Page 18 of Silenced

Before I jump down, I grab his arm and tug him onto the asphalt with me.

He doesn’t protest though I’m sure he wants to—he isn’t dumb enough to let his annoyance show.

As my feet collide with the tarmac, Marku spies me and immediately, his eyes widen.

Lifting his bound hands in surrender, he sobs, “I didn’t do nothing! Just let me go home. I won’t tell my uncle. I won’t say anything about what you’ve done, I swear.”

“Just had to name-drop your uncle, huh?” Dmitri sneers. “We know who you are, Marku, and if you think we give a fuck then you’re mistaken.”

“I don’t wanna die, man. I don’t wanna fucking die,” he mumbles before he starts sniffling like a baby. “I’ll do anything you want. Just ask! I’m important. I can get my uncle to do whatev—”

I snag him by the ear and lift him to his feet with that single hold. As he screams in pain and tries to stand, I let him fall to the ground before he can get his feet under him. His head collides with the tarmac, and I slam my boot against his throat to pin him in place.

I flick Dmitri a pointed glance who rumbles, “When did Rundel attack your dealer?”

“You’re gonna kill me,” he slurs. “Why should… I… help you?”

“Because there are many ways to die,” Dmitri says pleasantly. “Having your cock sliced off and stuffed into your mouth before you become a gator appetizer isn’t the nicest method.”

I can feel Marku’s throat bob as he gulps. “Ten PM.”

Checking his Rolex, Grigoriy mutters, “Seven hours ago. It should be working out of her system soon, Pakhan.

“There’s little else we can do if she’s already vomited. She isn’t showing signs of overdose or a bad reaction to the Rohypnol so just let her sleep it off.”

Nodding, I release Marku and head toward the ambulance again.

Dmitri calls out, “You want him gone, Niko?”

I shake my head—I have plans for him.

Just not tonight.

Tonight is about Cassiopeia, not her wannabe tormentors.

6

CASSIE

The painin my temples is weaker the next time I awaken.

That I remember the agony from before tells me how bad it was.

Harvey’s been dosing me higher on each occasion he’s drugged me unconscious, and my body knows it.

WhereisHarvey?

The thought has my eyes popping open where it registers that I’m alone in the shadowed backseat of a car, lying supine on the leather cushions, the scent of which overwhelms the space around me.

Slightly nauseated by it, I inhale deeply in an attempt to settle my stomach. Once that’s calmed some, I draw the sides of the sheet that’s covering me apart and check my body.

I can’t feel any internal pain, but that doesn’t stop me from getting confirmation. I touch my inner thighs for the remnants of cum but find none. Seeing as I only feel skin, I have to assume there’s no blood there either.

A sigh of relief escapes me but it swiftly morphs into a sob.

I’ve never been more grateful that Harvey’s impotent, but it’s his issues that destroyed our marriage. That wrecked my husband and turned him into the monster who…

“How is this my life?” I whisper as I cover my face with my hands, jolting when I feel bandages where skin should be.

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