Page 16 of Scorch

My vision clears slightly, and the bridge lights illuminate the intense eyes of my captor. His expression is a mixture of concern and steely determination.

He’s holding me against him as if I weigh nothing. I’m sturdy and curvy… I’m not a petite little thing you might carry around like a doll. Only a man the size of a superhero would be able to hold me in his arms with such ease.

The thought only escalates my terror.

“I’ve got you,” he says. “You’re safe.”

Safe? Of course I’m not safe. We were attacked. I saw him beat my fiancé with his own hands.

As I struggle, another man appears, younger and more clean-cut, his expression serious as he speaks to my captor in Russian. I can’t fully hear their exchange, but the younger man’s presence adds to my fear.

“Put her in the back of the car,” a third man says, his piercing blue eyes locking onto mine. He’s tall and imposing, yet as solid as the others. “Vera can explain.”

Vera?

What?

“No! Let me go!” I demand, convinced they are kidnapping me. “Don’t touch me!”

“Lydia, calm down,” the one holding me says, his voice softer yet firm. “We’re not going to hurt you.”

How does he know my name?

But I’m too terrified to listen, my mind filled with my sister’s warning and the sight of Timur fleeing.

Is my sister working with the enemy?

She fucking married a Romanov.

“Please,” the big guy holding me says. “I’ll explain?—”

“Fuck.” Tires squeal as a car heads our way, driving at top speed. The big man holding me leaps to the side with me in his arms, crashing to the ground just in time as gunshots ring out. He cages me beneath him as if using his huge body as a human shield. From my vantage point, I can see the tall one stand and pull the trigger, one after another after another. Glass crashes, and one of the tires explodes before it slams head-on into the guard rail.

There’s a hiss of airbags, and someone screams, but no one gets out of the vehicle. I’m shaking uncontrollably, and I have the sudden urge to vomit.

“Ledyanoye Bratstvo,” the younger one says in a growl.

Someone’s opening a door. I struggle against his grip, but it’s no use. I’m overpowered, lifted in his arms, and pushed into the car as if I’m a doll. I slap at strong hands, clawing and screaming. One of them wraps something over my wrists, and another buckles me in.

“I’ve got this,” the younger one says. “Viktor, don’t murder me.” A roar sounds in my ears when something sharp pricks my skin. I scream, and the larger one tugs me against him.

“Enough,” the largest one growls in a voice that makes my heart stop. “No one touches her but me.” He slides in beside me.

“You’re not thinking straight,” the younger one says. “She’s wild and unpredictable, and we don’t have what it takes to keep her safe.”

“He’s right.”

The huge one roars like an animal but holds me against him. “I’ve fucking got her.”

“Jesus,” the younger one mutters.

“You’d better fucking pray to him. I’m going to beat your fucking ass for that.”

“He can’t think straight,” the tall one says to the younger one. “He’s out of his mind.”

What is happening? My head feels too heavy and strangely tight.

Oh God.

---