Page 42 of Venomous Desires

Seizing the chance, I dashed toward the back of the living room where I knew the washroom was. My legs felt wobbly beneath me, fear and adrenaline making my steps uncertain.

Reaching the washroom, I slammed the door shut behind me. I leaned against the door, my breath coming in shallow, rapid gasps. My reflection in the mirror showed wide, terrified eyes and a pale face. I turned on the faucet, letting the cold water run, and splashed some on my face, hoping to steady my nerves.

The washroom felt like a temporary escape, but I knew it wouldn’t last. He would be expecting me to return, to use the words he demanded. I gripped the edge of the sink, my knuckles turning white. I had to think to find a way to escape this nightmare.

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Chapter 15

The Prey

Thudding. I heard it in my ears. Felt it in my chest. The suffocating sensation worsened. Chills ran down my spine. I tried to look unfazed. Feigned ignorance. Glued to the door. His thigh brushed against mine. Even through layers, I felt his warmth. Hated it. But in this biting Russian cold, I wished to move closer. The frost bit at my skin. His presence was a fire I couldn’t ignore. My breath hitched. Heart raced. Desperation mixed with disdain. I was trapped in a cruel, silent dance. Where he was leading.

The consequences were dangerous. So dangerous, I could see my life flashing before my eyes. Was my end near? I hadn’t atoned for my sins yet.

I jumped, startled when the phone rang, the sound piercing the silence of the car. I nearly clung to the window in shock. From my right, a low Russian grumble sent a shiver down my spine. Daring to glance his way, I saw him: a hulking figure with broad shoulders that seemed to dominate the space.

Casually, he lifted his phone, not even looking at the screenas he swiped his thumb across it. The dim moonlight highlighted his stern features and cold, calculating features.

“???????, ??????????????????????????,?????,” he grumbled into the phone, his voice a low, dangerous growl. The amusement and thrill that had been plastered on his face earlier faded into a deep, foreboding gloom. I didn’t know who had pissed him off, but ever since I walked out of that washroom, he seemed to be in a heated conversation with Kyle.

(It had better be good news, Carlo.)

Kyle noticed me first, obviously since the demon beside him was blind, his hunter’s eyes hidden behind dark shades. I was relieved; at least it didn’t feel like he was glaring at me. The tension in the room was palpable, and I could feel the oppressive weight of his anger seeping into my bones.

But that seemed to be the least of my worries right now. Whatever the other person said on the phone only made him angrier. His jaw clenched tightly, the muscles twitching with barely restrained fury, and his fist curled into a tight ball, knuckles white with the pressure.

“Intercepted? By whom?” I could hear the barely contained rage simmering beneath the surface as he spoke in rapid Russian, and I was sitting next to him. What were the chances his fist would kiss my jaw first, or his knee?

“Hunters is dead. Find me someone else. I needaname.” His words dripping with menace. The suddenly small space was not enough, and I couldn’t help but shiver.

A haunting pause, and I realized my right knee was shaking uncontrollably.

“Time is not something you can afford, Carlo. I’m giving you fifteen minutes, you find the rat or become the example.”

He ended the call with an unsatisfied growl, his hand on my knee clenched into a fist. The silence that followed was deafening, filled only with my fearful breaths.

Whatever he said, I hardly caught a word. Cause damn me, his Russian was fluent. And his voice seemed to deepen whenever he spoke in his native language. I still had no clue where he was taking me, or what would happen if I decided to fling open the car door and make a dramatic exit. Though the thought was tempting, I wasn’t quite ready to become a splat on the highway just yet.

His hand on my knee stayed there, and I sat there alarmed, hugging my bag tighter and sweating in the cold. He didn’t move, nor did he make any move to let go of me. The only thing I heard was my pounding heart and the roaring of the car.

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. His expressions were unreadable, like always. His grip on my knee was firm, not painful, but a reminder of his control over me. I tried to calm my racing thoughts, to think logically about my options.

“Where are you taking me?” I finally asked, my voice barely more than a whisper. It took all my courage to speak up, to break the heavy silence.

He turned his head slightly, and I hated how I couldn’t see what was swirling in his eyes hidden behind the shades.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” he muttered lowly.

His words did little to ease my anxiety, but at least he had answered. I clung to that small piece of hope like a caffeine addict to their morning coffee—maybe today wasn’t the day I’d be permanently decaffeinated.

Minutes passed, maybe hours—it was hard to tell. The car eventually slowed down, the scenery outside becoming more familiar. We were approaching the heart of the city. I recognized some of the buildings, the hotel, and a few nearby cafés.

The car came to a stop in front of a large, shimmery hotel. The demon of a man finally removed his hand from my knee. I contemplated my options. Should I make a run for it?

Judas was blind. Surely I could outsmart a blind man...right? Except Kyle was driving. He wasn’t built like Judas, but he was still twice my size. Meanwhile, the closest thing I had to cardio was walking between lectures.

If he came after me, I’d lose before the chase even started.