Page 67 of Devil's Bride

My eyes prickle with tears as memories flood into my mind. I’m plunged into the past when I was nothing but a helpless little boy. The images that flash in my head are like a nightmare; all the times my father hit my mother, and the night when he killed her.

And I just stood there, helpless.

That is how weak I am. They’re taking my wife and I can’t do anything. I start to slip into darkness again, but all I can think of is Irina.

I can’t die. I need to save her.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Irina

Pain trickles into my awareness, followed by voices I’m not familiar with. Voices that make me feel like I’m trapped in a nightmare.

I have no idea where I am, but the first thought that comes into my head as I slowly regain consciousness is Alexei’s name.

He’s not here with me. I know because I listened for his voice among the other voices. He’s not here because I can’t smell his woodsy scent.

I try to open my eyes, but they feel heavy as if they are weighed down by invisible chains. A sharp jolt of fear courses through me as I realize I can't move. Panic rises in my chest, making it hard to breathe.

“Stay calm,” a voice says, cutting through the haze of my mind.

I can’t open my eyes, and I can’t feel any sense of comfort. I feel sick to my stomach, but I’m too weak to ask any questions or cry.

I’m pulled by a wave of darkness, and I don’t fight it. I allow it take me.

***

I regain consciousness again, and fortunately, I can open my eyes this time.

As the fog in my mind clears, I realize I’m lying on a cold metal table, my hands bound by rough rope.

Panic surges through me as I try to remember how I ended up here. The last thing I can recall is going upstairs to take a shower and putting on the dress I’m wearing now.

I’m not certain, but I think I heard someone enter my bedroom. Everything after that is a blank void.

Things begin to make sense. Whoever entered that bedroom was not Alexei, and I’ve been kidnapped.

My blood curdles and a shiver shoots down my spine. Where is Alexei? He would never let anyone take me unless… my eyes sting with tears. Something is wrong, Alexei is in trouble.

I struggle against my restraints, but the ropes hold firm, digging further into my skin the harder I try.

“Look who is awake.”

I crane my neck to the sound of the voice. Air drains from my lungs when I see Igor standing above me. His hands are shoved in his pockets and he has a grim look on his face.

“What are you doing here?” I feel stupid for asking because I know exactly why he is here. He works for Paulo. It was his voice I heard in that car.

“What do you think I am doing? Christmas shopping?” He chuckles sardonically. “I missed your pretty face. How long as it been since last spoke? A month? Two?”

I look at his leg. “I see you’re healed enough to run your mouth.”

He prowls toward me, and before I can predict what he’s about to do, he slaps me across the face. “Watch your mouth, whore.”

A metallic taste fills my mouth. My jaw feels like it’s just broken into a thousand pieces. My hands are clammy from how terrified I am, but I don’t dare show it. Men like him will feast on my fear if he so as much as senses it. “You betrayed Alexei, fucking traitor.”

“He betrayed me first.” His hands clench into a fist. “He could have married my daughter, but he chose to marry a whore like you, and then he had the nerve to shoot me because of you.”

“You betrayed your Pakhan because your ego was hurt?” I huff out a laugh even though all I want to do right now is cry. “How interesting.”

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