Page 23 of Arranged Marriage By the Bratva

No. No. No. This isn’t mine. I want to speak, but my arm is dead, and so is part of my leg. What’s happening to me? Shit! I feel as if I’m moving in slow motion, even my heart rate won’t speed up. Inside, I’m freaking out, but it’s not registering on the outside.

Matteo returns, but I don’t know where he went in the first place. I can see his shoes and his face; it’s deadpan, and he feels cold. Oh, so cold.

“I already gave you water, Elena. I’ve got something else,” he replies smoothly, the glistening tip of a needle in his hand.

Panic bubbles up in my throat, but my limbs won’t comply to get away from him. Why do I feel so weak? “Matteo,” I rasp, my throat on fire. “What are you doing?”

“Just an add on to such a lovely night. A special dessert. Don’t try to resist, otherwise I’m going to have to use it.”

What? Confused with my head heavy, I watch the silhouette of Matteo cruising over to the curtains pulling them back and opening the window wide. Birds fly past the window, and the curtains move, but I can’t feel the breeze.

And for me, my body’s growing even heavier; I can barely move. I feel things being put around my wrist, but my arms are the first thing to go limp. God, why can’t I move them? What has he done?

I let out a small whimper, hoping he’ll stop whatever he’s about to do, but I watch in terror, my eyes droopy as he unbuttons his shirt, flinging it off, and the sick realization of what he’s about to do sets in.

Tears fall from my eyes, and I do my best to kick out my leg, but it flops aside, not working. I’m in his hotel room and he’s trying to—but I can’t move. Jerking my leg to the side, I force myself to roll off the bed, but it doesn’t work as I whimper again, words coming out in a slur.

“Matt-Matteo, please, why are you doing this?”

“Shut up, Elena. This is going to be worth it, and you’re going to like it.”

It’s too late because Matteo’s leaden body weight is on top of me, his scent, a mix of cologne, dirty sweat, and Limoncello. He grins at me, baring his teeth like a predatory wolf, but even with his face so close to mine, I can barely make out his finer features.

“Matt—” I slur, trying not to cry. “Matt—”

He slides his hand down the back of my cheek, blowing his breath on me. “Elena. God, I’ve wanted you for so long. I can have you now. This is what I deserve after all your years of refusal,” he confesses desperately. “Don’t deny how much you want me too.”

Shit. Please don’t hurt me, Matteo. Not you. It can’t be you. He unties the rope from my wrists as I find something inside that tells me to bite him. I go for his neck, but parts of my body are numb, even though inside my body is prepared to fight. I feel his hands hitting my body, but there’s only a numb feeling translating.

“That was the wrong thing to do, Elena,” he says, his eyes in a rabid frenzy. I fight him off as best I can, moving my head from side to side so his mouth can’t come anywhere near mine. It seems to be the only part of my body I still have power over.

“You left me no choice sweet, Elena.” Appalled, I feel the prick of tears in my eyes, my body partially paralyzed from the drug. I muster as much fight as I can, thrashing wildly in my mind, but in real time, I’m barely moving.

Bucking against his hands, I almost heave when I feel his hard cock pumping against my thigh. His scratchy beard rubs against my face as I try to flip away from him, but his lips hit mine, kissing me roughly.

“Matteo, stop!” I screech, wanting it to come out loud, but it’s more a hoarse, distant whisper instead.

I have to get away. How do I get away?

A surge of internal strength and adrenaline gives me just enough fight to raise my knee and find his balls. I use everything I have, and Matteo yelps.

“Fuck! Elena,” he groans, and while he’s distracted by the pain, I stagger to the moving table. The injection. Give it to him. See how he feels.

Grabbing it, I pick it up, stabbing him with it. Soon enough, Matteo loses his senses and faints, dropping to the hotel floor. Crawling as best I can, I reach the door, looking up at the handle.

I have to move quick to escape him.

Chapter Sixteen

Nikk

She’s acting differently since I’ve returned. Withdrawn, haunted even, and I’ve tried to speak to Elena, but she won’t talk to me.

Yegor is sitting across from me, and today she’s not in office. “What happened to Elena? Do you know, Yegor?” I ask, seeing what information I can gather.

Yegor stares at me blankly, shrugging. “Your guess is as good as mine. She didn’t show up to work the last couple of days either.”

“Oh, did she give you any indication why?”

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