Chapter Three
Cerys
Getting to leave town should have been exciting.
I’d never been anywhere before. Being told that I would marry Viktor because he owned me, however, put a damper on my excitement.
If he’d asked me to marry him because he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me, then I’d have gladly said yes.
Viktor didn’t ask. He demanded, and it was the least romantic thing I’d ever heard, and I’d had some pretty vile things said behind my back plenty of times.
Buying new clothes hadn’t been as fun as I’d thought it would be.
Not that I’d ever shopped for my own things, but I’d dreamed of what it would be like.
The shop was packed, the hum of voices and people constantly knocking into me annoying at the least. It sounded as if a dozen people or more were in here with us.
If this experience would be the norm, I think I’d prefer buying stuff online or just letting Viktor pick out something for me.
It seemed he would have control over my every move anyway.
If it didn’t matter what I wanted, then I didn’t understand why I needed to be here.
“Mr. Petrov!” said an excited female voice. “It’s so good to see you again.”
Again? He’d told me this was a women’s clothing store.
Just how often did he buy clothes here? Even though he’d declared I would marry him, he hadn’t said a word about being faithful during our marriage.
Now that things had changed, I didn’t know if he still intended to be with only me.
I was starting to wonder just how many other women were in Viktor’s life, and rethinking him not using a condom.
If he refused to use one, I’d have to find a way to get tested often, just in case.
I knew denying him wouldn’t do me any good.
The Viktor I was observing today was different from the man who had taken me from my father’s house.
No, I couldn’t see him, but his words, tone of voice, and actions were different than before.
He was harder, colder. I didn’t like this one, and I didn’t know if I could trust him.
“Mary, we need at least a week of casual clothes, two cocktail dresses, two formal dresses, and all the underthings, shoes, and purses to match,” Viktor said.
“Of course, Mr. Petrov,” the woman said, and I could hear the simper in her voice.
I tried not to sneer at her. She was fawning over a man who was clearly standing here with another woman, but as she flirted with Viktor I realized she didn’t care.
Or maybe she had no need to worry. Perhaps she already shared his bed.
“I don’t feel well,” I murmured.
I didn’t wait for Viktor’s permission, nor stay to discover if he’d even heard me.
I walked away and managed to find the front door and step out onto the sidewalk.
Leaning against the building, I focused on breathing.
My stomach was churning and I seriously worried I might throw up.
Maybe staying with my father would have been a better option, not that I’d been asked.
Viktor had taken me as if I were no more than a possession.
At least with my father, I knew exactly what to expect.
He was nasty to me all the time. With Viktor, I felt off balance.
One moment he was kind, and the next… the next he was cold and unfeeling.
I felt his presence before he gripped my arm.
“Never leave my side,” he said, his voice low and deadly.
“I think I need to sit down,” I said.
I pushed away from the wall, breaking from his hold, and my knees buckled.
His arm went around my waist as he steadied me.
My throat convulsed as I fought not to embarrass him further by throwing up all over the sidewalk.
With a whimper, I broke free and rushed away from him, not knowing or caring where I was going.
I could hear him advancing on me, his steps forceful and angry, but when I felt the edge of the building, I slipped around the corner before the contents of my stomach came up.
Tears flooded my eyes, only making things worse.
His hand pressed against my back, his scent wrapping around me.
“I’m sorry,” I said softly, wiping the moisture off my cheeks. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“ Myshka , if you’re sick, you need to tell me. Don’t run off. You could have been hurt.”
“I don’t want to shop right now, Viktor. Could you just pick out some things for me and let me wait in the car?”
“Of course.” I felt his arm slide around my waist, then he began leading me back in the direction we’d come. I heard the car door open and he helped me inside, leaning across to start the engine. I felt the breeze from the vents and took in a shaky breath. “I’ll only be a few moments, myshka .”
I tipped my head back and shut my eyes, wishing I could shut out my new life just as easily.
I’d thought perhaps being Viktor’s property would be better than being with my father, but I was starting to have my doubts.
Anyone else might have been honored to be his wife, but I knew he wasn’t marrying me for the right reasons, and it hurt.
True to his word, he returned what felt like five minutes later, opening and shutting the trunk.
I assumed he’d purchased whatever he thought I needed, and then he slid into the car and I felt it pull back into traffic.
The drive to the airport was quiet. Once we reached the airstrip, Viktor mentioned we were traveling on a private jet and led me to some stairs.
I had a bit of trouble climbing them, the incline steep and my legs not so steady.
Once I was seated and buckled, Viktor went back to ignoring me, speaking in Russian to whoever else was on board with us.
He didn’t even bother to introduce me to anyone, but then what had I expected?
It wasn’t like I was an important part of his life.
I pretended to sleep the entire flight to Las Vegas, not caring that I was hungry or thirsty.
I just wanted to get the flight over with, as well as our farce of a wedding.
The future was looking rather bleak, but I didn’t fool myself into thinking I had a choice or any control over my fate.
Thanks to my father, I belonged to Viktor, and I had a feeling that’s how it would stay until I died or he grew tired of me.
“We’re in Vegas, myshka ,” Viktor said near my ear. I lifted my head and stretched my arms over my head.
He unbuckled my lap belt and helped me stand, then assisted me down the steps to the ground below.
To anyone else, he might seem like a caring man, worried over his fiancée.
If only that were true. A driver greeted us, and Viktor helped me into the waiting car, then we were leaving the airport.
I heard Viktor ask about procuring a marriage license, and my stomach started knotting again.
I knew that I didn’t have to say yes when the wedding officiant asked me to repeat the vows, but what would happen if I said no?
Viktor didn’t seem to be the type of man someone should cross.
Getting the license was simple enough with only an hour wait. While it was being prepared, Viktor took me to a hotel and got a suite for us, then had our things taken upstairs.
“ Myshka , there’s an errand I need to handle before we get married. Please stay in the suite and don’t try to wander. I don’t want you to get hurt or lost,” he said, then brushed a kiss against my forehead before leaving.
Was this to be my life from now on? I wished I had a friend to call, someone to confide in.
But I didn’t. No friends, no family, no phone even if I did have either.
It was just me, and as much as I hated what my life with Viktor might be like, I knew I didn’t have anywhere else to go.
I didn’t own anything and had no way of earning money.
My father had ensured that I wouldn’t have options.
I didn’t know how long I sat in silence, alone with only my thoughts for company.
When the door opened again, I waited but didn’t hear anything other than soft footsteps.
My brow furrowed when something felt wrong.
Viktor would have called out a greeting by now, wouldn’t he?
And the scent was wrong. Whoever had come in didn’t smell like Viktor.
Their cologne was stronger, and far more bitter.
“Who’s there?” I called out.
Nothing. Silence. Total and complete silence.
My unease intensified, but there was nothing I could do.
Having never been here, I didn’t know the layout of the suite much less the entire hotel.
By bringing me here, then leaving immediately, Viktor had left me vulnerable.
I could hear someone rummaging through the drawers in the other room, and I stayed still, my heart pounding and a chill seeping into me.
If they didn’t find what they wanted, would they hurt me?
“Please, just take whatever you want and go,” I said.
Then wondered if that had been wise. What if they decided they wanted me?
Would Viktor even search for me if I went missing?
Would he care that I’d been abducted? Even worse, if he did care, I worried that he’d only be concerned that someone had dared to take his property.
I was no more important to him than his gun or his clothes. Just a possession and nothing more.
Something cold and metal pressed against my temple and I gasped when I realized it was a gun.
“Not a word to anyone, bitch, or I’ll be back.
Heard you can’t see, so I know you can’t identify me, but I don’t need anyone poking around and checking to see who accessed the room.
This time I’m only leaving with the cash, but you say one thing to anyone and I’ll take compensation out of your ass instead. Understood?”
I nodded frantically.