Page 53 of Bound By Longing

MILA

Ican’t get either Damien or Dimitri off my mind as I lie in bed. What Damien did to me on that couch was electric. It has changed me forever; I know it. Pleasure is a part of my life now, all thanks to Damien.

But then, there’s Dimitri.

He was so angry when he found out I was with Damien. I know I didn’t make a full promise to marry him, but guilt still eats at me.

I get out of bed and head downstairs, too antsy to sleep. I’m desperate to see Damien again. I need to tell him we can try to be together. Mikhail won’t be happy about it, but he doesn’t control me. No one does.

I go for Mikhail’s keys again but find them gone. He must have moved them after I took his car the first time. Well, that puts a damper on my plan. I’ll just have to use public transportation to get to Damien’s house. I need to let him know I’ve chosen him.

After doing a quick internet search, I find the nearest location subway station in Moscow. That will have to do.

Once again, I run into Mikhail’s guard outside of the penthouse. He doesn’t stop me, but I know he’ll probably tell Mikhail I’m leaving.

I hurry to the subway station and get on the train that will take me to Damien’s house. It’s a short ride and quiet, especially at night when few people are around. After I get off the train, I still have a couple of blocks to go before I reach his house. I know this is dangerous.

But my need for Damien outweighs anything else.

I see his house in the distance and speed up until a car stops beside me. In the driver's seat, I recognize Lev.

Oh no.

I immediately take off running, but the car catches up to me. The back door opens, and … Dimitri jumps out.

He grabs me. “Not so fast.”

“Dimitri? What?”

“I knew you’d come to Damien’s house sooner or later. We were waiting for you. You’re coming with us.”

“Who’s us?”

“Lev and me.” He shoves me toward the car. “Oh, and you remember Vladimir, don’t you?”

Also inside the car is Vladimir, sitting in the passenger seat.

“You escaped all of us,” Dimitri explains, pushing me into the car. “You were supposed to be mine, Mila. But you chose Damien instead. I want my vengeance.”

He gets in beside me and nods at Lev to start the car.

“How do you all know each other?” I whisper.

“Lev approached me,” Dimitri says. “And I knew about Vladimir from Mikhail. I thought he would want to hurt you, too.”

“All because I didn’t want to marry you?”

Dimitri’s face darkens. “Yes. You seemed perfect, Mila. But you were whoring yourself out to Damien. I need to hurt you for it.”

“And what’s in it for you two?” I ask Lev and Vladimir. Maybe if I just keep talking, I won’t feel so afraid. I don’t think it’s helping much.

“I just want to hurt Damien,” Lev says.

Vladimir turns around and smiles at me. Chills settle over my skin. “I wanted to make a profit off you. Once Dimitri and Lev have had their way, I’m going to sell you.”

I try to open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.

I can only sit there, frozen in fear, until Lev pulls up to a new house I don’t recognize. “Take her inside,” Lev says. “I want to let Damien know we have her.”

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