Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
When I don’t move, Viktor’s eyes snap to me. “I said unpack!”
I dart to the foot of the bed where the bags were left, and doing my best to suppress a sob, I open the luggage. I’m surprised to see my belongings and clothes.
I can feel Viktor’s eyes burning on me as the other man leaves the bedroom. When I rip a pair of sweatpants from the bag, I stop to quickly drag them up my legs. Finding an oversized shirt, I take off the one Viktor gave me and pull my own over my head.
I throw Viktor’s shirt onto the floor, and unable to handle being in his presence, I glance at the shut door. “Is that the bathroom?”
“Yes.”
“May I use it?”
“Of course.”
I dart forward, and when I’ve hurried inside and get to close a door between Viktor and me, a sob shudders from me.
Pressing my forehead to the door, I try to gasp through the horror of my new reality.
In a matter of hours, I’ve gone from happy teenager to being the future whore of the head of the bratva.
Sinking down to the tiles cries jerk my body.
I cry for the loss of my grandfather and uncle.
I cry for the loss of the innocence that will be taken from me when I turn eighteen.
Which is next week.
I only have five days.
Wrapping an arm around my waist, it feels like I’m breaking into a million pieces.
Chapter 4
Viktor
While Rosalie weeps in the bathroom, I take a seat on the bed and look at the documents Sacha brought.
The first thing I notice is that Rosalie’s birthday is much sooner than I thought.
There’s no way she’ll be ready to head out on her own by next week. She’ll need weeks, if not months, to process her grief.
I let out a sigh because that’s only half the truth.
Blyadʹ, I’ve grown a conscience when it comes to the girl.
I shake my head and try to focus my attention on the documents.
I'll keep her until she’s twenty-one.
Three years.
A frown forms on my forehead as I lift my head to stare at the shut bathroom door. Just then, the sound of Rosalie’s cries change until it sounds like she’s struggling to breathe.
“Christ,” I mutter as I drop the documents and climb to my feet. The door only opens halfway before it knocks into something.
I step inside to see Rosalie lying on the floor, her tears forming a pool on the tiles. Red blotches cover her face and neck, a broken expression making her eyes look bruised and more vulnerable than my heart can handle.
Crouching, I take hold of her shoulders and pull her into a sitting position before I slip my arms under her knees and back. Lifting her to my chest, I straighten to my full height and carry her back to the bed.
I should tuck her in and give her a sedative, but instead, I find myself sitting down on the covers. I wrap my arms around her shuddering body and hold her tightly.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” I try to reassure her.
She shakes her head, lost sobs drifting over her lips. “N-nothing will ever b-be okay again.” Her body is limp as if all the energy has been drained from it. “You’ll keep me c-captive. I’ll turn eighteen, and you’ll rape me until you g-grow b-bored of me. Then you’ll hopefully k-k-kill me.”
Hearing her words makes my jaw clench, and anger seeps into my heart.
She sobs again. “Or you’ll h-hand me d-down to your m-m-men.”
Lifting my right hand to her jaw, I take hold of her chin so she’ll look at me. When our eyes lock and I see the raw fear trembling in her soft brown irises, I force my features to relax so I don’t look like the fucking grim reaper.
“None of that will ever happen.”
Her eyes search mine. “I can’t b-believe a w-word you say.”
I shift her to sit on the bed and climb to my feet. Walking to the window, I pull it shut.
“I’m only keeping you because you have nowhere to go.”
“I can go to New York,” she tries to argue.
I shake my head. “It’s not negotiable. You’ll stay here.” Turning around, my eyes settle on the distraught girl. “Until you’re twenty-one, then I’ll let you go.”
Her gaze widens on me.
I cross my arms over my chest and stare at her for a moment. “I won’t force myself on you, and I sure as fuck won’t allow any of my men to touch you. You’ll be safe, Little Rose. It’s the one thing I can promise you.”
Her eyebrows draw together, and there’s a flicker of hope on her face. “What will you do with me for three years?”
Letting out a sigh, I start to walk to the door. “I’ll feed and clothe you.” I gesture at her scattered belongings. “Unpack. I like my house neat with everything in its place.”