16. Nikolai
NIKOLAI
S ienna stares out the car window. Andrei drives the car in front of us, and two of my men tail us in a third vehicle.
She looks beautiful today in a loose, light-green two-piece outfit. Though every color looks vibrant against her sun-kissed skin, it has more to do with that ray of fucking sunshine that seems to beam out of her, even when she doesn't realize it.
She's wearing gold sunglasses, and although I can't see her eyes, I can tell she's nervous by the way she fidgets with her hands.
I feel like an asshole, and she's going to be extremely pissed. The last time I took her out was to make her dive with a shark. I certainly haven't given her any hints as to what today entails, but she's wise to know that something is about to happen .
“Where are you taking me?” she asks as we drive deeper into a wooded area and down a more inconspicuous road, where what looks to be a small, abandoned cabin comes into view.
The Wolf owns multiple properties scattered across Europe that house his alternative methods of torture and entertainment.
As directed, once a week, I’m to send him compelling evidence of his captive being very uncomfortable, for his own amusement, of course.
Despite it being my duty, it's becoming more difficult to execute something so cruel against her when I'm already having so much fun toying with her in my own personal way.
When I look at it logically, it would appear I'm becoming attached, not that I’ll ever admit it to Agata.
I'm not one to develop feelings for people, so perhaps it's because I know Sienna will be back in her world soon, and I'll remain in the shadows in mine.
Selfishly, part of me wants to brand her, fuck with her head so much that every day she’ll wake up in a cold sweat, still thinking about me once this is all said and done.
“Nikolai, I asked where you’re taking me.” Her tone has an icy bite to it.
“Do you trust me?”
“No,” she scoffs.
“Good. ”
She turns to look at me, not at all pleased with my response. Giving her a word of warning is impossible right now, not that I should even be doing that much, but I'm conscious of the fact that even in the car, there might be listening devices.
If I were The Wolf, I'd bug everything too.
The one room in the manor that I ensured I found and removed every camera and mic was her room.
The thought of someone as filthy as The Wolf having unrestricted access to her rubs me the wrong way.
Andrei saw me doing this and remained silent, so I assume we share the same sentiment.
We come to a stop in front of the worn-down cabin, and her body grows tense.
“Don't leave the car until I come get you,” I instruct her. She's not pleased when I slam the door and meet with Andrei.
I begin rolling up my sleeves. “No one is to enter. My fun isn’t to be ruined. Have the men surround the building, and immediately alert me if anything happens.”
“You don't need any assistance?” Andrei asks, and I give him a stern look.
“To make one woman scream and have nightmares for the rest of her days? No.”
He considers me for a moment. “You’re quite ruthless, aren’t you, Udav ? Make sure you don't step over any lines; we still need her alive. And why bring her all the way out here instead of torturing her back at the manor?”
I wonder if Andrei has caught on to the way I’m handling things. He’s lowering his own guard, and if anyone else suspected he was protecting her in his own way, worse could happen to him. But I leave nothing to chance, playing the part I’ve been paid for.
So, I smirk. “Have you ever heard of conditioning? It’s a game I like to play with my victims, if I choose to toy with them.
You let them gain a sense of safety in a particular location, and when you remove them from that location and take them to another to do unspeakable things, you train them that the outside is scarier.
They become reclusive, thinking they’re only safe in that initial location.
Besides, if I only played games in the manor, I’d get bored.
“Do you think we should remove a finger or two so we can send them to the Armanis so they might actually get off their asses and do something?” I add for ruthless effect, not that I would ever even consider harming her in such a way.
Andrei shakes his head. “No. Not unless the boss says it's okay.”
My expression hardens, showcasing my irritation. “Fine. I won't so much as even make her bleed. But I'll scare the fucking life out of her. I'll make her fucking scream.”
Andrei nods, then begins rounding up the men, shouting orders .
I walk back to the car and open the passenger door, offering her my hand. “It is time, little doll.”
“For what? For me to follow you into that creepy-ass cabin? No fucking thank you.” She goes to slam the car door closed, but I hook my hand over it to stop her.
“It wasn't a question. Either you walk willingly, or I’ll take you by force.”
Her eyebrows dip. “You’re such a fucking asshole.” She doesn't take my hand as she steps from the car. “I don't suppose you brought those knives with you?”
“There are plenty of other toys I can introduce you to,” I say as I close the door and gesture toward the cabin.
Andrei stops me in front of the door, speaking rapidly in Russian. “It would appear the power has been cut.”
My brow furrows. “What do you mean?”
“Even the backup generator is dead.”
Which means no electricity and no cameras.
“We should return to the manor,” he’s quick to suggest.
I shake my head. “No. If the Italian mafia is behind this, then we’ll finally see some action. If not, the boss needs to upgrade his facilities.”
Andrei’s eyebrows dip. “But, Udav , this bears risk.”
No risk that I’m not already aware of, because I’m the one who fucked with the power in the first place.
I curve a cruel smile. “But my bloodlust is at its peak, and if I don't get so much as a scream today, I'd hate to see who I'll take that out on … and how. I can find many who are more disposable than this woman. I will have my fun. Do we have an understanding?”
The Wolf will still demand his order to be fulfilled. It’s a gamble not recording it, but if his men hear the screams, then at least I’ve done my duty.
I can see the uncertainty in Andrei’s gaze, but instead of cowering from the order, he nods agreeably. In another life, I might have liked Andrei; however, I'm not in the business of liking anyone. I use people to further my own agenda.
I open the cabin door, and, as expected, only a few rays of sunlight slip through the dirty windows. There’s not enough light coming through the door for Sienna to make out what most of the room looks like.
She won't see the weapons and torture devices hung on what can only be described as horror walls.
“Where are we?” she whispers as I close the door behind her, sinking us into near-complete darkness. It’s cool in here, despite the warm day outside.
“This is a place of torture, mishka .”
I hear her sharp intake of breath and catch her as she makes a run for the door, covering her mouth with my hand.
“Listen to me very carefully.” Right now, I know I can speak freely, knowing that everything we say and do is completely off the grid.
“I've been ordered to make you very uncomfortable once a week. I'm sure it isn’t difficult to understand what I mean. The shark tank was the first. This is the second.” She bites down hard on my hand, and my cock twitches.
“Everything we say and do is being monitored.
Can you promise me that you won't react in any brazen way?”
She nods, perhaps too quickly, too agreeably, and the moment I remove my hand from her lips, she spins and knees me in my balls. I see bright lights as I pin her in place, fighting between sheer agony and a twisted sense of pleasure and pride. Good girl.
“You're such a fucking asshole. So, you goaded me into jumping in with the shark for your boss’s pleasure? I didn’t take you for such an obedient dog.”
“Careful, mishka . You don't want to bite the hand that feeds you. Up until this point, I've done my best to keep you as protected as I can.”
“Why? Because we've fucked a few times?” she bites furiously.
A haughty noise escapes me as I step closer, and I breathe in the air she exhales. “Because I've seen the things men like The Wolf do to women. I'm far from a fucking saint, but cruelty toward women and children is a line I won’t cross.”
Her back hits the wall, knocking the breath out of her. “I don't know what to believe when it comes to you.”
“Trust your instincts. They’re a better judge than you think. ”
“They’re telling me that I hate you.”
I chuckle, grabbing her by the throat, and nipping at her jaw.
“I fucking love how much you hate me. And the moment you get an opportunity to run away from my clutches, seize it. That's what a sane person would do. But today is not that day,” I whisper against her ear, unable to stop myself. The moment I touch this woman, I feel the need to brand her as my own, as if my previous markings aren’t enough. It’s never enough.
“I don't even know if I'm sane anymore,” she says, her voice low.
I rest my hands on her hips.
“Scream for me, mishka , like you’re in pain. Show me how good those acting skills of yours are. Make everyone outside believe that I'm your worst fucking nightmare. And if the performance is to my liking, you'll be rewarded.” I nip her collarbone, and she lets out a small yelp.
My cock is rock hard, and although she thinks she's not sane anymore, I know everything I’ve done with regard to her is damning. I’m only thinking of myself, acting in accordance with my own wants, savoring every taste until I know I have to hand her over.
But it’s suddenly becoming more difficult to imagine not torturing her daily or being struck down by her scathing tongue. And that fuels the feral beast inside me.
I unbutton her pants and then slide my hand into her panties, slipping my beaded bracelet from my wrist to rub it against her clit. “Fucking scream for me, mishka . Now.”