Page 9 of Sapphire

“This is first class?”

“Yes, these are our seats.” He guides me toward the window seat, and I sit down.

“Nikolai, this is too much,” I tell him as my hand runs over the buttery soft leather seat.

He grabs my hand, bringing it to his lips, and lightly kisses my knuckles. “Nothing is too much for you, my love.”

Le sigh.This man, he owns my heart with words like that.

We settle into the almost five-hour flight with champagne and caviar.I could get used to this treatment.

Overdosing on champagne and caviar I fall asleep.

“Lyubimaya moya, my sweetheart, wake up. We are about to land.” Nikolai nudges me.

Stretching my weary body, I wake myself up. Turning my head, I look out the window beside me as the plane makes its descent into Moscow. Flutters of excitement rake over my skin as the lights beneath us become brighter the closer we get to the ground.

When the wheels finally touch down, Nikolai leans over and kisses my cheek.

“Welcome to Moscow, Zoe. You’re going to love it here.”

* * *

“Over there,” Nikolai says, pointing to a couple of men standing together smoking. Their large frames dwarf everyone else around them, and their heavily tattooed skin looks more dangerous than sexy. Nikolai drags me over to his mysterious friends who greet each other warmly. The men’s eyes look me over, and instantly, they make me feel uncomfortable. I cling tighter to my boyfriend’s side.

“Sorry, my cousins don’t understand English. And I may forget to translate while chatting with them,” Nikolai explains as we walk toward the luxury car waiting for us.

“That’s fine. I wouldn’t expect anyone to speak English.”

Nikolai squeezes my hand and opens the door for me to get into the car.

I sit back and listen to Nikolai and his cousins chat and laugh in Russian as the car races through the streets of Moscow. We drive for over an hour through the city until we finally make it to an apartment complex, in what looks to be a relatively pleasant area, but it’s hard to tell, as Moscow is all gray concrete. “We are here. Come, I want you to meet my family. I think they are going to like you,” Nikolai says as he gives me a quick kiss then takes my hand.

One of his cousins takes our bags and follows Nikolai and me toward the apartment block. I’m ushered toward the lift, where someone pushes the button. The doors creak open, and we all get in. It’s a slow ascent past the floors until we eventually stop at the top and the doors open as we arrive at the penthouse apartment.

My eyes widen when I see what is happening in front of me.

“Nikolai,” I say his name with hesitation lacing my voice.

“Zoe, get the hell out of the lift.” Nikolai’s tone turns angry, something I’m not used to.

“No.” I don’t want to leave the lift. He couldn’t possibly want me to be here. Is this a joke?

Nikolai’s eyes narrow at my answer and the once sparkling green jewels he showed me daily have turned a sinister shade of green as he stares at me with pure venom behind them.

My stomach sinks.

I don’t think Nikolai is who I thought he was.

One of the mysterious men from the airport pushes me in the back. He chuckles darkly as I stumble into the penthouse.

“Welcome home, Zoe,” Nikolai says, giving me an evil smile.

“No, I want to go home!” I scream at him as I turn around and try to make a break for the elevator.

Large hands grab my long blonde hair, and I yelp as I’m yanked back. Panic grips my whole body. What the hell is happening?

“You’re not going anywhere, bitch,” Nikolai growls in my face.

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