Chapter 11
11
S ofia stepped into her small house.
All she wanted was to close her eyes and climb into bed. To sleep for days.
That wasn’t going to happen, though.
Aleksandr had woken up yesterday. He’d been drowsy and kind of out of it. But today, when he’d woken up, he’d been far more lucid.
And mad.
She wasn’t sure she’d ever seen him this angry. He was out for the blood of whoever had shot him.
Sofia breathed out a sigh of relief. He would be all right now. She’d wanted to stay with him again tonight, but Sacha wouldn’t allow it. Basically, he’d told her that she looked like shit and to go home and sleep.
Unfortunately, she’d been unable to argue that.
Stumbling into the bathroom, she turned on the light and stared at herself in the mirror.
Yikes.
No wonder Sacha had a fit and told her to sleep. He’d even threatened to send the doctor around with some sleeping pills. She’d hightailed it home before he could make good on that threat.
Sofia hadn’t wanted to sleep in the house without him there, so she’d come to her place. She felt safer here—usually.
Suddenly, someone appeared behind her.
A reflection in the mirror.
A face from a nightmare she wished she’d never see again.
Opening her mouth, she drew in a breath to scream. It was a reflex, one he obviously anticipated as he slid his hand over her mouth. But he had a cloth in his hand, which he pushed right over her nose too.
She tried to hold her breath, to fight, but it was impossible.
And the darkness soon overpowered her.
Sofia woke up groggily.
Where was she? What was going on? Why did she feel so out of it? She opened her eyes and glanced around.
A shiver ran through her. Wherever she was, it was cold. It looked run-down and dark. And it smelled like dead animals and garbage.
Her stomach rolled.
How had she gotten here? She glanced around, her head thumping horribly. Then, as she tried to stand, she realized she was tied to a chair.
Oh, God.
What was going on?
A door slammed and a man walked toward her. Sofia’s breathing grew so fast that she was scared she was about to have a panic attack.
“Ahh, you’re awake,” Oleg said with a sneer. “Just when I was coming in to wake you up.”
Sofia swallowed heavily. She didn’t want to think about how he might wake her up.
“What are you doing, Oleg? What is going on? Sacha is going to kill you.”
“Really? When he going to do that? While stuck in a hospital bed? I don’t think so,” he said almost gleefully.
If he’d started rubbing his hands together like an evil villain, she wouldn’t have been shocked.
“Did you... did you have something to do with that?” she asked.
Oleg’s eyes widened. “Finally, she get it! Of course, if he hadn’t moved to the side at the last moment, well, that would have been better outcome, don’t you think?”
Because then he would have been dead. She swallowed her bile. This just... it made no sense.
“But I don’t understand,” she whispered. “I thought you wanted to pretend to be my boyfriend to get on Aleksandr’s good side? I thought you wanted to be part of his inner circle.”
“Yeah, I did,” Oleg sneered. “But he never thought me good enough. Not for you or to get close to him. Ridiculous! You should be grateful I ever pay attention to you. No one else want you.”
She’d long ago built shields to stop herself from being hurt by his words.
Of course, they didn’t always remain intact.
Slivers got through. And those slivers turned to swords.
She knew that she shouldn’t listen to his poison. But it was insidious. It was coating her soul.
Calm.
Don’t show how he affects you.
“You shot Aleksandr, but he’s still alive. So now what? You kidnap me? To do what?”
Was it to lure Sacha here? But he was in the hospital.
Oleg ran a finger down the side of her face and continued to her neck. Then he dug it under her shirt, trying to reach her breasts. A shudder of revulsion ran through her.
She was going to have to burn these clothes. Then, scrub herself about twenty times.
“See? You want me. Your body wants me.”
“That wasn’t a shudder of pleasure, you moron.”
Slap!
Pain blossomed on her cheek, bringing tears to her eyes. She was used to him causing her pain, to him hitting her.
But he’d never hit her in the face before. He’d always been aware of the fact that she’d have to cover up any bruises he gave her.
“Stupid bitch,” he snarled at her. “You going to pay for that and everything else you put me through.”
Everything she’d put him through?
What the hell was he talking about?
All she’d ever done was be bullied and ridiculed by him. And now it seemed like her life was going to come to an end.
Because of him.
Anger rose through her.
“I don’t know what you plan to do, but whatever it is, you won’t get away with it,” she told him. “Aleksandr will find you and punish you.”
Oleg let out a dark laugh. “That’s where you’re wrong. I’m so many steps in front of the Pakhan he have no chance of catching up. By the time he or his men realize that you missing, you be dead and I’ll be gone.” He placed his hand around the base of her neck, squeezing until her air cut off. “But first, there some business I have to take care of.”
He stepped back and she could finally take in several deep gasps of air. That was when she noticed that he had her phone in his hand.
Who was he calling?
Sacha?
How had he even gotten into her house and gotten her out? He had to have had help, which meant that one of Sacha’s men had betrayed him.
He was going to be so angry. Sofia had to find a way out of this mess. But she couldn’t see how with her hands tightly tied in front of her and her feet secured to the legs of the chair.
“Quiet now,” he told her. “We don’t want to scare Ms. Toresso.”
Miller? He was calling Miller? Why was Oleg suddenly interested in her?
Sofia guessed that it could only be because of her connection to Rogan.
Suddenly, someone walked in behind her and a hand was slipped over her mouth. She couldn’t see the person, which only added to her terror.
Who else was there?
“This isn’t Sofia,” Oleg suddenly said into the phone. “Although she close by. Are you alone? Think careful before you answer.”
Oh God. What was he planning?
She tried to scream at Miller from behind the hand. But it was no use. Finally, she drew her head back, giving her enough space to bite down on the hand.
God. It was so gross. Salty and disgusting.
The man behind her let out a muffled curse, dropping his hand away.
“Don’t do it, Miller! Don’t listen to—” Sofia’s voice broke off with a scream as the hand returned to her mouth. Only this time, the person squeezed harder, bringing tears of pain to her eyes.
God.
What was happening?
“Miller,” Oleg said slimily. “You listen good unless you want me to hurt your friend.”
Suddenly, the guy removed his hand and, grabbing her hair, tugged it back hard. The pain was immediate and made her cry out.
“A car is outside for you to sneak out and get in. It going to bring you to me. You tell anyone and she die. You understand?” Oleg warned.
Tears ran down Sofia’s cheeks. But that hand was back over her mouth, keeping her quiet.
Don’t do it, Miller. Don’t come for me.
I’m not worth it.
“Get in car. You got three minute. Time tick away.”