Page 27 of Sweet Deception
He said nothing for a moment, his lips pressing into a thin line. Then he turned abruptly. “Get in.”
I huffed but climbed into the car beside him. As he started the engine, he suddenly hesitated, fingers still on the key.
“Did you eat?”
I turned my head sharply, eyeing him in disbelief. “Are you serious?”
He glanced at me. “Go back inside and eat.”
I let out a short, bitter laugh. “Since when do you care?”
“Anna.” His voice was edged with warning.
“I don’t have an appetite,” I snapped. “Just drive.”
His hands tightened around the steering wheel.
“Either you eat, or we’re not leaving.”
I exhaled harshly. “It’s my body. My stomach. My problem.”
His jaw clenched, and without a word, he stepped out of the car and stalked around to my side. My pulse quickened.
When he opened my door, I immediately kicked my legs in protest, thrashing like a child. “Don’t you dare...”
Gleb ignored me and easily lifted me out of the car.
“Put me down!” I hissed, squirming.
“Then walk inside and eat.”
I glared at him. “I don’t want your food.”
He sighed, clearly irritated. “What do you want?”
I hesitated, then mumbled, “Lombardy.”
“The fuck is Lombardy?”
“An Italian cheese.” I glanced away. “It used to be my favorite.”
He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he pulled out his phone, typed something quickly, then slipped it back into his pocket.
“I’m taking you to see your brother and cousins.” His voice was calm, but the weight of his words slammed into me like a tidal wave.
My heart nearly stopped.
I had spent months too terrified to ask if they were alive. Too afraid that the answer would break me.
My throat tightened. “They’re still...”
“Alive?” He gave a cruel smirk. “For now.”
***
Twenty minutes later, Gleb pulled up to a stark white building.
The moment we stepped inside, I knew something was wrong. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, damp concrete, and something metallic... blood. The interior wasn’t a home. It was a prison.
