Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 115400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
“Why don’t you fuck your wife instead and keep your nose out of my business?”
Sergiu laughs. “Just messing around with you, boss. But should I assume this new girl is going to be a permanent fixture?”
“Haven’t decided,” I admit. “Until then, I want every detail you can find on Chiara Matthews. Birth certificate, school records, employment. I want to know the last time she ordered takeout, and once you have it all, scrub her from existence. I don’t want a single trace of her leading back to me.”
“Right away.”
“I want it on my desk first thing in the morning.”
And with that, I end the call and put my phone down, wondering just how much trouble my new little prize is going to be.
4
CHIARA
Feeling the subtle sensation of movement, I peel my heavy eyelids open and come back to reality. I’m still in the backseat of a car, and my new Romanian captor is right where I left him. I feel as though I’ve either been hit by a brick or knocked out for a whole lifetime. My body is heavy, and my limbs can barely move.
He knocked me out.
I don’t know what was in that pill he gave me, but it did a shitload more than just help me relax. On the plus side, my filthy lingerie is still intact with the addition of his suit jacket to keep me warm. Though, I don’t know how to feel about that. It’s a sweet gesture, but something tells me this man is anything but sweet.
When we first got in the car, we headed right out of the city and deep into the mountains. Despite the late hour, I could see cars passing every few seconds, especially when we were still within the city limits, but now, glancing out the dark-tinted window, there’s not another car in sight.
“Good timing. We’re almost home,” that thick Romanian accent says from beside me.
Home. Right, because that’s what his place is about to become for me. Though the jury is still out on what kind of living conditions I’ll be provided. I’m assuming cuffs and a murky dungeon are probably his style.
I sit up, realizing my seat has been reclined, though how that happened is beyond me. After adjusting the seat to its proper upright position, I pull his suit jacket off me and hesitantly place it down between us. “How long was I out?”
“A few hours.”
Shit.
The roads are windy and uneven, and my stomach begins to grow uneasy when the driver approaches a huge property hidden deep within the mountains. Every inch of the land is perfectly manicured and well presented, purposefully built for isolation and privacy—the perfect place to hide something you wouldn’t want found.
We pull into a wide driveway and stop at a black, iron gate as the driver enters a code. I’m completely taken aback by the sight of armed guards standing on either side of the gate. My hands shake, and I try to convince myself that this was expected, but honestly, I hadn’t given it a damn thought.
What kind of powerful man requires armed guards? What the hell have I just been brought into?
Trying to breathe through the uneasy feeling growing in the pit of my stomach, I do what I can to look past the guards and peer through the windshield at what awaits me. The big gate starts to peel back, and I find myself lost for words.
The expansive driveway is lit on both sides, and the stunning bushland leading deep into the property creates an eerie treetop canopy overhead. I know without a doubt that daylight has nothing on this place. If my Romanian purchaser built this property, he did it with his nightlife in mind. The driveway is architecturally designed with stunning natural stones that take my breath away. The soft lighting on either side of the driveway only makes the scene that much better.
We drive through the winding entrance, and I’m struck with the sight of a stunning stone mansion with a modern take on the traditional Georgian style. It incorporates soft grays and natural sandstone and is the perfect estate to suit this Romanian mystery beside me. There’s a grand entrance with tall pillars, and a stunning balcony rests on top—probably accessible from the master bedroom. This place has got to be at least three or four stories high and wider than a football field.
Lights are on inside, and the way the soft glow sails through the darkness is breathtaking, leaving me desperate to explore the rest of the property. I can only imagine the type of secrets this home has to discover. Just the thought of the type of pool this home could have gets me stupidly excited—natural stone waterfalls, a hidden cave, and of course, a faux beach and spa. Although, it’s not like I’m here for a vacation. I doubt I’ll be enjoying the place one bit. This man put me on a train with a one-way ticket to hell, no refunds or exchanges. I doubt I’ll ever step foot outside the dungeon he probably has waiting for me.