7. You Like It, Dont You?
Chapter 7
You Like It, Don't You?
I walk swiftly to the kitchen, but as I turn the corner, I stutter to a stop.
Niko and Viktor are leaning against the wall. Viktor is playing with a knife in his hand.
“Leave,” I state steadily as I square my shoulders and prepare for a fight. I am not sure I can outwit these two men, but I’ll be damned if I don’t try. My grip tightens on the bloodied spoon in my hand.
“Looks like you caused quite a fuss,” Viktor says calmly as he pushes slowly off the wall. He makes a show of putting his hands up. His dark hair has fallen into his eyes. Both men have pushed their sleeves up.
I can now clearly see that Viktor has a griffin tattooed along his arm.
Before this country went to hell five years ago, there was a gang notorious for rescuing the enslaved.
The Griffin gang. Except the members had all but disappeared.
“A griffin’s wings will only take them part way.” Niko’s says softly. He hasn’t moved from his spot on the wall, but with his bare arms, I can see his matching tattoo, albeit much smaller. “We aren’t like the trash that lives here.” He spits on the ground. “Let us help. We can get you somewhere safe.”
I jut my chin out in defiance. “I may seem like a broken woman that needs saving, but I am not. I don’t need to be saved.”
“Clearly.” Viktor reaches up with the hand holding the knife. The tip finds my swollen cheek.
I don’t hiss in pain as he presses it in, drawing blood.
“Vik.” Niko’s tone is scathing.
“You like it, don’t you?” Viktor asks. His eyes twinkling in amusement, he moves the knife along my cheek. I can feel the burn as it breaks the skin.
But he’s right. I am enjoying the pain; the knowledge I can escape it. These men don’t scare me.
In fact, I find myself drawn to them both.
A banging noise from the bedroom has me jerking my face around. I ignore the searing of the long cut that is caused by my sudden movement.
“Sofia, that was dangerous.” It isn’t Viktor’s voice that causes me to whip my head back to him.
It’s that name.
Sofia .
“You know my name?” My heart pounds into my ears.
“We knew Katarina. We attempted to pull her out, but she was taken into the Masquerade along with some of our men during the extraction. We made her a promise that we would find you.” Niko has finally moved closer to me.
My sister. Katarina .
I haven’t allowed myself to grieve. To accept that she is really gone. But in this moment, a well of emotion threatens to overflow and drown me.
I stamp it down. Years of numbing myself are proving useful. It’s keeping me from falling apart. “She’s all I had left, and she’s dead. And besides that, I don’t need saving. I need revenge.”
Viktor holds his hands up in surrender. “What about this? We help you with your plans, and then we can figure the rest out from there?”
I eye both men speculatively. I could manage alone, but perhaps it would be more fun with help?
Their griffin tattoos have allowed me to trust them quicker than I would otherwise. And knowing my name? Katarina was one of the few who did. She wouldn’t tell men who would hurt me.
At least, I hope not.
A crash sounds behind us. Stephan and Bryton seem to have broken the closet door down.
I jerk my head in agreement. “Secure them to chairs in the dining room. Follow my lead. Do not intervene.”
Niko and Viktor exchange a look. The latter offers up a sultry smile. “We wouldn’t dream of getting in your way.”
“Well, go get them then.”
Niko raises an eyebrow but doesn’t argue. He reaches into a drawer behind him, pulling out a knife before following Viktor’s lead.
I walk to the dining room table, lifting myself on top and laying down, waiting for my guests to arrive.