Chapter 8 #2
She was quiet for a moment. “And you’re just going to hand me over to him. Like a thing. A worthless thing.”
“That’s what you are.”
“Right. I forgot.” Her voice was bitter now. “Just a package to be delivered.”
“That’s right.”
My heart was beating so fast in my chest that I felt like it might just break its way through.
The words felt like sawdust in my mouth.
Because looking at her in the mirror, seeing the resigned slump in her shoulders and the way she curled into herself like she was trying to disappear, she didn’t look a single bit like cargo.
She looked like a woman who’d given up hope.
“Can I ask why?”
“It’s a simple trade, like everything in this life.”
“For money?” When I didn’t reply, she started piecing my puzzle together to the best of her abilities.
“No. It can’t be money. No one with financial issues would wear the suits you wear, would have a safe house stocked and ready just in case.
Would drive an expensive car and brandish a two-hundred-thousand-dollar watch while on a mission to kidnap someone.
So it’s not about money. He can’t be forcing you, either.
I don’t think you have the temperament to be bossed around, right, Boss?
” The way she called me that was bitter, filled with disdain and reproval. “So what is it?”
“A promise.”
Another pause as she thought about my answer, her words catching me off guard. “Let’s hope he fulfills it then.”
Smart little babochka. She was trying to manipulate me, weaken my resolve with uncertainty. Little did she know that she had hit the fucking jackpot.
I’d thought about it a million times, even before having to deal with her.
Vladimir Volkov enjoyed my pain and strength a little too much to willingly set me free.
The thought that he might just send me on a wild goose chase just to humiliate me further had crossed my mind more times than I could count.
She went quiet after that, which suited me just fine.
The road stretched ahead, leading to Vladimir’s estate. Leading to everything I’d worked for.
I felt nothing but anticipation. This was going exactly according to plan, and my father wouldn’t dare to deny me this time.
Three hours later, I pulled through the outskirts of D.C. and glanced in the rearview mirror once again. I’d held off on doing it since she caught me watching her, not noticing that Adrianne had fallen asleep against the window, her face relaxed for the first time since I’d met her.
Stupid babochka.
I reached back and shook her shoulder roughly. “Wake up.”
She jerked awake, blinking in confusion. “What–”
“How can you be so smart as to pull a damn phone from a dead body, and then be so fucking stupid to let your guard down and fall asleep alone in a car with the man who kidnapped you? Have you learned nothing?” Why that fact infuriated me so much was beyond me, but I could feel the heavy frown on my face deepening each second that passed with her merely looking into my eyes.
Adrianne turned her gaze back to the window, avoiding the ire that swam in my gaze. “There’s no reason to be alert.”
She let the words hang in the air, and I could hear the subtext. She didn’t feel threatened by me. Stupid little devka. Girl.
“It doesn’t matter what I do,” she continued, her voice steady, “I’ll still end up dropped off to a new owner like a dog. Sleeping in a moving car was probably my last moment of peace, going by what you said. Better that than being degraded and humiliated for four hours by a man with no heart.”
I should have felt satisfied by her resignation. Instead, something twisted in my chest and stung like a bitch.
“Here.” I pulled a small case from the glove compartment and tossed it to her. “Put these on.”
She opened it to find green contact lenses.
I was amazed to find how steady her hands were as she handled the case, despite the impending ruin that she was about to be dragged into.
Something told me Adrianne was too innocent to grasp the gravity of the situation, or maybe she didn’t care for her life that much.
“Vladimir thinks he’s getting Alison Battaglia. Green eyes, not brown.”
She stared at the contacts, then at me, hesitating.
“Does this mean you’re not going after my sister if I play my part?”
“So long as you’re Alison to my father.”
She nodded, determination clear on her face, “I need a mirror.”
I pulled down the sun visor with more force than warranted, gesturing towards it. Adrianne climbed over the center console before taking a seat and getting to work on placing the contacts in her eyes.
When she looked back at me, the green made her look like a completely different person, and I hated it.
“Better.” I forced the words out instead.
Smoothing her hair before pinching her cheeks to bring them some color, I watched her fix what had never been damaged. “I’m ready. I’ll be my sister, and I’ll keep your secret so long as you promise to leave her alone.”
“Let’s just get this over with.”
Twenty minutes later, we approached the massive iron gates of the Volkov estate. I stopped at the guard station, rolling down my window.
“We’re here to see the Ambassador,” I told the guard in English.
“Name?”
“Nikolai Volkov.”
The guard checked his list, then leaned closer, waiting for me to say the only words that would get me through this gate. So I switched to Russian, fighting myself not to roll my eyes as I muttered the words with as much derision as they deserved.
“Parol: Zimnyaya korona dlya Pakhan.” Password: Winter crown for the Pakhan.
The gates swung open immediately.
We drove down a tree-lined driveway that stretched for nearly a mile, leading to a massive mansion that looked like it belonged in a European fairy tale. Classical columns, manicured gardens, a circular driveway with a marble fountain in its center.
I parked in front of the main entrance and got out, walking around to open Adrianne’s door. She stepped out slowly, her eyes wide as she took in the opulent surroundings.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
“Don’t be fooled by the grace of the place,” I said, guiding her toward the entrance. “It’s still much worse than a grimy train car.”
The massive front doors opened before we reached them, revealing a butler in a perfectly pressed suit.
“Master Nikolai,” he said with a slight bow. “Welcome home. Your father is expecting you in the main salon.”
“Spasibo.” Thank you.
We followed him through a marble foyer that stretched three stories high, past oil paintings that museums would kill to display, down a hallway lined with Persian rugs that cost more than luxury cars.
Everything was perfect. Pristine. A fucking facade.
Just like the man who owned it.
“Nikolai.”
Vladimir’s voice carried across the salon before we even entered the room. He was standing by the massive fireplace, a glass of what I knew would be his finest scotch in his hand.
“Posol,” I replied, using his title instead of any intimate greeting. Ambassador.
His pale blue eyes mirrored my own, and I hated that we looked so alike. They moved from me to Adrianne, and I watched his expression change from mild interest to predatory assessment. A sly grin plastered on his face as he finally saw the weapon he’d use to bring down the Battaglia reign.
“And this,” he said, moving closer to us, “must be the infamous Alison Battaglia.”
He circled her like a shark, taking in every detail. The way she held herself, the defiant tilt of her chin, the green eyes that weren’t quite right, but close enough to fool him.
“Younger than I expected,” he murmured. “Prettier, too. The Italians certainly know how to breed beautiful women.”
I tensed as he reached out to touch her face, but Adrianne stepped back, maintaining that careful distance.
“Spirited,” Vladimir observed with amusement. “I like that. It makes breaking them so much more satisfying.”
“The job is complete,” I said, drawing his attention back to me. “Now we discuss payment.”
“Patience, syn.” Son. Vladimir’s smile was as sharp as a blade. “First, I want to get better acquainted with our guest. Afterall, she’s going to be staying with us for quite some time.”
“I have a plane to catch. You can get acquainted later.”
“You were always too eager, Niko. Too rushed. Lunch will be served in ten minutes. Let’s eat, and we can discuss the terms of your payment over drinks after.
” He sauntered close to Adrianne again, swiping a strand of her hair away from her pretty face, regarding her with more interest than I cared for.
“And you, my dear? I have a special place set for you, right on the floor beside me. You’re going to have to be a good little pet if you want to eat today.
But something tells me you’ll be a challenging little one.
” Without warning, Vladimir gripped her hair and pulled harshly so that her face was turned to the side while he whispered against her skin, “But there’s no use in defying me, Italian suka.
Bitch. You’ll see your empire fall and the rise of the Russian order.
Then, when you’ve served your role, I’ll keep you for myself.
My personal little breeder.” My hands clenched at my sides while my vision blurred with the need to punch my father to death.
“I bet you like it rough. We’ll find out later today. ”