Page 14 of Merciless Sinner

I was already petrified before, but now I feel worse.

I also have the added worry of Virgo and everything he said to me. And that kiss.

That kissand his claim to be everything to me.

But what does that matter now? I’m about to enter another dark place in the rabbit hole.

When we walk inside the apartment, a tall, bulky man meets us.

“Boss,” he says with a dip of his head to Petr.

I guess he must be a guard. He spares me a glance, but that’s all.

“I’ll be busy for the rest of the night,” Petr tells him, and he nods.

My stomach churns when I think back to his promises from earlier on how he planned to fuck me.

I feel sick to my core and as trapped as an animal caught in a snare.

“We’re going upstairs.” Petr addresses me in a cool voice that sounds suspiciously too calm.

“Okay.” I press my lips together and my hands into my thighs.

I walk with the sureness of a confident woman as he ushers me up the stairs, but I’m freaking out so much my breath is coming out in short, silent pants.

When we walk inside the bedroom, automatic lights turn on, lighting up a king-sized bed in the center of the room and white presidential-suite-looking furniture.

As I stare at the bed and really think about what I’m doing here, I realize I can’t do this.

If I go through with this, it will mean giving up.Failing.

I may be many things, but I’m not weak.

There must be another way to fix my problems. And I don’t mean through Virgo.

I stayed hidden all these years, and even when I thought I might be in danger, I’ve never had an encounter until now.

The sordid events that have happened in my life have taught me that the only person I can rely on is myself. It mustneverbe anyone else but me.

I built what could be classed as a home here in Monte Carlo, but the solution to this is to run again. But I need to get out of here first.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost, my dear.” Petr chortles behinds me, running a cold finger across the back of my neck.

He walks around to face me, and I take a step back.

“I changed my mind. I don’t want to go through with this. I’m sorry. I’m sure Madame Noir can refund any money you might have spent for tonight.” I speak with the sureness of a confident woman, but inside I’m freaking out.

Petr simple stares back at me with a blank expression, and I don’t like how unreadable he is. It’s unnerving and unsettling.

“You think that’s how things work?” His tone is low, like before. “Did you decide to change your mind because of your big, bad Russian boyfriend?”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

“I saw you kissing him. There is no way in fuck you just met him tonight. I know Virgo Antonov. A man like him can have any woman he wants. He would only be interested in you if he decided to claim you. Even if you didn’t know you’d been claimed.”

I take note of his words and the possessive meaning, but my sprit repels them. I don’t want to be claimed or belong to anyone.

I might not trust Virgo or remember him, but he was right when he said I belong to no one but myself.