Page 19 of Kaid's Empire

Fourteen

Theia

I squint my eyes open; my head feels like a heard of elephants have stomped all over it. I groan and roll over, pulling the pillow over my head, laying there for a moment to gather my thoughts. There is a loud knock at the door. “No thank you, not today,” I yell. The knock happens again. I take the pillow off my head. “I said no thank you!” I shout again. Thankfully the knocking stops. I sigh, relieved. “I need pain killers and a gallon of water,” I grumble, trying desperately to muster the energy to get out of bed.

I roll onto my side and slowly move out of bed and make it to the bathroom. I splash cold water on my face and look at myself in the reflection. I've seen better looking people on the walking dead. “Oh God, Kaid must think I'm such a twat.” I shake my head. Why can’t I be one of those people that when they have too much to drink, they wake up the next morning not remembering a single thing from the night before? Unfortunately, I am not one of those people, I remember every single moment from last night. Especially what Kaid said to me before he left. Damn that man is intense.

“I can see why boss wants her,” a deep Russian voice says behind me. I scream and spin around to see three men stood in the bathroom, blocking the doorway. I grip hold of the counter tightly, fear coursing through my body. The one who spoke takes a step forward. Smiling, his eyes sweep my body, and I feel the bile rise up in my throat. I am very aware that I am currently cornered in the bathroom by three strange men. I look around me for something, a weapon, anything I can use to defend myself. “Tut, tut. Now you are to come with us without fuss. You are to come quietly, and you’re not going to give us any problems, are you?”

I spot the glass soap bottle to my side; it is the only thing I have. The only shot I have got. The guy takes another step closer, they all do, surrounding me, giving me nowhere to go. “Stop! Why are you here?” I ask, hoping it’s enough to stop them and distract them so I can reach for the glass bottle.

“Boss has ordered us to come get you,” the same guy repeats. I lunge for the glass bottle but it’s no use, he is on me, trying to grab me. I scream and reach with all I can to grab that glass bottle, and as soon as I have hold of it, I hit the guy hard over the head. “Arrgh! Fucking bitch!” he yells. Letting me go for a split second, I think I am going to make it out the bathroom door, but one of the other men sidesteps, blocking me. They shake their head. My body is shaking with adrenaline and fear. I am grabbed around my throat and slammed into the wall, knocking all the air out of me. The one I hit with the glass bottle stands squeezing my neck so tight I am struggling to breath. He snarls, blood running down his face from where I hit him over the head. “Fucking bitch needs to know her place.” And then its lights out for me as his fist connects with my face.

If I thought waking up with a hangover was bad, then I was wrong, because apparently waking up after you’ve been hit by a guy is so much worse. I moan. “Shhh, shhh, Kroschka.” I jump, my eyes springing open. I scuttle away, pulling the cover over me. Kaid is there. “It’s okay, Kroschka, you're safe,” he assures.

My eyes dart around the large bedroom. “Where am I?” I ask.

He stands at the foot of the bed, his hands in his trouser pockets. His gaze is even more intense, mixed with sympathy and anger. His jaw is clenched so tight I am surprised he has any teeth left at all.

“Where am I?” I yell, the action hurting my face. I hiss in pain, touching my cheek.

“You're on Allegra and Aleck’s boat, you're safe. The ones who hurt you will not get you here,” he assures.

I shake my head. “No, I need to go home. I need to go to the embassy and get my passport and I need to fly back home to England, like right now,” I state, panicked.

“Nyet,” he answers.

Stunned, my gaze snaps to Kaid. “What do you mean, no?”

“You are to stay here with me,” he adds.

I huff a laugh. “Yeah sure, okay, I will just stay here on this boat with you, a guy who I barely know after I have just been strangled and knocked the fuck out by some Russian guy, who you may or may not have something to do with, but it all seems a little coincidental, don’t you think?” I screech, getting out of bed. I wobble slightly on my feet but push past it. I see a robe hanging on the back of the door––even if I have to go to the embassy in a robe I will. “I mean, where is Allegra and Aleck? Do they know I am here? She will help me,” I rush out, wrapping the robe around myself.

“They are not here,” he answers.

“It was you, wasn’t it? This,” I say, pointing to my face and neck. “You did this to my face! You! I'm going, I'm done. Don’t follow me, don’t call me. Stay the hell away from me,” I seethe.

“Get back into bed,” Kaid orders, not answering my accusations.

I spin around to face him. “No! Now let me get the hell off this boat!” I demand, tears stinging my eyes. I just want to go home.

“Kroschka, get back into bed,” he growls.

“Fuck you!” I scream and turn to leave. Kaid grabs my arm, spinning me around until I'm backed up against the wall, his body pinning me.

“You will fucking stay here with me, do you understand?” he seethes.

I'm panting, terrified. “Please.” I whisper. His eyes soften for just a moment and his hand wraps around the base of my neck. My fear picks up a gear, so much so that my heart rate becomes erratic. He frowns as he looks to where his hand is, his fingers stroking my neck gently.

“I would never do this to you, Kroschka,” he states vehemently, his gaze on my neck.

“Just let me go home,” I plead.

“Nyet, you're mine. I cannot let you go.” He pauses for a moment before stepping back. “Get some rest, I will bring you some food later,” he adds before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.

I move to the door to open it, but it’s locked. I bang on the door. “Let me go, please!” I yell at the top of my lungs, but it is no use. No one comes. No one. The only hope I have now is my mum. Now is the time when I really want her to be calling in the army, the embassy… just anyone. She will have me out of here soon enough, I have to believe that.

Fifteen

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