Page 24 of Bound By Longing

“Oh, Sofiya.” I hurry to her side and run my hand down her hair. I know how much having a baby means to her. I also know it’s because of Mila’s disappearance that she’s so stressed. It’s not like she can just get over it with our baby sister missing. “I’m wreck, too, if it’s any consolation.”

She manages to smile and leans into me. “I’ll let it help me for the moment.”

I was never the most inviting or warmest, but I’ve changed since my marriage to Alek. I hold Sofiya as our husbands watch us.

I just wish Mila was with us. If she were, then everything would be all right.

MILA

The trunk opens before I run out of the car. I suck in a deep breath before I’m hauled out and shoved toward a grand, fine house. If this is Lev’s place, then he has money, which makes him even more dangerous.

He and his men force me into the house. They settle in the living room while I’m left standing. I’m too tense to sit even if I wanted to.

“What are you going to do to me?” I whisper.

Lev looks me over and laughs, which makes the rest of his men laugh. “Who are you to Damien, little bitch?”

“I told you. I’m no one. I only just met him.”

“See, the thing is.” He leans forward, resting his arms on his knees. “I’ve never seen Damien stand in front of a woman before. The dancers at his club are just for fun, but he doesn’t care for them. But I saw how he didn’t want me looking at you when I showed up at the club. He yelled at me to leave. If you don’t mean anything to him, then why would he care if I look at you?”

“He doesn’t,” I say quickly.

“You’re sure about that?”

Not one bit. I have no idea what Damien wants from me or why he’s interested in me. I just know I’m well out of my depth here, partaking in a game I never chose to partake in.

“I’m sure,” I tell Lev, hoping my tone sounds confident. It doesn’t at all. My voice wavers too much to sound convincing.

Lev looks over at his men and laughs again. I wished he’d stop doing that. It makes me feel more alone and stupid like I’m missing the joke. Well, I guess I am the joke.

“So, you’re not a dancer at his club?” he asks.

“No.”

“What do you do?”

“Nothing.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Nothing? Then how do you get by in life? Have a rich husband?”

“I don’t have a husband.” The moment the words are out of my, I regret them. I shouldn’t be telling Lev anything about myself.

“Then you’re free game,” he says darkly, sending shivers over my body. “Can you dance?”

I danced ballet for the first eighteen years of my life until I chose to quit because it wasn’t my passion. But I’m not going to give Lev any ammunition over me.

“I can try,” I whisper.

He sits back in his seat and waves a dismissive hand at me. “Then try.”

I look around the room at his men, their expressions hungry and eyes filled with lust. The moment my father died, I went from a sheltered angel to a young woman thrust into a world filled with vultures. All I want is to feel safe again.

But no one can give that to me.

“There’s no music,” I manage to say.

Lev laughs again, making me flinch. “You don’t need music. Just dance.”

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