Page 119 of Sinful Lies

My eyes peel open, and I blink a few times as my vision comes into focus.

It’s dark, with only a sliver of light peeking through from beneath the door. But I can see just enough to know that I’m in a bedroom.

The walls are covered in faded floral wallpaper that’s peeling at the corners, and a large woven rug covers most of the floor.

I sniff and grimace at the musty smell.

Where the hell am I?

My limbs aren’t bound, which is a positive.

I climb off the small bed and circle around the space, running my hands over the walls and furniture, looking for anything that could be used as a weapon.

But it seems whoever is keeping me captive had the same thought as the drawers of the dresser are locked, and even the small chair and table in the center of the room are bolted to the floor. There’s bars over the window, so even if I could manage to smash the glass, there’s no way I could climb through it.

“Oh god.” My hand goes to my throat as my breath speeds up, my heart pumping in my chest.

There’s no way out.

I glance over to the window. The sky outside. How long have I been out? Is this still the same night I was taken? Does Dimitri realize I’m gone yet?

It must be over an hour at least since I was taken, right? Dimitri has to know I’m missing by now.

He’ll come looking for me.

He’ll find me?—

A key turning in the lock has me whirling around.

My heart stops as the door flies open revealing a giant of a man.

I cower into the corner as I take in his enormous frame that is squeezed into an immaculate three-piece suit. It’s a stark contrast compared to the shaved head and the tattoos that peak out beneath the collar of his shirt and trail up the sides of his neck.

He steps into the room.

“Hello, Zara. Or should I sayMrs. Koslov.” His mouth turns into a sneer as he speaks my name, but I keep quiet,eyeing the nasty scar that runs along the length of his jaw all the way to his temple.

I have no idea how my legs haven’t given out beneath me.

“I’m not impressed to learn that your husband lied to me, Zara.” The man takes another step into the room.

I flinch at his heavy footsteps.

“But I’m not surprised. It’s why Dimitri wasn’t my first choice of Koslov men to marry my daughter.”

He must see the realization dawn on my face as his lips pull up into a smirk.

“You worked it out, haven’t you?” He huffs a laugh under his breath, and the sound sends a shiver down my spine. “I’m Massimo Conti, and you stole Dimitri away from my daughter.”

I glare at him. “He was never hers.”

“Alexei and I made a deal, one that Dimitri broke by marryingyou,” he growls. “I was almost willing to let it slide when Dimitri had the balls to come and tell me himself why he kept his relationship with you a secret. But then I learned the truth.”

“Please,” I beg. “We never meant for this to happen. It was my decision to keep our relationship quiet, not Dimitri’s. Don’t blame him?—”

“Your marriage is a scam,” Massimo’s eyes flash. “It was simply a way for Dimitri to get out of marrying Lucia, but unfortunately for him, he’s got to pay the price.”

“No,please,” I sob, stumbling forward. “That’s not true. Please, don’t hurt him.”

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