Page 97 of Marked (Russian Sinners 1)

My breathing was heavier, lack of oxygen made my brain hazy. The head covering made it even harder to breathe and draw the oxygen I needed. But more than anything, I wanted the cover off so I can get a glimpse of where they were taking me.

“I can’t breathe,” my voice was raspy.

“Shut up.”

Fine, I’d have to apply some acting skills. So I started heaving, hyperventilating, whimpering as if I was ready to pass out.

One of them murmured something that sure as hell sounded like curses in Russian. “Fuck,” the one that murmured in Russian was falling for it. “I’m taking it off.

He pulled it off, and I had to be careful not to ease off too soon. Although it helped to breathe without cloth around my head.

“Try anything and I’ll put it back on,” he warned.

I didn’t want him to put it back on. I nodded in compliance without a word. With everything within me, I pushed the dread within me aside and focused on clearing my mind so I could figure out my way out.

My whole body hurt. I ground my teeth and tried to meditate through the pain. I had a bad suspicion I broke a rib or two during the car crash. My brain was still hazy and I tried to peek through the front windshield to get any sense of where we were going. But it was pointless, the landscape here was completely foreign to me.

I had no idea how long we drove. I tried hard not to fall into utter despair. It was my own fault for getting captured. I was supposed to stay with Dimitry. But then, maybe it was good I left without him. If we were together in the vehicle, both of us would have been hurt.

Dimitry’s words kept playing on repeat in my mind.I will always save you, Anastasia.

I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn’t realize we stopped until one of the guys was tugging me from the van and into a warehouse type of building. As soon as I entered, I froze.

One of the men behind me pushed me forward, and I stumbled. I would have fallen onto my knees if a hand didn’t catch me. It was Boris Jovanov, the man that killed my mother. The man I told where I’d be for my tenth birthday.

I shook his hand off, pushing him away. “Don’t touch me,” I spat out with bravado I didn’t really feel.

“Hello, Alexandra.”

“It’s Anastasia,” I sneered back. “You killed Alexandra, my mother, fifteen years ago.”

A flicker of something passed his face but it was gone before I could place it. It resembled sadness but it couldn’t be since he was the cause of her death. Him, and me since I was a stupid kid that told a stranger where we’d be.

He ignored my comment and turned to the other two. “What happened to her?”

Before those two could answer, I retorted dryly, “Your stupid minions almost killed me, that’s what happened. Idiots rammed into me while I was driving.”

Fury crossed his face, and I didn’t even realize I took a step backwards. This man was scary as fuck.

“Out! Now, before I shoot you both on the spot,” he roared. Those two scurried out before Boris even finished his sentence. Damn cowards! I wished they’d take me with them.

Despite my bravado, my body shivered in fear and I wrapped my arms around my abdomen. I watched Boris Jovanov warily. He was tall, almost as tall as Dimitry. He must have been handsome at one point, probably could pass for being handsome even at his age if his cruelty wasn’t etched all over his face.

While I studied him, he observed me. As if we were measuring each other’s strengths and weaknesses. There wasn't much of competition. I was sure his strengths and mine were completely different.

“You look very much like Alexandra.” His words surprised me, but what shocked me even more was the tone of his voice. It was soft, wistful.

I would not discuss my mother with this psychopath. I stood still, unmoving, watching him like the true predator he was.

“I hear you are a doctor. Quite accomplished,” he continued, clearly ignoring my stubborn silence. He waited for my response to his compliment but realizing I had no intentions of talking, he continued, “There is a bathroom in the furthest corner of this warehouse. Go clean yourself up.”

My eyes traveled to the location he mentioned, and I saw a door that must have been the bathroom. I wished I knew if it was safer to stay here or go into the bathroom. The exit door was closer if I stayed here. But if I could lock myself into a bathroom, maybe there was a window I could sneak out.

As if he could read my mind, he added, “There is no window in the bathroom. If you don’t do as I say, I’ll take you myself into the bathroom and clean you up.”

That got me moving right away, and his cruel laughter sent fear creeping down my spine.

This was not good, not good at all!

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