Page 69 of Hear Me Roar

Rising to my feet brought on instant vertigo from the sway, my arms coming out reflexively in search of support. There was nothing, though, and as I stumbled a bit, I found myself actually scared to tread blindly into the dark. But I refused to let fear hold me back. Maya needed me as much as I needed her, and I was intent on finding her. Taking small steps, I kept my arms out in search of a wall because a wall would lead me to a door. There had to be a door, right? Not that I thought said door would magically be unlocked, but I’d cross that bridge when I got there. I just needed to find a way I could possibly get out. It felt like I’d been shuffling around a never ending black hole for ages when my hands finally hit a rough surface in front of me, allowing me to use it as the guide I needed. Sidestepping to the left, I followed the wall only a short ways before I felt aknob.

Yes…

It was locked, obviously, but knowing there was in fact a door sparked anidea.

“Hello!” I yelled, slamming the sides of my fists into the iron exitrepeatedly.

And I kept at it, over and over again, hoping to catch someone’s attention. Certainly Dimitri wasn’t the only other person aboard. At first, I’d thought my efforts were feeble, but after several minutes, a sliver of light finally creeped under the doorway. Footsteps resounded just on the other side and with my stomach trapped in my throat, I took a few steps back of my own as several locks came undone. Then the door flew open, followed by the blinding white light of a flashlight. Shielding my eyes, I watched a shadow inch toward me wordlessly, the sound of his breaths increasing as he made his waycloser.

“Where’s Maya?” I asked, trying to sound far more brave than Ifelt.

Shadow man chuckled darkly, the wicked sound raising the hairs at the nape of my neck. “You ask Dimitri when you seehim.”

That was all the Russian offered as he wrapped a large paw around my arm and yanked me out of whatever room they’d locked mein.

Iwas awoken suddenlyby whispers and snickers, the clinks of glasses on tables… Bright lights overhead blinded me the moment I opened my eyes, my natural reaction being to cover myface.

But Icouldn't.

I was restrained on atable.

Panic arose like wildfire as I took in the severity of the situation. My arms were stretched out on either side, suspended in the air, a thick crimson rope wound around my wrists. The end of each was entrusted to men I’d met at different functions. I couldn’t remember their names, but their faces I knew. Faces that, much like Dimitri’s, were ones I couldn't forget. They were bad men and the ill intent emanating purely from the cynical smirk on their lips screameddanger.

Then I felt the sway, everything rocked side to side, and that’s when I realized we weren’t on land, but out in the open water. The walls of the room were a dingy white, the steel molding around the top rusting over in some places. There was not a single window, not even a small round one, and the only way out a thick metal door, the hinges almost completelyoxidized.

Fingertips running up my legs snapped my attention away from my surrounds. Idly, I noted my ankles were restrained too, but I was more focused on the hand as it rose up my inner thigh and disappeared under my dress. A litter of goose bumps dotted my skin. I scrunched my eyes closed and willed myself to stay calm, but as a finger traced the seam of my most intimate area, I whimpered in purefear.

Make it stop,please.

“Mishka,” the voice I’d been dreadinggrowled.

My eyes snapped open to find Dimitri standing beside me. Clad in his usual attire of a suit and tie, his arctic green stare pinned me, forcing a burning lump down my throat. The sleeves of his black dress shirt were rolled up to his elbows, his dark tie loosely undone around his neck. With his finger still working over my panties, he leaned in closely and pressed his lips to my neck, inhaling me deeply. I cringed, which drew an unappeased growl from deep in hischest.

“I told you that you could not hide,” he murmuredvillainously.

A second later, my panties were gone, ripped right at the seams by his bare hand. Pain from the fabric digging into my skin didn’t even register, my focus solely placed on the fact that two thick fingers were now forcing their way inside me. My body tensed at the intrusion and a lone tear rolled free as fear proved – once again – just how powerful of an emotion it was, leaving me speechless, with nothing but a hum of disapproval and a jerk of my legs in defense. Shockingly, my resistance drew his arm back quickly rather than provoking him to continue his assault, but not before he slapped mycunt.

Hushed laughter detonated around me, reminding me that Dimitri and I were not alone. Embarrassment and mortification washed over me. I was on display to strange, wicked men, and there was nothing I could do about it. Tears shot up to the rims of my eyes anew, but I forced them back as I noticed that aside from the puppeteers, another three men in pristinely-kept suits sat around the table, a glass tumbler with a clear liquid nestled in their hands. Their expressions were as twisted and malevolent as therest.

“You see these men,Mishka?” Dimitri asked, setting my ankles free from their bindings. “They are men I had to cancel very important meetings with last minuteto come deal with you. So, now you explain...why did youleave?”

Tipping his head toward our audience, he held his hands up and effortlessly caught the rope ends as though he did it often. I’d heard the question loud and clear, but words failed me. I couldn't even open my mouth, completely stunned to silence...and Dimitri didn’t like it. The chilling gleam in his eyes as he yanked me to a sitting position and pried my legs apart churned my stomach in a nauseating fashion. I was waiting for the blow that followed my silence, but it never came. Instead, he settled himself between my legs and brought his face mere inches from mine, his breath hot on my skin, reeking of vodka andcigars.

“Tell me why you left,” he demanded oncemore.

“Be-because,” I stammered, knowing if I didn't answer with something he'd become more angry. “Because you s-scareme.”

“Because I scareyou?”

The question was uttered in disbelief and I instantly regretted blurting out the truth. Again, I was expecting the sting of a strike, but he threw his head back and howled a laugh that prompted the other men to indulge in a good chuckle aswell.

“I scare her,” he said to them, wiping fake, amused tears from his eyes. Then, he shook his head andtskedbetween his teeth, pulling me onto my feet. “Nowyou should bescared.”

Bang, bang,bang!

The loud sound startled me worse than Dimitri’s admission. I whipped my head in its direction as the door flew open. Through it came Maksim, who dragged Hazel in right behind him, spiking my heart rate all themore.

Hazel…

---