Chapter 16
Nina
God, I feel so sick.
My head is pounding, making it difficult to think.
“Serve lunch,” I hear Adriano order. “Anyone want a drink?”
Georgi is the only one who doesn’t reply.
He keeps rubbing the outside of my leg, and as the seconds pass, I become aware of the scent of his cologne.
It’s dark and warm, the same scent that unsettled me the night I had to seduce him.
It pulls me back to the memory of how he made my breath catch with a single look.
That night, he was ready to take me to his hotel room and fuck me. He was attracted to me. I don’t know how he feels after everything that’s transpired.
Right now, Georgi is covered in bruises, but once he heals, he’ll be that man again. The one who was dangerously charming and ruthlessly confident about getting me in bed.
The thought makes butterflies riot in my stomach, and I quickly pull away from him.
Pushing my hair off my face, I glance at Simi, who’s still fast asleep.
I’m glad she’s getting a lot of rest. She needs it after what she went through yesterday.
“Better?” Georgi asks, drawing my attention to him.
Nodding, I move into a more comfortable position.
“I’ll take Simi so you can eat,” I tell Georgi, and when I reach for my daughter, he carefully hands her to me.
The movement wakes her, and when her eyes open, Georgi leans over the armrest and brushes a palm over her rosy cheek. “Sorry, malkata mi pritsesa. I didn’t mean to wake you, but food is here.”
The mention of food clears her mind of sleep.
The flight attendant glides down the aisle and releases the hidden walnut tray tables from the armrests, unfolding each one with practiced precision until they lock into place between the facing seats.
She smooths crisp white linen across every table, letting it drape in perfect lines before she sets polished silverware, crystal glasses, and fine porcelain in place, turning the cabin into something closer to a private dining room than an aircraft.
Worry pours into my chest because I know Georgi is going to insist that I eat. Honestly, I’m starving, but…what if…
My thoughts are brought to a sudden halt when the attendant serves Adriano and Augusto first, and the rich scent of seared beef, warm bread, and butter drifts through the cabin.
Oh God.
I slap my hand over my stomach, a second before it betrays me with a loud growl.
Heat rushes into my face, and I struggle not to look at the delicious food as she serves Mr. Torrisi and Raya before pausing beside us.
A flicker of uncertainty crosses her face as she glances at Simi.
“Shall I place both settings on one table, ma’am? ”
“Just a plate for my daughter,” I reply. “And a roll for me.”
Georgi turns his head sharply to me and levels me with a look full of warning before he briskly orders, “Both plates on the one table.”
The attendant jumps into action, and as she places a plate with chicken schnitzel strips and truffle parmesan fries down, my daughter gasps with delight. She picks up a fry and happily pops it into her mouth while I lean into Georgi and whisper, “I don’t want food.”
His mouth comes close to my ear, his voice low enough for only me to hear.
“God help me, Nina, you will eat! I don’t expect anything in return, but if you keep denying yourself this most basic need, I swear I will force-feed you myself in front of everyone.
” He pulls back, enough to lock eyes with me. “Try me.”
My pulse kicks up a notch. There’s no softness in the order, only an iron control I’ve never experienced from him.
With everyone watching, I lower my eyes and give the smallest nod, reluctantly submitting.
“Good choice,” he mutters as he picks up his cutlery.
My plate is the same dish as his. My mouth salivates just looking at the herb-crusted filet medallions and roasted baby vegetables. There are also little baskets with fresh rolls and butter.
“Anything to drink?” the flight attendant asks.
“Just bottled water, please,” I answer quickly.
“Three juices,” Georgi mutters, sounding angry. I cringe into myself, and to make matters worse, he reaches over and begins to cut my filet into smaller pieces.
When he brings a slice of beef to my mouth, my face goes up in flames. “I’m going to eat!”
“Open,” he orders, the expression on his face telling me he’s out of patience.
My lips part, and as he feeds me, I feel a weird mixture of embarrassment and an aching sense of being cared for.
Both are very unsettling. I can’t help but wonder if he felt the same when I gave him water.
Before he can spear another piece of food, I pick up my fork so he’ll see I will continue feeding myself.
“Is it nice, Mama?” Simi asks.
“Yes.” I bring a slice of steak to her mouth. “Taste.”
She takes the bite. “Mmm-mm…yummy.”
“You can have some of mine, malkata mi printsesa,” Georgi says. “Your mama needs to eat all her food.”
“Okay.”
As I eat more, I have to suppress a groan. God, it’s delicious. I only have two more bites of the steak before I eat all the vegetables and roll. I’m not used to consuming meat and don’t want to upset my stomach too much.
Georgi seems pleased when I set down my fork, and he even gives me a smile. “Thank you.”
He’s thanking me for eating?
My jaw almost drops, and once again, an ache spreads through my heart because it feels dangerously close to being cared for.
It touches a need in me that I’ve been trying to smother since my mother died.
The flight was incredibly long and exhausting.
I’m so proud of Simi. She handled it much better than I did.
As we’re being driven into New York, Simi and I stare out the window at the tall buildings. Everywhere we look, there are yellow cabs honking their horns while people rush along the sidewalks.
Normal people.
For a couple of seconds, my eyes touch on a tall woman who’s wearing a gorgeous gray dress and high heels. She walks with her chin held high, and people look back to get another glimpse of her.
What is her life like?
“Mama,” Simi whispers while pressing her finger to the window and leaving a print. “Look.”
I follow her gaze, and my breath catches.
There’s a huge toy store on the corner, its display glowing like something from one of Simi’s fairytale books. A stuffed bear in a red bow stands by the entrance, so tall it nearly reaches the ceiling.
A pillar covered with pictures of fairytales towers beside it, painted carousel horses gleam under tiny lights, and a castle made for dolls sits in the center, its little windows lit as if royalty lives inside.
Pretty little ballerinas spin inside music boxes while a miniature train circles a snowy village.
“Mama,” Simi gasps. “That bear is bigger than Georgi.”
“It might be,” I agree.
Her nose nearly presses to the glass. “It looks like the princess castle book.”
“It does,” I whisper.
Simi twists in her seat to look at Georgi. “Is that your castle?”
His mouth curves. “No, malkata mi printsesa, but I’ll take you there tomorrow.”
My heart clenches so painfully that my body stiffens and my eyes water.
Simi beams, already believing him and building a dream of how wonderful tomorrow will be in that innocent mind of hers.
Fear crawls through me because Georgi shouldn’t make promises to my child unless he means to keep them. Simi has known too much disappointment already.
If he gives her this dream and takes it away, it will break her heart.
Simi chatters about the giant bear and the castle she wants to see, while new worries fill my mind.
Up until now, Simi has been deprived of a lot, but what if Georgi’s tactic is to taunt her, letting her see things she can never have?
God, I know you’ve forsaken me, but please, she’s an innocent child. Don’t do this to her.
The prayer feels empty, as if it doesn’t float past the roof of the SUV but falls flat on the carpeted floor where it will be trampled by Georgi’s leather loafers.
I don’t take notice of our surroundings anymore, and when the vehicle stops, it feels like we’ve arrived at a prison.
Georgi climbs out, and I can’t keep hold of Simi as she squirms out of my arms and scurries across the seat to get to him.
“Wait for me!” she says, her voice pitched with excitement.
He hooks his large hands beneath her armpits and lifts her off the seat.
I quickly get out, and as I aim to dart around the back of the SUV to get to Simi, Raya steps in front of me.
No!
She smiles as if we are friends, and as her lips part, I hear nothing of what she says. Santino comes to stand behind Raya, probably ready to stop me if I try anything, while Georgi walks away with Simi.
They’re taking Simi from me!
Raya lifts her hand, and expecting her to hit me, I jump back. My heart thunders in my ears, my breaths desperate gasps.
Suddenly, Georgi comes back, hard lines cut into his face as he hands my precious child to his sister, who once again carries her away from me.
Knowing this is how things are going to be, and that I’ll at least get to see Simi for two hours a day, my breathing slows dramatically.
I lower my head, training my eyes on the ground.
At least I had the past twenty-four hours with her.
I feel hands on the sides of my head, and waiting for the pain, I stand like a robot. Then I’m yanked against a solid body, my face pressing into warm silk.
Slowly, the darkness around me shifts until I hear Georgi’s deep voice above my head. “Shh…You’re safe.”
When the worst of the shock fades and I forcefully make peace with the fact that I am once again separated from my child, my instinct to obey every rule and do as I’m told takes over.
Don’t risk the short two hours you’ll get with Simi.
Georgi’s body folds around me. When his lips brush against my forehead, it feels deceivingly like he’s sheltering me.
I know what he wants.
No use in fighting the inevitable.
I tilt my head back, but the moment my lips brush against his, he yanks completely away from me as if I burned him like fire.
Georgi puts a safe distance between us, a very disturbed expression darkening his face.
“No, Nina.” He shakes his head hard, then anger carves lines into his features.
“Why did you check out of reality?” He lifts his hand to rub the muscles behind his neck.
“Did you have flashbacks to what happened in the basement?”
I shake my head.
His expression turns from anger to worry, which confuses me. “Then what is it?”
“I will do whatever you want from me so I don’t risk the two hours I get to spend with Simi every afternoon.” My tone is drained of all emotion, just like my soul.
Georgi closes the distance between us again, grabs hold of my hand and hauls me toward an elevator.
It’s only then that I notice all the other men. Six of them, armed to the teeth and looking very scary.
When the doors open, I’m pulled into the opulent space that is all mirrors with gold and black frames.
One of the guards gets in with us and scans a card that makes the doors shut and the elevator move.
Georgi begins to rub his thumb over my skin on the inside of my wrist, as he did on the plane when I felt sick.
The silence thickens around us, and when the elevator slides to a smooth stop and the doors open, I’m hauled into a space so vast and luxurious it feels unreal.
Dark marble gleams beneath my feet, leading to a sunken living room decorated with soft cream leather couches and a fire burning from a wall of black stone.
For a split second, my stunned gaze touches on floor-to-ceiling windows, the lights of the city glittering below.
Gold catches in the glow of chandeliers suspended overhead, warm against dark wood, smoked glass, and polished steel.
Every carefully curated detail screams of money Boris could only dream of attaining.
But I barely have time to take it all in because there are so many people. Conversations die the moment Georgi drags me toward them, and every pair of eyes locks on us.
Dear God!
The men fill me with unspeakable fear, which numbs my body. They all look as powerful as Georgi.
Some rise like predators from where they’re sitting on the couches, while others stand near a bar.
The women are all beautiful and polished, draped in elegance, while I look disheveled and have terror clinging to me like a second skin.
My gaze darts wildly through the room, panic surging so fast my vision blurs.
Then I see Simi, still in Raya’s arms as she steps out from among the people who I can only assume are Georgi’s friends and family.
The sound that tears from me is half sob, half gasp.
When I tug on Georgi’s hold, he doesn’t let go of my hand, but thankfully, he takes me straight to her.
A charged silence hangs heavy in the room, but I don’t care.
“Mama!” Simi smiles happily. “This is Georgi’s castle.”
He lifts her from Raya and places her back in my arms, and I clutch my baby so tight against my chest she squirms.
I bury my face in her hair, shaking as relief and terror collide inside me in a violent storm.
Georgi wraps his arm around my shoulders, and I hear him say, “Give me a minute, guys.”
Pulling me right against his side, he guides me down a hallway. I can barely see through the tears gathering in my eyes and only half take in that we are entering a study.
Georgi steps in front of me and cups my cheek while rubbing his hand up and down Simi’s back.
“I…I g-g-get to…keep her?” I struggle to ask.
“Yes. I said no one will separate you and Simi.”
“I thought…” My breaths are too fast and loud.
Simi leans forward and presses a kiss to my other cheek. “It’s okay, Mama. Georgi will hug you.”
His arms move around us, and as I cling to my precious child, he practically engulfs us with his much larger body.
“You and Simi are safe with me.” His hand moves up and down my back. “I promise.”
Something inside my chest loosens, and it’s enough so I can begin to calm down.
For the first time since Boris unleashed devastation and hell on my life, I want to believe that there can be such a thing as a good man in a violent world like ours.