Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Some day? What does that mean?
“After you change into suitable clothing, you will sit by the door,” he says, pointing to a window seat. “Keep your hands where I can see them and do not speak until I give you permission.” He hands me a pair of black leggings and a red top. They belong to me, so I assume someone fetched them from my room.
With a sigh, I dress in the little bathroom on the first floor while he stands outside the door, then I go to the window seat. I love this place, right here where the light filters in through the large bay window. I often sit here with a book, bathing in the sunlight. But today, it feels very different. I watch him go to his office and retrieve a few things before he heads back to me. His staff wheels luggage on the landing, their rapid packing happening before my very eyes. It seems only minutes later when they come downstairs, wheelie bags in hand. Something catches my eye outside the window. I turn to see a long, sleek black car pulling up out front.
This is it. We’re going. I won’t get a chance to say goodbye to my mother. I’m leaving her here in Atlanta and going with Stefan as his… I don’t even know. Prisoner? What did he say?
Slave?
I hear familiar footsteps on the stairs and look up to see Stefan trotting down. “Come with me,” he says, before he grabs my hand and drags me to the door.
I have so many questions. So very many questions. I hope that when we finally find ourselves alone, he’ll allow me to ask them.
When we’re alone.
It scares me to think about being alone with him again. Just one day ago, it would have been my biggest fantasy come true, but now… now he terrifies me.
When we get outside, he opens the door to our car and gestures for me to go in, but I must be going too slowly because he practically lifts me and shoves me into the car. I stumble into the dark interior and land softly in a plush, velour seat. He stands just outside the door to the car, speaking to Nicolai and Tomas.
“You will lead well in my absence,” Stefan says to Nicolai. “I trust you.”
Nicolai nods, and then men embrace briefly, before Stefan joins me in the back of the car.
I don’t speak. I don’t ask the questions that gnaw at me. I have to be patient. We drive in silence, and my heart aches. I had plans to visit my mother this weekend, and now… What if she has a moment of clarity and she wonders where I went to? Why I left her? But those thoughts flee when I look at Stefan.
His blue eyes no longer hold the anger they did just moments ago. Instead, he looks contemplative.
“I wonder,” he says softly, almost as if to himself. “How you will handle this.”
Yeah, I’m kinda curious myself, especially since I have no idea what “this” even is.
“Am I allowed to speak now?”
He nods. “Now that we’re no longer in the presence of my men, you may.”
I take in a deep breath. “Thank you,” I say. “But how will I handle what? I have no idea where we’re going or what we’ll be doing.”
Be brave, Taara.
He sighs, but to my surprise, actually fills me in. “The man we killed last night was only one of a group of men banded together to form an uprising,” he explains. “Their purpose is to boost the human trafficking ring run by rival Bratva in America and to overtake their rivals. Namely, us.”
I blink in surprise. Human trafficking ring? Wow.
“Okay,” I say cautiously. “And how exactly does that impact us?”
Leaning forward, he places his forearms on his knees and looks at me with those blue, blue eyes that pierce my very soul. God, how I want to see tenderness in his look again. Just for one moment, an ounce of compassion. It would fuel me for whatever we face next. “Taara, do you wish to vindicate yourself, not only to me but the entire brotherhood?”
“Of course.”
“Do you further wish to prevent the abduction and sale of fellow Afghani refugees?”
“Me? You want my help?” I ask in a little voice.
His gaze doesn’t waver as he explains. “The men we pursue are doing just that. Their wish is to steal the refugees from Russia and sell them here in America. Since you’re Afghani, it will be an easy matter to pretend you are one of them, bought by me. And having you as my slave will make it easier for me to fill my role.”
“I see,” I say, which is a lie, because I have no fucking idea what he’s talking about. This makes no sense to me at all. “For how long?”