Page 24 of Ghost
Guilt sat in her stomach like a rock.
It’d been almost an hour since Boris burst into her room and dragged her from the bed to shackle her to the chair.
Alexei hadn’t returned.If Irinia came here without him, there was no telling what she’d do.
Mila glanced down at her body.She’d changed so much in the last year.Dance had kept her thin and limber, but the intense daily training she did now had given her more muscle—and bruises—than she’d ever had.
She stared at her hands.Once small and soft, they were now rough and calloused.She turned them over to look at the palms that could bench-press more than her seventy pounds.Then she looked at her strong legs that, if free, could carry her from this place.
The door squeaked open.Mila swallowed as she watched Irinia waltz into the room.Her hair was pulled back into her signature bun, her face was tight, and her eyes were small with distaste.Mila’s gaze flitted frantically over the woman’s shoulder.
“Alexei isn’t coming to rescue you.”
Mila shrunk in her sheet.“I’m sorry, Madame.”
Irinia flung out a chair across from Mila and sat.“You want to run, hmm?Back to your family?”
Tears misted Mila’s eyes and she sniffed.She might as well be honest now.She was already going to be punished.“Yes.”
The older woman’s expression didn’t crack.Not a hint of compassion shone on her wrinkled face.“That can never happen.”
Mila slapped the table.“Why?”she screamed.She didn’t care anymore what they did to her, how this hateful woman might try to break her.She’d rather die than never see her family again.
Rather than lash out, Irinia lifted an eyebrow with interest.
“What are you keeping me here for?”Mila continued, her tone far past insolent.She gestured as far as the chains would allow.“In a barn.Training me like a soldier.For what?Do you realize how stupid this is?”
Irinia’s mouth twitched with humor.“My dear.You will understand your purpose soon.For now, you’re not ready.”
Mila pursed her lips.“I hate you,” she breathed.
Irinia nodded.“Hate is good.It makes you work.”
“No.”Mila’s laugh was brittle.“Hope made me work.Now?I have nothing.”She sat back in her chair, exhilarated.“What if I refuse?You can beat me all you want.I still have to choose to get up afterwards.”
“This is true,” Irinia conceded.
Distrust wormed through Mila’s insides.
Irinia continued.“You killed two people last night.”
Mila’s mouth popped open.“What?No.Boris did!”
She nodded.“He did what had to be done.Because of your actions.Think about that, Mila.Every time you try to escape, anyone who stops to help you, they will have to die.And maybe their families, too.”
Mila shook her head frantically.“You can’t do this.”
Irinia leaned forward.“If you attempt to escape again, we won’t hurt you.But we will kill Igor.”
At the mention of her brother’s name, raw, intense fury blossomed in her chest.
“Sad,” Irinia continued, her tone uncharacteristically soft.“Your parents already lost one child.Imagine losing two?”She tsked, shaking her head.
Mila’s tears fell then.
“Hope is not your drive, Mila.Hate must be.”She stood.
Mila covered her face with her hands.Her shoulders shook violently.Any hope she’d clung to had just been ripped away.
