I close my eyes, breathing hard.
Part of me wonders whether I should just let him kill me.
But another part is scared that he will go after my family instead, knowing that would motivate me.
With trembling fingers I shift, lifting Kai’s hoodie over my head to expose my bra. Thank God it’s one of those granny bras and not some lacy silky thing. Though, I don’t think he really cares that much.
He waves the gun at me but shifts back so I have more space.
“All of it.”
My fingers hook into the waistband of my joggers, and I lift my hips to push them down.
Now I’m in just my underwear and I’m trying not to tremble like a terrified animal.
Nikolai just looks at me expectantly.
In a moment of stupidity, I try the door handle, but of course the locks are engaged.
Stupid. Stupid Tess.
All I achieve is enraging him. He pounces, grasping the fabric of my bra and ripping it roughly from my skin, hard enough that I yelp in pain. I try to squirm; to struggle away but he holds firm, ripping my pants off too until I’m totally nude—vulnerable.
A single tear slips down my cheek and he leans in to lick it away.
“Your pain is beautiful,” he whispers against my skin.
I meet the eyes of the driver through the rear mirror as Nikolai squeezes my breasts roughly. He just looks away, focusing back on the road as if this isn’t happening.
“I have expectations,” Nikolai says, waving the gun at me with one hand while the other begins to travel across my body. “My wife will submit to me. She will do exactly as I ask, when I ask. Or there will be punishments.”
“Why do I get the feeling these are not the sexy kind of punishments?” I ask, because sometimes it’s hard to shut myself up.
Nikolai’s eyes glint, one of his fingers shoves roughly inside me. I cry out in shock, but I don’t dare slap his hand away this time.
How did my life turn into this?
He releases me and I scramble away, holding my arms around myself.
I expect him to do more, to force himself on me. But he buckles himself back in and the rest of the drive is silent as I cry quietly to myself. I don’t bother trying to put my clothes back on.
I made a terrible mistake.
As soon as the car jolts to a stop Nikolai is holding my arm in a bruising grip and pulling me towards the doors of a large mansion. I take a quick scan of my surroundings, noting that we’re surrounded by a sprawling estate, with security that’s clearly designed to keep even the most cunning of criminals out.
Then we’re inside.
And I know I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
I’m naked as the day I was born, and five men stand in the entrance to the mansion.
My entire body is vibrating with fear. But there’s nowhere for me to go. No way for me to hide. Nikolai’s grasp on my arm is too tight.
“She’s a bit fat for your liking isn’t she, boss?” one of the sneers, raking his gaze over me with a predatory stare. His accent is thick Russian, yet he speaks in English. I assume that’s for my benefit not his own.
Nikolai snickers next to me.
“Her cunt’s tight. That’s all that matters.”