Page 21 of Sacred Vow

“Of course. Let’s get down to it. I have a game waiting for me in the other room.” His eyes come back to me. “Who is this?” He tilts his head to the side, licking his fat lips. “Is she to share?”

Andrei takes another protective step in front of me.

“No. She’s mine.” The way he says it, with an anvil to the floor tone, sends a shiver through me. I look around the room, at the other men staring at me. I do my best to avoid looking at anyone in particular, but I can feel the danger in the room. They are all hunters, and I’m prey.

“She looks familiar. Does she have family we work with?”

The man’s eyes narrow, inspecting me, like he’s trying to place me. “Yeah, I think I’ve seen her before.” He wags a finger.

“You haven’t.” Andrei’s hand tenses around mine. “And she’s not staying. Viktor.” He pulls me behind him, handing me off to Viktor, who wraps his hand around my forearm.

I’m led away to the stairs.

“Did you have any luck at the tables?” Andrei changes the conversation, leading the man back into the room.

As I make my way up the first few steps, I look over my shoulder at the man. He’s watching me intently, like he’s still trying to figure out where he’s seen me before. I can’t place him, but his stare makes my skin crawl.

“Who was that?” I ask Viktor once we’re upstairs and walking down another hallway.

“No one you need to worry about,” he answers with the same arrogant tone Andrei uses.

“And the other men? What is Andrei meeting them here for? And what is this place?” I ask as he opens the door to a large room at the end of the hall. Two men are inside, waiting.

“Andrei wants the door watched,” Viktor tells them and they both file outside to the hallway, not giving me even a side glance.

“You’re not going to tell me anything.” I drop onto the leather couch and cross my legs at the knee.

He looks at me with an arched brow. “You’re not out with your friend tonight?”

“No. She had a date.” I fold my hands on my knee, watching his expression darken.

“With who?” It’s not so much a question as a hard demand.

I lift a shoulder. “No idea. Some guy she met on the train.”

His body goes rigid. His fingers flex at his sides before balling into tight fists. I probably should have left that part out. They only spent a few minutes together last night. I’ll need to question Marlena about it. It seems she’s made an impression on Viktor.

“Besides, your little friend has taken me hostage.” I lean forward. “Any chance you’ll help me escape?”

He turns for the door. “He’s my cousin. And no.”

“You’re just as much of a bastard as he is, aren’t you?” I question.

He opens the door before looking back at me. “There’s two men out here. If you try to leave, they’ll stop you and inform Andrei.”

And Andrei will probably come running up here to tear me apart.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I assure him, kicking off my shoes and laying my head down on the pillow resting against the arm of the couch. I’m tired, and I have no idea where I am. I’ll wait. Bide my time until we’re back at my place. On home turf I have a better chance of getting away.

I close my eyes and wait for the sound of the door closing before I turn over onto my side and curl my knees up to my chest.

Andrei can’t keep me locked to his side forever. I need to get away by tomorrow afternoon, though.

I just have to think of a way to get away from him.

But my mind keeps wandering back to his kiss.

His touch.

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