Page 115 of Silenced

Nikolai purses his lips. “You don’t want to know.”

“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t,” I retort.

“You make a pretty Persephone.”

“Thank you?”

“No, that’s whathesaid.”

“Oh.” My frown deepens. “Is that a compliment?”

What the hell is that supposed to even mean?

“It wasn’t intended to be an insult or he knows I’d have broken his jaw.”

I squint at him a second, then I peer at the condensation-covered glass of lemonade in my hand and I do as I wanted to earlier.

I toss it over him, not caring that I get caught in the deluge too.

He sits there in a now-wet, expensive suit, hair sticky and coated in the juice, face drenched, eyes wide, and I merely say, “You deserve that for being…you.”

The lack of fear in our byplay doesn’t take me aback.

And when he growls and starts to stand, there’s still no fear in me as I get up with a shriek, knowing that he’ll catch me.

Fully aware that when he does, there’ll be no pain.

No hurting.

No, probably just an orgasm.

That’s the kind of revenge I can take.

Especially when, twenty-three seconds later, he hauls me over his shoulder and slaps me on the ass.

If this is supposed to be a punishment, his show of strength is anything but…

28

CASSIE

The Beach - The Neighbourhood

* * *

When Nikolai surprisedme with a camera this morning and told me to spend time in the kitchen garden, I didn’t take the unusual generosity for granted.

I wasn’t even disappointed when I found that he wouldn’t be joining me because he was holding a meeting at the estate with something Dmitri called ‘hisBrigadiers’ and two goons with the names Vladimir and Oleg would be my shadows.

To be honest, he could have told me Martians were invading tomorrow and I’d have been okay about it because, at long last, I’ve got my hands on a camera again.

When I ran away from New York, I had to sell my DSLR and photography is one of those hobbies that nourishes my soul. I’ve always loved it. That and food. It led me to eke out a space for myself as a blogger/vlogger which meant I had a career doing what I loved.

Until Harvey had to wreck things.

Until IallowedHarvey to wreck things for me.

With the DSLR around my neck, standing in this beautiful garden that feels like a million miles away from New Jersey, I have to ask myselfwhyI didn’t leave sooner.

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