Page 52 of Captive

“He will be taken. Those were your words.”

“I didn’t know what they meant. That was something one of the guys in the diner said and I overheard.” It was obvious he didn’t believe me, his rage only increasing.

After hesitating briefly, he closed the distance, knocking the cup out of my hand then wrapping his hand around my neck. As he dug his fingers into my skin, I could instantly feel my throat closing. Almost instantly I found it difficult to breathe.

I clawed at his shirt, fisting my hands around the material. He was going to kill me. How could he think I was some double agent? “Please. You’re wrong.”

His hold tightened. “Your interest in my class was fake. You were given a job to infiltrate my world. You speak and understand Russian. I should have been tipped off before. How fucking stupid. Well, that ends here. Before I kill you, you’re going to tell me everything you know. Contacts. Locations. Plans.”

Gasping, I was already lightheaded. I pummeled my fists against his chest, pleading with him with my eyes. “No. I’m… not…”

At first, he squeezed even harder, twisting his hand until pain shot to my head. I could see utter confliction in his eyes, the soulless man having second thoughts.

“Nik-o-lai…”

Hissing, he released his hold, taking a step away and running his hands through his hair.

Coughing, I slumped against the counter, rubbing my throat, the dreaded tears I’d tried so hard to avoid slipping down both cheeks, a sob erupting from my throat.

He continued to glare at me, his chest heaving. “You’re going to tell me everything, princess. I do mean everything that you know. I’ll consider sparing your life if you do.”

I coughed for several seconds, trying to catch my breath. “I… don’t…” I closed my eyes, controlling my breathing as I tried to calm my nerves.

“Talk to me, Chloe.”

“I don’t know anything, Nikolai. Remember the men in the diner? The ones who attacked me? I was just trying to remember what they said. They weren’t who they first appeared to be, but I didn’t catch it until the end of their meal. I also didn’t remember anything until just now. You have to believe me.”

After closing his eyes briefly, he gave me a single nod. I wasn’t certain what that was supposed to mean. That he wasn’t going to pump a bullet into my brain? Still shaking, I crouched down on the floor, picking up the largest broken pieces of the cup.

Think and breathe, Chloe. You have to escape.

How? How was I going to do that?

“Beautiful women are recruited by the Bratva all the time in order to secure information. Do you know what happens to them afterwards, Chloe? They are taken by every male in vile and brutal ways. When their hungers are satisfied, one of them is assigned to slit her throat.”

“I’m not Russian!” I snapped, yanking a ceramic piece into my hand. “I’m from freaking North Carolina. I’ve never even been lucky enough to travel outside of the country, much less live in Russia. What I told you about my parents is true. I have a brother who’s a drug addict. I don’t even know if he’d dead or alive. He stole from my parents and I was stupid enough to try and defend him. That’s why they tossed me out. I lied about my age to get a job cocktailing to try and save money for college. That took me over two years, two fucking years of doing nothing but working like a dog. Coming to Waltham was a dream come true. Don’t you understand? Then it was taken away because you stopped into my diner.”

The light in his eyes changed, hate shifting to something else I couldn’t read. But he was still so cold. When he moved toward me, I shrank away, finally realizing I’d sliced open a portion of my hand.

“Damn it,” he hissed, issuing several other words in Russian.

Jesus. I held my wrist, staring down the crimson strings dripping through my fingers.

He crouched down beside me, sliding his hand underneath mine. “I believe you. I’m sorry, Chloe. That was reprehensible. Now, come. Let me help you.”

His voice was so soft, so caring.

Bullshit.

“Stay away from me, Nikolai. I can do this by myself. That’s all I’ve had to depend on for years.” I was angry and frustrated, still loathing my heart’s betrayal as well as my body’s frailty. No man had ever pushed me to such an emotional state. I’d protected myself on purpose. I certainly knew why.

“Chloe, you’re bleeding. I need to check you didn’t slice an artery.”

His voice remained soothing, as if the man gave a damn. I’d heard what he planned on doing to me. I knew. God! Why couldn’t I stop crying? “Just let me alone. I assure you that I’ll be fine.”

“I can’t do that. I won’t do that. This is my fault. Please.”

Blood pooled in the palm of my hand, tears continuing to prickle the back of my eyes. Even my throat remained constricted from his powerful hold. But even worse, I wanted him to wrap his arms around me and tell me that everything was going to be okay. Jesus.