Page 80 of Virgin Bratva Hostage

With a new focus, on this newly realized danger, I run from the tree line back into the park. People shout and mutter in shock at the sight of me. My face must be a wreck.

I don’t care though. I need to get to her.

My entire body is rigid with fear.

If he has hurt her—

I shake my head. I can’t think like that. If I do, I will panic. I won’t be able to focus.

Rigor stays close to me and when I reach my car he climbs in without saying a word.

He takes out his phone and sends his live location to his brothers.

When we pull out into the road he is watching me.

“Don’t try anything stupid, Avraam,” he warns me.

I get that he is still distrusting. I took his sister. I can’t blame him.

But he needs to focus.

And I need to focus.

“Are your brothers following? I think we are going to need their help.”

“Yeah, they’re right behind us,” he nods.

Chapter 24 - Ruslana

“Hello, sweetheart.”

The darkness swirls and swooshes around me. I hear him, but I don’t.

“Come on, it’s time to wake up.” Someone slaps my face. The sting of it echoing in my dream. I know that voice. I know but I can’t remember.

His voice tugs at me. A warning. A panic that surges through me. Wake up, Ruslana. It’s not safe here.

Royce laughs and the cruel sound pulls me all the way out of the unconscious state I was drifting in.

I try to lift my hand towards my face, wanting to touch my fingers against my temple because I can feel the headache pulsing there.

But my hands don’t move. They are tied behind my back and I am sitting in a chair in the middle of some kind of underground room.

I wiggle my wrists, trying to test the bonds and rope bites into my skin.

Royce is standing nearby, but I can’t focus on anything properly yet.

Blinking my eyes shut tightly, I take a deep breath. “Where am I?” I mutter, my throat dry and hurting. “How long have I been here?”

“Oh, sweet little thing, you don’t get to ask any questions,” he snarls, stepping closer. My vision clearing as I look up at him, I see that familiar look in his eyes. The hunger.The hatred. The lingering stare that churns my stomach and sets fear alight inside me like a raging wildfire.

I grip my panic tightly, not letting it overrun my thoughts.

“Where is everyone else?” I ask another question, trying to buy time until I can figure out what is going on.

Royce huffs, “Who the fuck cares? It’s just you—and me—and I have been waiting for this exact moment since the first time I set my eyes on you, sweetheart.”

I shake my head, pushing the fear down again. “Why? What is going on, Royce—what—what did you do to Dex?” I ask, suddenly fully panicked as I remember Dex lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood. He has a family. A wife and two beautiful children and I made him take me out. I convinced him to leave the safety of the mansion. He got hurt, he might even be dead—it’s entirely my fault. My heart beats loudly, ringing in my ears and I fight my overwhelming emotions.

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