Page 37 of Ensnared
The window rolled down and the man from earlier who had dropped Ricky off leaned over and made eye contact with Ricky. "Time's up, Cinderella. Come here." The man's Russian accent made the taunting words sound even more menacing.
Ricky stiffened at her side and glared back at the man, who only grinned in reply. Ricky turned to her and caught her hand and held it in his. "Please answer your phone, Evie," he pleaded.
For some reason, just the contact of his hand felt so comforting. A lump formed in her throat and her eyes began to sting. She wanted to hug him. She wanted to hug him tight as she let out all her tears. She wanted things back to the way they were, back to their house, back as one family under one roof.
Not trusting herself to speak, she nodded and stepped back. Reluctantly, Ricky let her go and stepped back toward the waiting car. With one last meaningful look her way, he turned and got in.
Eve got in her car and sat down with a heavy sigh. Tonight was supposed to be restorative to a degree. It was supposed to be time with her family while pushing the horrors of reality far from her mind. Yet, oddly, she actually felt worse.
With the car still turned off she looked out at the empty street ahead. What would it feel like to be one of those people in the movies who just drove away from their lives? No thoughts of practical things like gas money, the reliability of their car, or what their friends and family may think—just them and the open road.
Her phone dinged.
Pulling it out of her purse, Eve stilled at the image. It was Mochi sitting on what looked to be someone's lap. But it wasn't just someone, was it? Even in a photo, she could see the fine material of the dark blue slacks, not to mention the very familiar hand resting on the cat's back. Long, nimble fingers splayed across the cat's gray fur. Veins snaked under the surface, giving testament to a strength she knew firsthand. Eve could imagine the warmth seeping off his hand and into Mochi. The cruel bastard's hands were always warm.
Dropping the phone back in her lap she glared out the window at nothing in particular. She knew what he was doing, knew what that innocuous image was saying. It was the same thing he did with everything else in her life—it was leverage.
Don't think about running away, not when I have your cat.
"Bastard," she cursed and started the car.
She would come back tonight. But the next time she left, she would have a plan and most importantly her cat.
Chapter 21
AllnightEve'smindworked.
Dimitri sleeping peacefully at her side, one arm slung possessively over her stomach, her mind toiled over her plan.
It wasn't until she heard the soft gongs of the clock downstairs echo throughout the house that her thoughts finally stopped and settled on a course of action. Nervous energy rushed through her veins as she stared up at the dark ceiling, each excited breath raising and lowering the man's arm trapping her, reminding her of the danger the plan posed. But what choice did she have? She couldn't stay here. She couldn't just let him use her until he grew tired of her and threw not only her but her family out to the curb.
The hours seemed to stretch into days as she waited. Over and over again she went over her plan. It would be in stages and it would be rough and uncomfortable for everyone involved but it would be for the best. The first stage was her escape and that all depended on the hulking guard Dominic.
On most days, when Dimitri left, Dominic followed. From what she could tell the silent giant was Dimitri's right-hand man, driver, and bodyguard. On the days he followed his boss, that left only the two guards outside. They patrolled in and out of the house only interacting with her if she left the property. They were easy to get past. Usually only asking her a few questions about her destination and estimated time. The two men treated her as a minor nuisance to their job. Dominic was a different story. The man was a quiet enigma. He certainly didn’t fit the stereotype of a muscled-up enforcer. There was a shrewdness about him. Just as watchful as Dimitri but somehow creepier. On the two occasions he was left at the house, Eve had got the distinct impression that if she had planned to go anywhere, he would come too.
The phone on Dimitri's side of the bed illuminated, casting a cool glow across the dark room, just before the low sound of an alarm began to go off. It was as if an orchestra had started tuning up, as the automatic curtains began to open like a harmonious brass section joining the symphony.
Eve waited with held breath.
Dimitri moved, his arm sliding off of her as he turned over and grabbed his phone. He didn't groan or make any noise as he carefully sat up in bed.
Only looking through her eyelashes, Eve laid perfectly still as she watched him run a hand through his tousled hair. Even in the dark room, she could see the golden hue of his hair. She could practically feel it in her fingers again from last night as she had clutched onto it. She had to stop herself from reacting to the memory. He had toyed with her last night, taking his time to lick and kiss her sex until she was an incoherent mess.
Dimitri turned and looked at her and she stiffened. She prayed the covers partially pulled up to her face would hide her features from his keen blue eyes.
Eventually, he turned away and stood up, the sheets dropping away from his hips leaving his tall figure completely bare as he walked to the bathroom. Eve couldn't even stop herself from opening her eyes a little further to catch the last glimpse of him. With his tattoos and swimmer's build, every part of him was carved perfection, reminding her of an ancient Roman statue. The man may be a psychopath but he was a damn good-looking one.
Thirty minutes later the door to the bathroom opened up. She was now positioned on her side, hugging a pillow to her face. With any luck, he would just ignore her and leave.
Eve's heart stilled as she felt the bed dip behind her. A hand snaked around her waist and Eve couldn't stop herself from startling at the contact.
She felt the warm puff of air at her ear as he spoke. "I'm not sure why you're pretending to be asleep, my sweet Eve. If I didn't have this meeting to get to, I would take the time to find out." His hand curved over the round of her shoulder and she could feel the warmth of it seeping through the sheet. "I'll make sure to take this matter up with you when I get back tonight."
No, you won't.
Eve didn't respond.
For a moment neither one of them moved and Eve feared her heart would just explode from the tension, until finally she felt his lips against her neck in a tender kiss.
