Chapter 4 - Sienna
I opened my eyes groggily, rolled over, and landed on the floor.
“Ouch!” My eyes shot open. “What the hell?”
I sat up quickly and looked around the room, fear and adrenaline shooting through my veins. I wasn’t home. And I definitely wasn’t in my apartment. Then, memories from yesterday came rushing back.
The men in black.
The car ride.
Mr. Avit.
Signing a marriage certificate.
And then slamming the door in his face.
I lay back on the carpet and closed my eyes. I’d hoped it had all been just a bad dream, but it wasn’t.
“Shit,” I muttered. “I can’t believe I’m married to a man from the Russian mafia.”
After locking the door yesterday, I searched through my things and didn’t find my phone.
Of course, he’d taken it, so I wouldn’t call anyone.
But then, who would I even call? His family had ties to the bombings a few months ago and were still walking free.
I was sure they had the Philly police in the palms of their hands.
When Mandy went home and didn’t see me, she would’ve been worried sick.
I doubted he’d even bothered to message her to say I was okay.
But then, why would he? My father had offered me up like a damn lamb for slaughter, and Mr. Avit had accepted the deal, erasing my father's debt for a young, virgin bride. He was just as disgusting and despicable as my father. And, just like my father, I was sure he’d punish me and make my life miserable.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. “Great. Speak of the devil,” I grumbled, rolling my eyes.
I glanced at my watch. It was seven in the morning. What the hell did he want this early? Last night, we hadn’t consummated our marriage. What if he was just giving me time to get used to the place…and now he was back to have his way with me?
My heart raced.
“No, no, no.”
There was no way I was opening that door.
Another knock came, louder and more impatient. I scanned the room for a weapon, anything to fend him off.
Shit.
I wasn’t into sports, so no hockey stick, golf club, or even a damn tennis racket. Desperately, I dug through my bag, and I found it. A comb with a removable tail end that carried a blade.
“Sienna, open the door,” Mr. Avit’s voice came from the other side.
There was no way I was opening the door. My arm trembled as I held it out, the blade pointing toward the door.
“Sienna, if you don’t open the door, I’ll just use my key.”
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I tried to move toward the door, but my legs refused to cooperate, and my breathing quickened. I heard the key slide into the lock, the click echoing in the room. Then the handle pressed down, and the door swung open.
Mr. Avit stepped inside and froze.
“Sienna, I’m not going to hurt you,” he said softly.
“You forced me into a marriage, and you're keeping me here against my will, and I’m supposed to believe you won’t harm me? Did you suddenly get a conscience between last night and this morning?”
“I may be many things, Sienna, but I will never force myself on a woman,” he replied firmly, traces of anger in his tone.
But I still didn’t believe him.
My father had used the same tactics to lower my guard, tell me what he thought I wanted to hear, then mistreat me while claiming he was doing it for my own good. I wasn’t falling for that again.
“I…I don’t believe you.”
“I have a meeting this morning. Breakfast is in the kitchen; you must be hungry since you didn’t eat last night.
Wexler will take you to class and bring you back home.
You are not to tell anyone that you’re married, or that you’re my wife.
” His blue eyes darkened. “If you do…me hurting your father will be the least of your worries.”
Then he walked out.
My knees buckled, and I pressed my hand to my chest, struggling to calm my racing breath. Once I regained a moment of control, I ran to the door and quickly locked it again.
I didn’t trust Mr. Avit or Wexler. But I had to get to class; an exam waited for me, and I couldn’t afford to miss it.
The truth was, if Mr. Avit wanted to overpower me at any moment, he could. Maybe on the way to class, maybe tonight while I slept. I closed my eyes, and tears slipped out before I could stop them. I decided I’d cross that bridge when I came to it. For now, I needed to start getting ready.
At eight-twenty, there was a knock on my door. I was already dressed in a white hoodie and gray sweat pants, sneakers on my feet.
“Mrs. Safin. It’s Wexler. Are you ready? I’m here to take you to class.”
I grabbed my knapsack. My legs felt like lead as I walked to the door. I opened it.
“Good morning, Mrs. Safin.”
“Good morning,” I mumbled.
“There’s breakfast in the kitchen. We have a few minutes to spare—”
I cut him off. “I’m not hungry.”
“Ma’am, Mr. Safin insisted you eat something since you didn’t have dinner.”
“And what are you going to do?” I snapped. “Tie me to a chair and force it down my throat? I said I’m not hungry.”
Wexler simply nodded and motioned for me to walk ahead. We made our way to the black SUV in silence. He opened the door, and I slipped inside, two guards sliding in on either side of me.
Twenty-five minutes later, we pulled up in front of the campus. Wexler turned and held out an envelope to me.
I lifted a brow. “What’s this?”
“Spending money.”
I snorted. “You mean blood money? No thanks. I’ll pass.”
I turned to one of the men sitting next to me. “Excuse me.”
He ignored me.
“He’s not moving until you take the money,” Wexler stated.
“Fine.” I snatched the envelope from Wexler and shoved it into my knapsack. “Happy now?”
The guy next to me slid out of the car, and I hurried out and made my way inside.
I hadn't taken more than three steps inside when someone pulled me into a hug.
“Sienna! You're here! Thank God!” Mandy said frantically. “After what I heard happened yesterday, I didn't know what to think. Where the hell were you?”
She dropped her hands at her sides and looked at me. I didn't like lying to Mandy, but I needed to keep her safe. There was no telling what Mr. Avit would do besides hurt my father if I spilled the beans to Mandy.
“I had a bit of an emergency. My dad got a new job as a bouncer,” I lied, “and he was injured, so he got some of his co-workers to come get me. So I won't be staying at the apartment for a while.”
Even though Mandy was my best friend, she didn't know what a douchebag my father really was.
“OMG! I hope he'll be okay.”
“He'll be okay.” Then I nudged Mandy and changed the subject. “How was the party last night? And how cute did Kyle look?”
Mandy's eyes lit up as she rattled on, and we made our way to my first class. I tried to stay focused on the conversation, encouraging her when needed and laughing along. Inside, though, I felt as though I was slowly unraveling.
A few moments later, we stopped at the T-hallway.
“Wanna go grab some pizza after class?” she asked.
“Sorry, I have to study.” I forced a smile.
She rolled her eyes playfully. “Fine. I'll call you later, and this time answer your phone, would ya?!”
She blew me a kiss and hurried back the way we came as I turned right.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside, shaking off the ordeal from last night and forcing myself to focus.
I’d worked hard in high school and earned a scholarship for my bachelor's degree while taking care of my sick mother; I could sure as hell ace a test even after being forced into a damn marriage.
I had four classes that day with barely any breathing room, which I was grateful for. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me. Every time I turned around, though, there was no one unusual there. I chalked it up to paranoia.
It was four o’clock by the time I finally left the building.
Before I could wonder how long I’d have to wait for Wexler, since I hadn’t told him what time I’d be done, Dan stepped in front of me, forcing me to stop.
“Hey, Sienna.” He flashed me a smile.
Dan was cute, but there was something about Mr. Avit—maybe because Mr. Avit was older, his eyes wiser—that made him dangerously handsome.
Hell, why was I even comparing them? I tightened my grip on my knapsack.
“Hi, Dan. What’s up?”
“Well, Mandy gave me your message, that you’d only come to one of Jake’s parties if I manned up and asked you myself.”
I felt my face grow red, and he continued quickly, “And you’re right, I should’ve done it sooner. Jake’s throwing another one this Saturday, and I’d like you to come with me.”
A small smile curled my lips. “Did you ask Jake to throw another party just to ask me out?”
Dan laughed, and for some reason, I wondered what Avit would look like if he ever laughed instead of wearing that damn stoic expression. I quickly shut the thought down. I shouldn’t be thinking about him. Not after what he did.
“Can you blame me, though?” Dan grinned. “So, will you go with me?”
He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear and brushed his fingers against my cheek. Before I could step back, there was a crack, and Dan screamed in pain.
Wexler had appeared out of nowhere and snapped his fingers, the same ones he touched me with, the bone cracking with a sickening crunch. Dan crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain as Wexler grabbed my arm and all but dragged me toward the waiting vehicle.
It wasn’t until I was inside, sitting between two guards and Wexler was pulling onto the road, that my mind caught up with what had just happened.
“What the hell is wrong with you? You can’t just go around breaking people’s fingers,” I yelled at Wexler.
“I can, and I will break any limb or joint of any man who touches you inappropriately.”
“How the hell did Dan touch me inappropriately? He moved a strand of hair from my face! He didn’t even hug me.”
“Lucky for him, he didn’t. Or he would've lost his arms today.”
I folded my arms and leaned back. “You’re impossible.”
“I’m just doing my job, Mrs. Safin.”
“And what's that?” I glared at him in the rearview mirror. “Injuring my friends?”
“Protecting you, ma’am.”