Page 112 of Graves

Chapter Fifty

BLAKE

The smell of something like acetone is the last thing I remember. It was slightly sweeter, almost like a cleaner of sorts. I remember smelling it, and then…nothing. I feel myself slowly trying to pull out of whatever haze I’ve been put under, but it’s hard, so fucking hard.

My head lulls limply in front of me, forcing a tired groan out of me. I try to push my hair out of my face, but my arms are stuck, trapped. Slowly, understanding begins to hit me, and I muster up the strength to open my eyes. I find aceiling, not just any ceiling, a crown-molded extravagant ceiling with a crystal chandelier.

I slowly allow my gaze to travel down the cream walls, coming to the large bed I’m lying on. No, tied to. Each of my hands is tied to the headboard. My legs aren’t tied, and I should be grateful for that, but the fact that I’m completely naked gives me no such comfort.

“Good morning,kratsoka.” A chilling voice smiles from a lavish chair in the corner.

“Maxim,” I whisper on a choked breath, yanking at my restraints, only to find them tightening with each movement I make.

My eyes whip around wildly, landing on a tall man in a black suit. He’s standing in the doorway, his hands folded and his eyes forward. I beg him with my own to save me, spare me, anything. However, he won’t even look in my direction.

Maxim chuckles a filthy sound filling up the room as he does.

“Good try. My men are quite faithful to me. They wouldn’t dare sign their death certificates for a pretty pussy.”

He stands up to his full height, striding toward me as he smirks in a way that flips my stomach and chills my bones.

“Though I have to say, it is a very, very pretty pussy,” he says, his hand reaching out to touch me.

I snap my legs closed, forcing them to the other side of the bed as fast as I can. He doesn’t look irritated by my move, more amused than anything. Like he expected it, like he was testing me. I’m not sure if I passed or failed. I’m not sure if I wanted topass or fail.

“Where am I?” I ask.

His eyes come to me, raising an unimpressed eyebrow.

“Did your mother not teach you manners,kratsoka?”

I clench my teeth in irritation.

“Please,” I grit out. “Where am I?”

A satisfied smile curls across his face as he spreads out his arms.

“My home. How do you like it so far?”

“It’s a little cold,” I snark, goose bumps covering my body, though I’m not sure it’s just from the temperature in the room.

He barks out a laugh as he scratches his beard.

“Yes, that is Russia for you.”

Panic rushes through me. Russia? I’m in fucking Russia?! Oh my fucking god.

Taking another step closer to me, he shakes his head reverently.

“You really are a spitting image of your mother.”

My brows furrow at that as I look at him.

“You knew my mother?”

“Very well.” He smirks. “You have her nipples, the perfect rosy shade,” he says, leaning over the bed and tweaking my left nipple between his thumb and forefinger painfully.

I do my best not to react, not to give him the satisfaction, but that only seems to egg him on. He palms my breast, squeezing until I whimper in pain. As soon as I cry out, he smiles but it falls almost immediately. His other hand comes to the skin under my breast, brushing against the healing skin, and a thunderouslook crosses his face.

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