Page 28 of Kidnapped By the Bratva

As we leave the event, I can’t help but think about how easily Kace folded. He’s desperate, and that desperation is going to destroy him. He doesn’t even realize that the money is just a distraction. The real game is about breaking him piece by piece, watching him lose everything he cares about until there’s nothing left.

Chapter Fourteen - Sophia

I sit in the car, my wrists tied tightly together, the rough rope biting into my skin. The cold leather seat beneath me feels unwelcoming, but not as unwelcoming as the man sitting beside me—Maxim. His presence fills the confined space, his silence only making the tension thicker.

The road stretches endlessly ahead of us, barren and desolate, with no signs of life around. I glance out the window, the anxiety bubbling in my chest growing by the second.

“Where are you taking me?” I ask, my voice steady, though my heart races. I need answers, something to latch on to in this nightmare.

Maxim’s eyes remain fixed on the road, one hand gripping the steering wheel with an eerie calm. He doesn’t look at me when he speaks, but his words cut through the silence like a knife. “Cheer up, Sophia. You’re going to see your father again.”

My breath hitches, a knot tightening in my stomach. The way he says it, as if it’s supposed to be some kind of twisted gift, makes my skin crawl. A thousand possibilities flash through my mind, none of them good. If I see him, what will happen next?

I swallow, my throat dry. “See him and what then?” I ask, unable to keep the tremor out of my voice. “Do you plan to kill me in front of him? Then kill him too?” The words spill out, raw and filled with fear. My mind is spiraling, picturing the worst possible outcome.

Maxim smirks, finally turning his gaze toward me, though it’s devoid of warmth. “Good idea,” he muses, his voice laced with amusement. “No. I have other plans.”

Other plans. The weight of those words sinks into me like lead, and I feel my heart plummet. My skin prickles with dread. “What plans?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

His eyes flicker with something dark, something dangerous. “We’re going to use you as bait. When your dear father comes to save you with his precious money, we’ll catch him.” He turns back to the road, his tone calm as if he’s explaining the weather. “After that, we’ll have a little fun. Torture him, break him. And when he’s at his weakest, I’ll harm you right in front of him before I kill him.”

I stare at him, horrified, my mind reeling. He’s a monster. The thought pounds in my head, over and over. I had known he was dangerous, that his world was built on cruelty and power, but hearing him say it so plainly, with such cold precision, terrifies me in a way I hadn’t expected. My hands shake in my lap, the rope cutting deeper into my wrists as I try to stay calm, to think of a way out.

“You’re insane,” I breathe out, barely able to speak.

Maxim chuckles, the sound low and menacing. “I’ve been called worse.”

The car continues down the deserted road, and I can feel the hopelessness settling in. There’s no one around, no one who can save me. I’m trapped. Maxim is taking me to my father, but not for a rescue—only to use me to destroy him. I’m powerless to stop it.

Finally, the car slows, turning off onto a dirt road that leads to an even more remote location. My heart sinks further as we pull up to a small clearing surrounded by trees. There’s nothing around—no buildings, no signs of life. Just us. Maxim kills the engine and steps out of the car, motioning to his men,who had been following us in another vehicle. They immediately fan out, taking positions in the shadows, weapons in hand.

Maxim turns to me, his expression hardening. “Out.”

I hesitate, but I know I don’t have a choice. My legs feel shaky as I maneuver myself out of the car, the ropes still biting into my wrists. The cold air hits my skin, making me shiver, though it’s not just the chill that makes me tremble.

He steps toward me, his tall frame casting a shadow over me, and for a moment, I think he’s going to strike me. My body stiffens in anticipation, but instead, he grabs my arm roughly, pulling me closer to him. His grip is firm, possessive, and I wince as he yanks me toward the center of the clearing.

His eyes bore into mine, cold and calculating. “You’re going to stand right here. When your father comes… well, I don’t know what will happen, but it’ll be fun.”

I swallow hard, my voice trembling. “You won’t get away with this.”

Maxim’s lips curve into a slow, chilling smile. “That’s what they all say.” He releases his grip on my arm and steps back, motioning for his men to get into position. “Now we wait.”

I stand there, rooted to the spot, the weight of the situation crushing me from all sides. My father. My captor. The trap closing in. The forest around us seems to grow darker, the silence pressing in on me like a vise.

All I can do now is wait. And hope.

The tension hangs thick in the air, the minutes dragging on like hours. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears as I stand in the middle of the clearing, the cold biting into my skin. The sun is beginning to set, casting long shadowsacross the ground, and my nerves are on edge. Maxim’s men are stationed around the perimeter, hidden among the trees, their weapons ready. They’re waiting for my father. I’m waiting for him. He was supposed to be here by now.

I glance at Maxim, standing a few feet away, his posture stiff with irritation. His eyes are fixed on the road, scanning the horizon for any sign of movement. The silence feels suffocating, my fear growing with each passing second. Where is my father?

Just then, the low hum of an engine breaks through the stillness. A car approaches, its headlights cutting through the growing darkness. My breath catches, hope and dread mixing in my chest.

The car pulls up to the edge of the clearing, and for a brief, fleeting moment, relief washes over me. It’s my father’s car. The familiar black sedan that I’ve seen a thousand times before. As the door opens and the figure steps out, my heart drops into my stomach.

It’s not my father.

Kristen, my father’s deputy, steps out of the car, carrying a black briefcase. My stomach twists in knots. This wasn’t the plan. Kace was supposed to come. He was supposed to face Maxim, to exchange the money for me. This is wrong—so, so wrong.

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