn off.
Resting my eyes on my sleeping baby, I’m wildly tossed between reeling from the hell we’ve been through and fearing what the future holds for us.
I’m not stupid. I’m in enemy territory, and God only knows what they’re going to do to me in retaliation against my father.
Hearing movement behind me, I glance over my shoulder, and seeing Georgi, my eyes sweep over his powerful body. He has lost weight, but not enough to take away from his muscled build.
Now that he’s clean, all his bruises seem feverish. Knowing I have a job to do, I get up and take everything I’ll need from the first aid kit.
When Georgi sits down on the other side of the bed, I keep glancing between his arm and Simi as I carefully disinfect the bullet wound and the raw gashes around his wrists.
I can feel his eyes burning on me, but I don’t dare meet them. Hearing Raya return, I don’t pay her attention.
After I stitch Georgi’s forearm, I smear salve over his raw wrists before wrapping clean bandages around them.
My attention shifts to the cut on his chest, and relief loosens something inside me when I see it isn’t as bad as I feared.
I quickly clean it before checking his older wounds, making sure everything is clean and that nothing is infected.
At least the wound on his thigh is healing and hasn’t torn open again, and seeing that eases some of the worry coiled inside me.
I check his ribs, and noticing the bruising is much darker on his left side, my gaze finally darts to his face. “I think you have broken ribs.”
He shakes his head, his eyes flicking over my face. When I see the questions forming, I withdraw completely and gather the soiled gauze.
“Get up so I can take off the dirty covers,” Raya says, drawing Georgi’s attention away from me.
I grab the first aid kit and set everything down on an armchair, then hurry around the bed to get to Simi. I carefully take the soiled covers off her, then help Raya put the fresh covers over the bed before gently tucking in my baby.
I lovingly brush my hand over my baby’s hair and press a soft kiss to her temple.
This is the longest I’ve been allowed to be with Simi.
As the realization hits, intense pain and relief surge through me like a devastating wave.
“Lie down, Nina,” Georgi whispers.
I’ve been conditioned to obey all orders, but being in the enemy’s nest, I shake my head.
Georgi lies down, getting comfortable on the other side of the bed, then says, “It’s been a long day. You must be tired.”
I shake my head again, not taking my eyes off my daughter. I have no idea how long I have with her, and I’m not wasting a second.