Page 13 of Fallen Saint

The Circle?Who, or what the fuck are The Circle?

I soon forget my question because if I could throw my arms around Saint, I would. But I simply blend into the background, hoping Aleksei falls for Saint’s lies.

Just when I think he’s going to kill us both, a light shines from above. “You’re right. Very well,” Aleksei says. “I’m strapped for time as it is, so if you think you can tame her, then I’ll allow it. I can’t have her acting out when we get back home. But…”

There’s always a but.

“But if your methods don’t prove satisfactory, and I don’t see a change very soon, I will take over. Are we clear?”

My blood turns cold.

“We’re clear,” Saint replies with bite.

“I won’t have her behaving like a rabid dog because you know what happens to them?” Aleksei pauses while the room drops ten thousand degrees. “I shoot them.”

Make no mistake, he’s warning us both.

Saint grips the back of my neck, hinting I’m to stand. When I do, he leads me back over to the bed. He won’t look at me, and the detachment has me getting onto the bed, desperate for them to leave so I can process this on my own. Without him asking, I place my arms over my head after I lie down.

A tear leaks from my eye when he cuffs me, but I turn my cheek so he can’t see.

“Let’s go into my office. We have some things to discuss.” Just as Saint moves to rise, Aleksei says something which has me questioning how good of an actress I really am. “Gag her. You said she was shouting earlier.”

You’re going to be a good little girl, aren’t you, Willow?

I suddenly find it impossible to breathe.

I’m moments away from blowing our ruse when a tender caress floats across my flank. Though it’s a subtle touch, it’s enough. “That’s not necessary. She won’t scream.” Saint recognizes my panic; he knows what memories claw to the surface when I’m gagged.

“I said gag her,” Aleksei perseveres, needing to hold on to some semblance of control.

I know I told Saint to do whatever it takes, but that’s my hard limit, so I don’t know if I can stomach that. But I should know by now that Saint will always be the alpha. “Aleksei, you just said you’re willing to allow me to do this my way. Are you going back on your word?”

I don’t know why his word is so important. He’s a fucking criminal, for god’s sake. But I remember Saint saying thatAleksei does hold some honor among his men. I can only hope he’s right.

“So be it. But if I hear a peep out of her, it’ll be the last for quite some time.”

I gulp as his threat is filled with promise.

“She’ll be quiet,” Saint assures, speaking for me as he knows I’m close to breaking. “Let’s go.”

When he rises from the bed, I turn my cheek to look at him. But when I lock eyes with Aleksei instead, I realize I have to be more careful. Although we have convinced him today, tomorrow may not be as easy.

Saint doesn’t look back and is quick to leave. I soon find out why that is.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Aleksei blocks the doorway while I watch on in horror. He’s going to kill Saint and make me watch. We haven’t fooled him at all.

When Saint reaches into his pocket and produces the key to my cuffs, I sense he has a plan after all. Aleksei seems disappointed he surrendered it so easily.

Saint opens the door, hinting for Aleksei to move. He eventually does but not before he grins my way. The gesture sends a shiver down my spine.

This is only the beginning of things to come.

Popov isn’t fooled. But the thought of hurting her more than I already have…I don’t know if I can.

Day 35

ONCE AGAIN, PASSINGout from exhaustion allows me to forget where I am. But when I wake, it doesn’t take me long to remember the nightmare that has been my life for the past thirty-five days.

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