Page 20 of Nikolai Petrov

I pluck the rag from his mouth. “Do you have anything to say?”

“No! Please! Fuck! No!” His head turns side to side. Sweat smears into his tearful eyes.

“Very well.” When I pull on the string from the ceiling fan, I can feel it click to engage. “All I need to do is let go, and the blades start turning with you attached.”

His eyes open wide. “You’re a fucking monster! Yuri! Yuri is who hired us! He said if he just had the girl, then Tosya wouldn’t have to make a deal with Peter.”

Yuri Koskovich. Svetlana and Tosya’s father. Of course he’s playing a part. With most of the Motherland already in his grip, it makes sense he would want to try and muscle in on the Americas.

“Well, you’ve saved yourself from me killing you. Open your mouth.” I don’t wait for his compliance, but grab his jaw forcing my fingers into his cheeks to pry his teeth apart. Threading the string from the fan into his mouth, I keep it taut enough he has to keep his head off the pillow.

“Now, it will be suicide when you give up. My cleaners will be here soon.”

His sliced belly quivers as he struggles to keep his neck raised. Whimpers escape around the string he clings to.

I wipe the sticky blood from my hands and dig my phone from my pocket.

Chekov: We are outside when you’re ready boss

Me: Good. Room 180 also

He sends me a thumbs up emoji. I fucking hate emojis unless it’s Natalia sending them to me.

Just before I reach the door, I hear the click and low buzzing sound of the fan starting.

I should consider finding out who built this hotel. Their rooms are so well insulated, I can barely hear the screaming from the hall.

Chapter Eight

Natalia

Evenwithmyhandswrapped around my knees, I’m shaking so badly the bed is creaking. All I can do is stare at the scuffed door of the hotel and wait.

It seems like eternity before I hear the electronic beep of the lock disengaging.

Nikolai’s large frame pushes into the room and I’m throwing myself into his arms. My tears disappear into the black knit of his sweatshirt.

“Hush, you’re safe, now. He won’t hurt you again.” His stained hands cup my head and tighten me to his chest.

We stand clasped, gripping each other. All I can hear is his calming deep breaths and the steady beating of his heart beneath my ear.

“We need to go, the cleaners will be getting started soon. I don’t want you to be seen.” He tilts my chin with his thumb and touches burning lips to mine.

“Yes, sir,” I say quietly as I follow him down the hall. Does he know this inferno that burns within me that he was my rescuer, again?

The shroud of night hides our departure to return to his estate with our hands clinging possessively in the silence of the trip.

When he opens the car door to help me out, he encircles me in a smothering hug before lifting me into his arms to carry me into the house.

“I was terrified I’d lost you.” His lips find my temple and I struggle to hold back the tears.

“They weren’t taking me to my father. I heard the blonde guy say ‘big boss’. Who is that?” My fingers stroke into the longer graying hairs on his face. The tickle of them soothes me as I bury my forehead into his neck.

“Yuri.” The sound rumbles through his chest and vibrates against my arm. “It is Tosya’s father.”

So, Svetlana’s also. “I wonder what he wants with me?”

Nikolai sets my feet gently on the tiled floor of the large shower. “He wants to bypass your father. Taking you without the promised contract.” His nimble fingers begin to undo the buttons of my blouse, his eyes following their motion.

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