Page 80 of Silenced

“Why do you want to know?”

“Because.”

“You’re not ready to hear the answer to that either.” His hands glide softly as if he’s trying to reassure me. “But you are safe here. Remember?”

Gliding or not, he irritates me with the most annoying words in the English language. “Even I know the Bratva sells sex just like every other two-bit gang. So if safety comes with a price tag, why haven’t you fucked me yet?”

That has his eyes narrowing into slits.

Which gives me the answer to the question I was really asking—heisBratva.

And hecanlip-read because I didn’t sign any of that so what the hell that first night was all about, I don’t know.

“To me, you are not a commodity.”

When he stabbed the Albanian, he twisted the knife in his throat. That’s what his words do to me. They twist at something vital in me, tearing me apart as they put something back together.

Like always, he’s expressionless, but I believe him.

To him, I’m not a commodity.

So what the hell am I if not that?

The potential acts like a hot knife sealing a cut in my soul.

“What am I then?” I dare to ask, my voice so low it’s not even a whisper.

“Something else you are not ready to hear,solnyshko.We will revisit this conversation when you are.”

Then, he scoops some more potato salad and shoves it into my mouth.

That, it seems, is the end of our chitchat.

For now.

And if I settle deeper onto his lap, that’s between me and his knee.

No one else.

18

TEXT CHAT

Nikolai: Cassiopeia was traveling in a car when Rundel snatched her.

Boris: Okay?

Nikolai: Dmitri will forward you the registration. Perhaps Rundel is traveling in that vehicle?

Boris: I’ll send it to the state troopers I’m conferring with.

Nikolai: Good.

Nikolai: If he isn’t using the vehicle, but you find the car, clear it of her possessions and I’ll have someone collect them and bring them to Nav. Understood?

Boris: Da, Pakhan. I’ll keep you updated.

19

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