Page 16 of Hero's Heart

The damp chill of the cellar they were in wrapped around Sloane like a second skin. Her wrists throbbed, the rough rope biting into her flesh as she strained against it. She tried to project calm, but the erratic flicker of the bright overhead bulbs and Nikola’s pacing made it nearly impossible.

“You understand now, don’t you?” His voice was a strange mix of triumph and desperation. “I’m in charge here. You don’tbreathe unless I say so. You don’t move unless I let you. I get to be the bossman.”

He walked toward Marissa, and Sloane prayed she’d just keep her mouth shut. This man wasn’t stable. Sloane let out a sigh of relief when Marissa just glared at him.

Until he turned his attention to her, walking over and crouching down next to her. His breath was hot and rancid, and she fought the urge to recoil.

“You,” he murmured, his gaze roving over her legs, then her chest, and finally her face. “Those eyes…so blue. Like the sea.”

She swallowed hard, her heartbeat pounding in her ears. She refused to look away, refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her fear. But the way he looked at her made her feel like a rabbit caught in a trap, seconds away from the snap of jaws.

He reached out, brushing a strand of her hair from her face. The gesture might have seemed tender if not for the wild gleam in his eyes. His fingers lingered, tracing the curve of her jaw.

“You’re perfect,” he whispered. “So beautiful. Like a little doll. Mybábika. Those eyes.”

Sloane clenched her jaw, her stomach twisting. Now, she looked away, over at Marissa, and couldn’t believe her sister was glaring at her with fury.

Really? Because Nikola was groping Sloane instead of her? Because a psychopath liked herblueeyes? That was absurd.

Sloane shuddered, turning away from Marissa as he dipped his hand inside her dress, pawing her breasts. Tears formed as he pinched and bruised.

This was not how she had imagined having her breasts touched by a man for the first time would happen. Bile rose in her throat as she wondered if all her first times were going to be at the hands of this monster.

She had to do something.

“What do you want?”

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them. It was obvious what he wanted. What if he decided to show her exactly how much right now?

Nikola’s eyes gleamed with a manic light. “Want? Oh, I want many things, my doll.” He tangled his fingers in Sloane’s hair, yanking her head back. “But mostly, I want to be seen as the bossman. To be respected.”

Sloane winced at the pain but was beyond grateful his fingers were no longer touching her skin.

“We see you,” she said carefully. “You’re in charge here. The bossman. We respect that.”

A bark of laughter escaped Nikola’s lips. “Oh, you will. You’ll learn.”

“Not damaging the merchandise, are you, brother? We talked about that.”

Sloane let out an internal sigh of relief as Jakob walked back into the hovel. She was under no illusion that he was any safer, but he didn’t look to be so…evil.

Nikola made a pout, which looked ridiculous on a grown man. “I thought that since?—”

“Later.” Jakob shook his head, cutting Nikola off.

“I like this one. She’s soft.” Sloane shuddered as he licked his lips. “I want to keep her to play with.”

Sloane couldn’t bite back her sob.

“Nikola,” Jakob warned. “The important thing is the money. Remember?”

Nikola sneered in frustration, but only Sloane could see it. “Yes, of course. The money.”

His eyes remained cold and full of malice, but at least he backed off, stalking over to stand beside Jakob.

Jakob crossed his arms over his chest. “Your father is not being especially cooperative, but if he doesn’t come around by tomorrow, I’m sure a severed finger or ear will change his mind.”

Marissa ran her mouth again. “You wouldn’t dare. Let us go right now, you stupid assholes.”

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