Page 78 of Silenced

Sort of.

Especially when Savannah thought nothing of sending in a biker to save me from Harvey the first time I asked her for help.

How fitting that the Prince of Darkness saved me then, and the King of Hell has taken over.

Just my freakin’ luck.

When he doesn’t respond, I state, “Savannah will be worried.”

He tilts his head to the side and gives me a nonanswer, “You know it’s not safe out there.”

I blink at him.

Because… he isn’t wrong.

Harvey is still living and breathing, or I assume so. Otherwise, I reckon I’d have witnessed his death in the gargantuan courtyard too.

Even though he had me sold off by accident, that the debt is still wide open and that we’re now both in danger from the Albanians won’t stop his deluded ass for long.

I’m still his.

At least, in his eyes.

The thought makes me shudder with revulsion.

A soft touch on my shoulder draws my attention to Nikolai. I don’t realize it but I turn into his hold, settling deeper onto his lap, seeking a comfort I shouldn’t be finding in this man but… I do.

Just being closer to him makes me feel better.

Stronger.

“What is it?”

I stare at his hands, trying to piece together what I want to say.

I don’t want this—to be held here, to be denied clothes. No freedom, no escape. But there’s no arguing that a week ago, I was okay with dying.

Christ, I was more than okay with it—I’d have welcomed it.

Thisis better than death.

A definite zero out of ten.

Would not recommend.

I clear my throat and, unsteadily, ask, “Will you ever let me out of here?”

Almost as soon as the words are out there, I want to suck them back in. Hope is too fragile to mess around with—

Before the thought formulates, he stuns me by nodding.

Slowly.

That’s promising.

Unexpected, but promising.

With that in mind, as well as his ongoing assurance that I’m safe here—which I am, apart from being overly exposed to semen and orgasms—I ask something I have no right to ask: “Youaregoing to kill Harvey, aren’t you?”

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