Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
As I struggle, another man appears, younger and more clean-cut, his expression serious as he speaks to my captor in Russian. I can’t fully hear their exchange, but the younger man’s presence adds to my fear.
“Put her in the back of the car,” a third man says, his piercing blue eyes locking onto mine. He’s tall and imposing, yet as solid as the others. “Vera can explain.”
Vera?
What?
“No! Let me go!” I demand, convinced they are kidnapping me. “Don’t touch me!”
“Lydia, calm down,” the one holding me says, his voice softer yet firm. “We’re not going to hurt you.”
How does he know my name?
But I’m too terrified to listen, my mind filled with my sister’s warning and the sight of Timur fleeing.
Is my sister working with the enemy?
She fucking married a Romanov.
“Please,” the big guy holding me says. “I’ll explain—”
“Fuck.” Tires squeal as a car heads our way, driving at top speed. The big man holding me leaps to the side with me in his arms, crashing to the ground just in time as gunshots ring out. He cages me beneath him as if using his huge body as a human shield. From my vantage point, I can see the tall one stand and pull the trigger, one after another after another. Glass crashes, and one of the tires explodes before it slams head-on into the guard rail.
There’s a hiss of airbags, and someone screams, but no one gets out of the vehicle. I’m shaking uncontrollably, and I have the sudden urge to vomit.
“Ledyanoye Bratstvo,” the younger one says in a growl.
Someone’s opening a door. I struggle against his grip, but it’s no use. I’m overpowered, lifted in his arms, and pushed into the car as if I’m a doll. I slap at strong hands, clawing and screaming. One of them wraps something over my wrists, and another buckles me in.
“I’ve got this,” the younger one says. “Viktor, don’t murder me.” A roar sounds in my ears when something sharp pricks my skin. I scream, and the larger one tugs me against him.
“Enough,” the largest one growls in a voice that makes my heart stop. “No one touches her but me.” He slides in beside me.
“You’re not thinking straight,” the younger one says. “She’s wild and unpredictable, and we don’t have what it takes to keep her safe.”
“He’s right.”
The huge one roars like an animal but holds me against him. “I’ve fucking got her.”
“Jesus,” the younger one mutters.
“You’d better fucking pray to him. I’m going to beat your fucking ass for that.”
“He can’t think straight,” the tall one says to the younger one. “He’s out of his mind.”
What is happening? My head feels too heavy and strangely tight.
Oh God.
What are they going to do to me?
As we speed away, I glance out the window, the city lights blurring past.
They have to be the enemies of my fiancé. I have no idea where we’re going or what they’re doing, but I have to stay calm. I have to take in every detail so I can plan my escape.
But, he said Vera would explain—
I have to remain calm until I talk to my sister.
Even as we drive away, my mind races with thoughts of escape and the fear of what these men might do to me.
I’ve never seen these men before. I quickly assess the situation. It’s three strong men against me, alone, and none of them look easy to get away from. The big guy, the one who carried me to this car, with the scar across one cheek, has a look in his eyes that tells me he’s no stranger to violence. I shiver.
The tall one with black hair and those blue, blue eyes is the one driving, the younger one in the passenger seat. He looks over his shoulder at the man beside me. “I don’t trust her. She’s unpredictable.”
I gawk. “I’m not going to do anything,” I lie because I was absolutely planning on getting the hell out of here as soon as the car slowed down. But my words are already slurred, and my limbs feel as if they’re weirdly detached from my body. Panic rises as I realize I’ve been drugged. My vision blurs, and a heavy numbness seeps into my muscles, making it impossible to move. The interior of the car spins, and I struggle to keep my eyes open, my mind racing with thoughts of escape that now seem hopelessly out of reach.
They drive in silence, the speed terrifying me. My head lolls. I fight to stay awake, to keep my eyes open.
“Who are you?” My voice trembles, the words barely coherent. I will it to stop. I want to stay in charge of myself and my emotions. I don’t want to be a helpless, overpowered female. “Where is Timur?”
“Good fucking question,” the driver growls. “I’d like to know that myself.”