Page 53 of Mafia Queen

“What about Doe?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, fear digging its claws into my chest. “I dunno.”

Lucio didn’t say anything. Fucker always had something to say. Hopefully, his silence wasn’t a foreshadow of what lay ahead.

“Listen,” I started, “I need you to do something for me.”

“Name it.”

Chapter 18

Doe

I felt nauseated. My brain throbbed against my skull, my tongue feeling like sandpaper inside my mouth.

I still smelled it, the sweet stench of chloroform stuck in my nostrils. The smell made me want to hurl, bringing back bad memories. Amazing how the human brain worked, connecting scents to certain memories. It sucked, having that negative connotation—which was probably why I had the need to puke.

Little by little, reality started to seep in as I gradually regained consciousness. There was no need for me to be fully aware of my surroundings to know I was back—back with him. I knew it by the ice that occupied my bones, the chill that spread through my veins, and the fear that stemmed from my soul. I felt him. I felt him all around me. His wickedness. His power. His heavy presence that consumed all the oxygen around me. Before I even opened my eyes, I saw his. The blue depths of endless evil—the cold, hard irises of the devil. He was back. He came for me.

I pushed myself up and groaned as my arms trembled. Every muscle in my body ached. It always did after I was chloroformed and manhandled by Vadik’s men. They were never gentle.

“I was wondering when my girl will wake up.”

The sound of that familiar thick Russian accent along with his grating voice was enough to push bile up the back of my throat. I didn’t want to open my eyes, but I knew I had no choice.

With my stomach turned upside down, fear running rampant with every breath, I finally gathered the courage to open my eyes while I kept myself upright with my arms.

First, I saw the steel bars in front of me. I didn’t have to look around to know I was stuck in a cage.

“Nessuno. Look at me.”

I closed my eyes again, my entire body starting to tremble. The name, the way he said it with such false tenderness, scraped pieces of bone from my spine. I took a deep breath.

“I said look at me, Nessuno.”

With a sideways glance, I peered over my shoulder. I wasn’t ready to turn all the way around to face him.

“Here.” He held out his hand just in reach from the cage. “I know how chloroform makes your head hurt.” There were two aspirins in his palm, but I refused to take it. I wanted nothing from him.

After a few seconds, he pulled his hand back. “Turn around and look at me.”

My rapid heartbeat echoed in my ear, my body completely frozen.

“I said turn around and fucking look at me!” His voice boomed through the empty space around me, causing me to jolt. Tears stung my eyes, but I clenched my jaw, refusing to show weakness.

The cage rocked gently from side to side. It was barely noticeable, but I felt it. We were on a boat. I was sure of it.

Hesitantly, I shifted, unable to stand up straight in the cage. I only managed to move my body around until finally…I looked at him.

To look into those ice blue eyes which reflected the cold rime of his soul was more horrifying than I ever could have imagined. Even though I knew this day would come, I wasn’t prepared. I wasn’t prepared at all. Antonio had spent weeks building me up, uncovering the strength he saw inside me, doing everything he could to bring it to the surface. Antonio helped me build walls around my fragile soul, and all it took was one look into Vadik’s eyes for it all to crumble into nothing but dust.

“My sweet Nessuno. You have no idea how I’ve missed you.” He reached out through the steel bars to touch a strand of my hair, but I jerked back. His thin lips curved into a wicked grin. “I wondered if you changed during our time apart. Seems like you have.”

I remained silent in fear I might vomit if I attempted to open my mouth.

Vadik leaned his head to the side, glancing at the side of my neck covered with my hair hanging over my shoulder. I shuddered, hating the way his gaze scratched across my skin. The urge to look down, to not look him in the eye, was strong. It was, after all, how I had been taught, to not look at my master without permission. But he wasn’t my master anymore. And I was no longer the slave who did what she had been taught to do.

“He had no right to take you from me.” Vadik’s voice was laced with venom. “You belong to me. You are mine.”

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