Chapter 15 #2
It’s built to keep people out, for sure, but I couldn’t see it not having the same feature for keeping people in.
This was my life now. Trapped in a palace with a monster as my guardian.
Before Nikolai could move to open his door, mine swung open from the outside.
A pair of warm brown eyes met mine, and a hand extended toward me in invitation.
“Welcome to the Volkov estate, Miss Battaglia.”
I studied his face for a second, trying to decide if he was friend or foe.
Handsome, with the same dark hair as Nikolai, but softer features, a tan that gave him a glow that contrasted with the scenery.
There was an unmistakable resemblance, though.
Where Nikolai’s eyes were ice, this man’s held warmth. They had to be family.
For a moment, I just sat there, unsure if accepting his hand was a good idea or a terrible mistake.
My eyes flicked to Nikolai, who had gotten out of the passenger side and now stood completely still, watching and waiting.
There was something dangerous in his posture, a coiled tension that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
Finally, I placed my hand in the stranger's and let him help me out of the car. As I stepped down, my foot caught on the edge of the car’s floor mat, and I stumbled forward, right into his arms.
With one hand wrapped around my waist and the other still gripping my hand, he steadied me, preventing me from falling. Slowly, he helped me back to my feet while my cheeks burned red with embarrassment.
“Careful there,” He smiled. “Are you hurt?” His attention was fully on me, his eyes taking in the scrapes on my hands, the cut on my forehead, the angry red marks on the corners of my mouth, and even the cut on my throat.
Concern creased his brows as he gently lifted my chin to better assess the bruises and scrapes on my neck. “You need a doctor. That cut looks–”
“Touching other people’s toys already, Alexei? I thought you’d grown out of that.”
I couldn’t help my head from snapping towards him in outrage. Heat crawled up my throat. Humiliation first, then the burn of anger. I wasn’t a toy, and I definitely wasn’t his.
I was about to say something before Alexei spoke.
“She needs to be seen.”
“She’s fine.” Nikolai snapped, his tone dropping a couple of octaves as if he were taking offense to the thought of him not taking care of me.
“I’m okay,” I reassured.
“If you’re sure.” He trailed off, waiting for my confirming nod as his hand dropped from my face.
“My name is Alexei Volkov,” he said with a genuine smile directed at me, completely disregarding Nikolai’s blatant attacks and sour mood.
“It’s a pleasure to have you at our estate.
I hope your journey wasn’t as difficult as it looks. ”
A pleasure? Was he serious?
“I–” I started, but Nikolai’s voice cut me off, sharp and unwavering.
“She’s not a guest, Alexei.” Nikolai barked, “Weren’t you supposed to be in Brazil or something?”
The warmth immediately drained from Alexei’s expression as he turned toward him, disregarding his question altogether. “She’s mafia royalty.”
“She’s a prisoner.” Nikolai’s voice was flat and final, continuing as he took a menacing step towards Alexei between each sentence. “Not a guest.” step, “Not a visitor.” step, “Not royalty.” step, “A prisoner.”
I flinched at the word and the casual cruelty in his tone.
Alexei’s jaw tightened as he stood his ground and raised his head to meet Nikolai’s gaze. He was just slightly shorter, but just enough to make Nikolai’s impressive height seem intimidating.
I watched Alexei’s hand flex at his side as they stood there for a second before he broke the silence. “That’s no way to treat–”
“Prep the basement for her,” Nikolai cut him off, walking toward the entrance without looking at either of us. “She gets a bed, clothes, basic necessities. Nothing more. And make sure to post someone outside her door. She’s prone to getting into trouble, and I don’t want her wandering around.”
“The basement?” Alexei’s voice held disbelief. “Nikolai, you can’t be serious. At least give her a proper room.”
Nikolai spun around, and the look on his face made even Alexei take a step back. “Did I stutter? The basement. Now.”
The two men stared at each other, some silent battle of wills playing out once again. Finally, Alexei’s shoulders dropped slightly in what was clearly defeat. He had no power over the great Nikolai Volkov, and that was clear.
“I’ll take her down.” Alexei finally gave in, his hand resting on the small of my back, over my bulky jacket, directing me to the entrance.
“Not you. Adrik can take care of it.”
He turned to Adrik, who had been standing quietly by the car. “Meet us in my office once you’re done. Alexei?”
“It would be my pleasure to show Miss Battaglia to her room,” Alexei said, his tone carefully controlled. “Really, it’s no trouble at all.”
“You’ve done enough already.” Nikolai’s words were as cold as his eyes. “It’s been decided.”
Nikolai turned and disappeared through the massive front doors without another word, with Alexei following a few steps behind, leaving me standing in the cold with Adrik.
“The basement?” I repeated, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. “A kind upgrade from a tower, I see.”
“It’s not as bad as it sounds,” Adrik said, though he didn’t sound convinced himself. “Come. Let’s get you settled.”
He gestured toward the entrance, and I had no choice but to follow.
Inside was even more overwhelming than the exterior. Marble floors. Crystal chandeliers. Vaulted ceilings that made me feel impossibly small. Everything screamed wealth and power and a world I’d never belong to.
A world where women could be called prisoners and locked in basements while everyone pretended it was normal.
Adrik led me through a maze of hallways, down a set of stairs that seemed to go on forever. But when we finally reached the bottom and he opened a heavy door, I was surprised by what I found.
I was expecting a concrete dungeon with water dripping in the distance, like in that goddamned train tunnel. Maybe even bolted chains attached to cuffs to keep me in my place.
Instead, it was a fully furnished room. Small, but clean. There was a bed with actual blankets, a small bathroom, even a window set high in the wall that let in a sliver of natural light.
“I’ll have someone bring you proper clothes and food,” he continued. “If you need anything, anything at all, you can ask for me. The staff will know where to find me.”
“I need to go home.”
“We both know that’s not happening. At least not now.”
My shoulders slumped in defeat. I didn’t even know why I had hope in the first place. Maybe because Adrik was against this at first.
“Look.” He started, making me meet his gaze again, “I don’t know what happened in that cabin, but it’s clear that Nikolai is disturbed.
He needs to cool down before I can talk any sense into him.
Take this moment to rest and recover. There’s no use in fighting right now when his demons are in control. ”
“He’s never letting me go, is he?” My voice broke at the end of the question, finally showing my true despair.
“He might not have that option,” He confessed, and in all honesty, I didn’t understand what he meant. “Rest. I’ll send some food over, as well as warm clothes.”
I was hoping he finished that phrase with a “we’ll figure it out,” but it never came.
It seemed like this was my new reality. Little did Nikolai know that even this basement, that he’d thrown me in for punishment, was better than some places I’d lived.
At least here I wasn’t required to pay rent.