Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
I stab my steak knife into the dining room table.
It was either the slab of rustic wood or Kirill’s neck.
I went for the one that won’t get my niece and sister killed.
“I didn’t save my mother because I didn’t know she needed saving. Our father loved her enough to let her go. Your mother was the only one who had a problem with that.”
“He disrespected her.”
Our discussion is not for an audience, but since my anger is high, I let it continue. “As you have Sofia your entire marriage.” The women seated across from Sofia don’t even try to hide their snickers. They think they’re the next Katie, that they’ll soon be moved to a room with opulent furnishings and endless guards to ensure their safety. They have no clue she is being held captive against her will.
With a wave of his hand, Kirill clears the room.
The reason for his sudden wish for privacy is disclosed when he murmurs, “Your sister promised me a son, and when she failed to do that—”
“I promised to fulfill your demands on the agreement you would let her go once it was done.” My jaw is so firm, it minces my words. “I know our agreement, Kirill. You don’t need to keep reminding me what will happen if it doesn’t come true.”
My body wears the scars of the time I tried to renege on my pledge. It was shortly after Sofia’s ultrasound revealed she was having another girl.
War ensued. I lost half my men and half my face.
“It’s been two years—”
“And twenty-seven miscarriages.” I air quote ‘miscarriages’ so he can’t act as if they were natural.
He killed the children he didn’t want.
All of them were girls.
“And she didn’t fail you.” I make sure Sofia isn’t in the firing zone before adding, “You failed her.”
Before I can leave having the last word, Kirill snatches up my wrist. I’m so very tempted to announce my dislike of being touched by blowing his brains out over his pricy antique table, but I hold back the urge when I spot a pair of inquisitive eyes peering at me from across the room.
Just like Katie, Lera doesn’t show fear.
“I’m growing impatient. Improve the odds this month. Make sure she is adequately prepared before insemination.” His mocking grin announces what his mouth won’t speak. He wants Katie’s cunt drenched before insemination.
“And how the fuck am I supposed to do that without touching her?” My words roll off my tongue so effortlessly anyone would swear touching Katie is the last thing I want to do.
“I’m sure you’ll think of something.” He stands so abruptly he startles Lera out of the room. “You have this month. If you fail, she will be discarded, and we will move on to other ways of getting me an heir.”
He thinks I missed his quick inhalation. I didn’t. He makes the same whimpering noise whenever he considers moving my sister back into the master suite.
In his own sick and twisted way, he loves Sofia. He’s just too fucked in the head to acknowledge that love doesn’t have to come with carnage.
It is a family trait.
26
KATIE
My eyes lock with Ghost’s when he guides me into a room that is scarce of light but with humidity in abundance. Everyone is wearing masks, but they’re not Superman’s glasses. You can tell who everyone is despite a bit of cloth covering part of their face. Ghost is even more notable since he is the only man who is badly marked.
“This isn’t a ball.”
He lied to me this morning when he said I was invited to a ball. I should have realized he was scheming something when he walked in angry and left with a spring in his step. I thought he was happy because my period ended yesterday, so the doctors would once again take over the insemination process, but I now realize that isn’t the case.
He was happy to force me out of my comfort zone, to remind everyone surrounding us that I am as naïve as believed.
If my cheeks glow any brighter, the spotlights highlighting the sex acts happening in each glass cube won’t be needed.
The hairs on the back of my neck bristle when Ghost leans in close once we reach the first cube. I’ve seen this act before, so although it ignites tingles inside me, it doesn’t dampen between my legs in the same manner it did when Ghost entered my room wearing a tuxedo and bowtie.
He’s been steering clear of me for the past month, only eating with me once a day instead of the usual three. It hasn’t weakened the tension burning between us. It just dulled it to a manageable fire instead of a raging inferno.
“Not your fantasy today, маленький ягненок.” Since he’s stating a fact, not asking a question, I don’t bother to nod. I merely stray my eyes to the couple in the cube Ghost is guiding me toward.