Chapter Nine
My eyelids flutter open, heavy and sluggish. Before fully registeringmy surroundings, I feel the unfamiliar sensation of silky sheets cradling my clammy skin. Panic shoots through me as I struggle to sit up, only to realize that my hands are bound tightly to the metal headboard above me with thick ropes. My heart races as the realization hits me - I’ve been kidnapped. Fuuuuck.
Suppressing the fear and panic that threaten to overwhelm me, I take a deep breath and force myself to remain calm. While this may not be a common occurrence in my life, it’s not the first time I’ve found myself in a dangerous situation. And it probably won’t be the last. A side effect of the lifestyle I lead.
As my vision adjusts to the dimly lit room, I take stock of my body and surroundings. My dress and heels are still on. No one has touched me. Yet. It doesn’t mean whoever took me won’t try. Sighing in frustration, I try to piece together what happened and where I am. But my mind is a foggy mess. I can’t remember a damn thing. Right now, all that matters is finding a way out of these ropes and getting back to my apartment.
The room is too dim to let me make out much beyond the bed. I can see a door on the left side of the room, only because of the little bit of light beneath it. That door is my way out. I strain against the ropes. The coarse fibers bite into the skin of my wrists with every futile attempt. Whoever tied these ropes knows what they’re doing. If I can just get the ropes loose enough, maybe I can reach the blade in my bra. As long as it’s still there, that is. It’s light enough for me not to feel it. A harsh burn spreads over my skin as I twist and contort my hands. The ropes hardly move an inch. My hands cramp, aching from the constant force.
There’s a creek right outside the door, causing me to freeze. I hold my breath, my ears straining to hear any movement. Another creak, closer this time. Someone is out there. A split second later, the door handle begins to turn. The golden knob squeaks as it does.
A tall figure steps into the room as the door slowly swings open. His silhouette is framed by the faint light filtering in from the hallway, casting a shadow that dances along the walls. I squint my eyes, trying to make out his features as he closes the door behind him and steps further into the room. His footsteps are heavy. He walks around the bed, sticking to the shadows like an unfortunate leech. The man reaches his hand out. I swallow the instinctive urge to flinch and force my body to relax. I stare at what I assume are his eyes. His face is shrouded in darkness. I hear a click right before the room is flooded with light.
The sudden brightness makes my eyes sting. It’s only a tabletop lamp, but the sun might as well be in this room. Squinting up at my captor, I can make out the sharp edges of his jaw. He’s dressed in all black. The sleeves of his button-down are rolled up, exposing his corded forearms decorated with tattoos. His stormy oceanic eyes meet mine.
One glance and all my memories come rushing back. Thomas Taylor. The Volkov brothers. Dmitri and Kaz attacking me. Me getting away. One of them must’ve drugged me as I was leaving. God, turning my back on them was a rookie fucking move. Declan will never let me live that one down once he finds out. And he will. If he doesn’t already know. Hell, he might already have the address of their Vegas safehouse. He’s probably on his way here right now.
Kaz Volkov stands before me. A feeble smirk plays on the corner of his lips as he rakes his eyes over my bound form. His chest puffs out as if he’s admiring his own work. Tension crackles between us in the silence, a heady mix of fear and attraction.
Kaz’s eyes bore into mine, a predatory gleam flashing in their depths. He takes a calculated step closer. His tall frame casts a shadow over my body. The weight of his presence is suffocating. Like a hand pushing down on my chest, holding my breath captive. A cloud of pine and citrus fills the space between us as he leans over me. The scent adds another hazy layer of lust over my mind.
“Vivienne,” he rasps. “Do you remember anything?”
The reminder of my kidnapping is all it takes to dowse the flames of my attraction. Kaz sits close to me on the bed, as if we’re friends. As if he didn’t tie me to his goddamn headboard. A flash of rage shoots through me.
“I remember enough to know you drugged me.”
Kaz sighs, pushing a strand of hair that fell free from his man bun behind his ears. “That was Dmitri. He only did that because you wouldn’t cooperate.”
“Cooperate?” I scoff. “Want me to cooperate? Take these fucking ropes off, and I will.”
He chuckles. Nothing but humor lighting up his eyes. It takes me by surprise. Much like he did in our last exchange. Because this man in front of me doesn’t resemble the boogeyman who has stories flowing from Russia to Vegas. He seems… playful. Eager to please like a puppy. Is it an act? Did he tear a page out of Kidnapping 101?
“Not going to happen, princess,” he replies, patting his bicep right above where my blade was buried. “Learned my lesson last time.”
My eyes drop to his arm. His black shirt hides what I’m assuming would be a pretty gnarly wound.
“How is the arm?”
“Nothing the doc couldn’t fix.”
My ears perk up. There’s someone else here. Someone besides the brothers. If I’m lucky, he’ll be a Vegas doctor. Someone the Volkovs are blackmailing or paying. If the Universe really loves me, he’ll be someone who knows my family. Maybe he can let me out of these ropes. If he can, I can find my own way out. I can get the doctor out too.
“Thirsty?” Kaz asks.
I consider lying and saying no just out of spite. But my mouth is drier than the Las Vegas deserts. Besides, if I want to see the doctor, I need to seem helpless and weak right now.
Nodding, I lean forward as much as I can. I watch him reach into the cabinet below the nightstand. He pulls out a bottle of water. It’s foggy, like it’s been chilled. There’s a crack as he breaks the seal and places it at my lips.
“Drink,” he says.
Closing my lips around the opening, I let the cool water slide down my throat. Kaz raises the bottle little by little. The way he stares at me is unnerving. He looks at me as if he’s reveling in the presence of a Goddess. As if I’m something worth worshipping. Doesn’t he know I’d just as soon cut his tongue out as I would suck his dick? I mean that hypothetically, of course. Kind of.
I pull back from the water. Kaz takes it back before it manages to spill onto my chest.
“T-thank you,” I say, playing into the little helpless kitten act.
If he’s going to pretend, it’s only fair I do too.
“You’re welcome. Is there anything else you need?”
“Now that you mention it, I could use the doctor.”
The shine in his eyes mimics concern. “Are you hurt?”
His voice comes out harsh. It’s like getting a peek behind his mask. I see the darkness. The violence. The pain. I recognize it in the depths of his eyes. I see it my own every day. Maybe those rumors carry some truth.
“Where are you hurt?”
“It’s the ropes. They’re too tight.”
Kaz drops onto the bed next to me. He leans in close to inspect the ropes. Warmth radiates off his powerful body. I close my eyes, soaking it up like a needy sponge. Maybe celibacy is getting to me after all. Has to be.
He pulls on them a little, loosening them just a smidge. “I’ll call the doctor to take a look at the burns. But I can’t take them off. Not yet. Not until you know who you belong to.”
I furrow my eyebrows. Who I belong to? “What the fuck did you just say? I don’t belong to anyone.”
Kaz looks down at me. Our faces are only inches from each other. He leans in close, so his lip is right next to my ear.
“We’ll see about that, princess.”
He backs away. “I’ll get the doctor.”
Kaz leaves me with my jaw on the ground. He’s crazier than the rumors said. Like, certifiable creepy-stalker insane. Fit to be committed. His brothers should really get him some help.
Ten minutes later, Kaz returns with an older man. I don’t recognize him. But that doesn’t mean he still won’t help me. The moment he speaks Russian to Kaz, my hope dies out.
The doctor gets close to the ropes. His onion-scented breath is almost too much for me to handle. It’s disgusting.
“Could you back up a little, please?”
“Is he bothering you?” Kaz says.
“His breath is terrible.”
Kaz shouts some orders in Russian at the doctor. The doctor grumbles but takes a step back. It’s just enough to let some fresh air between us.
The doctor pulls the ropes free, letting my arms fall to my sides for the first time in a while. Based on the way my arms whine as they fall. My wrists are red and rough, burned by the ropes.
Kaz curses beneath his breath. “I told him not to tie it so damn tight.”
“Dmitri?” I ask.
He nods.
I wince as the doctor starts dabbing some liquid on my battered skin. “Do you always bring your doctor on trips to Vegas?”
“Our doctor doesn’t travel with us ever.”
“Obviously he does,” I say. “How else would he be here in Vegas? Teleportation?”
Kaz chuckles. The sound is more malice than humor. It sends a shiver down my spine. Like the moment you know danger is just around the corner.
“Sweetheart, we’re not in Vegas.”