Page 12 of The Bratva Sinner

“Did you undress me?” I ask quietly.

“I did.”

I bite back a sob at being exposed and vulnerable. How many people looked at my naked body? What did they do while I was unconscious?

“Lila, it was only me in here,” she says softly. “No one touched you. I took that dress off you and threw it out. I removed some of the makeup from your face, but you’ll want to shower. You’ll find clean clothes in the dresser. Toiletries in the bathroom.”

“Am I his prisoner?” I ask.

She snorts as if that’s the most ridiculous thing in the world. “No.”

“Then why is the door locked?”

“To keep you safe.”

I roll my eyes. “From them, or you and your people?”

“You’re safe, Lila. Eat. Rest. I’ll bring you another meal in a couple of hours.”

“And if I want to leave now?”

“You can’t even stand.”

“Bullshit!” I throw off the blanket and stand to prove I can do it.

The world spins, but I don’t fall. I raise my chin and stare defiantly at her.

She laughs at me. “Oh, shit. No wonder he likes you.”

And then she’s gone. I hear the lock turn, and I fall back onto the bed.

What the hell is happening to me? Is this my life? Will I be passed from one man to the next until someone kills me?

I hear heavy footsteps and a deep, male voice saying something I can’t quite make out.

It’s him.

4

Maksim

I follow Cinder away from the room. I wanted to go in, but Cinder said it was too soon. I’m not one to listen to anyone, but when it comes to Cinder dealing with the women we bring into our operation, I listen. She knows what they need and what they don’t.

We end up in the kitchen. She goes to the fridge and pulls out a bottle of water.

“Well?” I ask.

"She's awake," she says.

"Is she hurt? I mean, worse than we thought?"

“She wasn’t very talkative. I don’t know what she’s been through, but she’s had a rough few days.”

I have to ask. I don’t want to, but I need to know the trauma we’re dealing with. "Was she raped?"

Cinder lifts one shoulder, then lets it fall. "I don't know. I’m not sure she knows, but Idoknow that she's not telling me everything."

“Do we need to get her into rehab?”