Page 40 of Savage Bratva King

“Where is Tamara?” I ask when he goes back to the door.

“She’s busy.”

“I thought… I haven’t been outside yet today.”

His gaze travels up and down my body, lingering a beat too long on my breasts. “Correct. We are all busy, Ms. Sedric. Some of us do not have the time to go wandering around the maze and walking the pakhan’s dog.”

I chew my bottom lip and listen to his footsteps receding along the corridor. I was right. Leonid got what he wanted, and now he has no need to charm me with his garden maze based on Hampton Court Palace or his beautiful dog. Why should he care if I leave this room? So long as I’m alive and in his possession, I’m still his leverage against Xander to win this stupid fucking war.

So, what are my options?

I could starve myself, but I’ve seen firsthand how survival instinct can keep a body alive in the most horrific circumstances. I could try to escape, but this place is patrolled by armed guards, and I’d rather keep both my kneecaps intact.

Besides, as I sit down and take a bite of my baguette, I realize that these thoughts are half-hearted and childish, like a kid trying to get out of completing a homework assignment. Because my captivity could be a whole lot worse than it is. I could be locked in the dungeon with Ivana for company.

I don’t even attempt to make conversation when Sergei returns for the tray. I stand by the window with my back to the door, my tiny little bit of control over the situation by not giving into the questions burning my tongue.

Where is Leonid?

Why have I not been allowed outside today?

Does he even know that I’ve not had my twenty minutes of vitamin D and fresh air? Or is he withholding the one thing that I look forward to because he believes that it will make me want him more?

Well, I’ve got news for him. I can live without Leonid Ivanov and his wandering tongue.

Heat floods my cheeks.Tongue?Why was that the first thing that popped into my head when I thought of my captor?

What the fuck is wrong with me?

I lay down on the bed and close my eyes so that I can’t see the blue sky and golden sunlight streaming through the windows.

I’m still there, arms by my side, eyes fixed on a tiny dark patch on the ceiling when Sergei comes back without food. “Coming, printzessa,” he says, holding onto the doorknob, “or are you going to pretend to be asleep all day?”

I sit up. “Where are you taking me?”

His expression doesn’t even falter. “Outside. Unless you want to skip your twenty minutes today.”

“No.” I’m already on my feet. I grab my sneakers and slip them on while I walk in case he changes his mind.

Leonid didn’t forget about my exercise. That’s what I tell myself as I follow Sergei along the hallway and down the staircase, the taste of sunshine on my tongue.

I expect him to be waiting for me outside, but there’s no sign of him. There is only Tamara, checking her wristwatch as if she is bored with being kept waiting.

Disappointment congeals inside my foolish gut when I realize that he has no intention of keeping me company today. But then I hear heavy panting from somewhere close by, and turn around to find Marvel galloping towards me, his tongue lolling from the side of his mouth. A gray-haired woman is chasing him, her face pinched into the kind of expression that means she knows she has already lost this race but is obliged to keep running anyway.

“I am sorry.” She is breathing heavily by the time she reaches us, bent double and hands on her knees while she catches her breath.

I stroke Marvel behind the ears and nuzzle the silky fur on the top of his large head. “You’re okay, aren’t you, boy?”

“Bad boy.” The woman’s voice is harsh as she straightens, the dog-less leash still in her hand. Marvel instinctively nudges closer to me, almost taking out my legs with his weight.

“He isn’t bad, he’s excited,” I snap. The woman’s gaze slides across to Tamara and Sergei as if they’ll back her up. I ignore them all and hold out my hand for the leash. “I’ll walk him.”

“It’s my job.” The woman clings to the leash like I’ve just announced I’m trying to get her fired. “I’ll do it.”

I could tell her that the dog was walking her, but I’ve only just gotten out of the house, and I’m sure Tamara would take great pleasure in cutting my freedom short.

“Twenty minutes.” I address Sergei. “It’s not like I can go anywhere, and Marvel likes me.”

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