Page 9 of Villain's Prey

A weird disappointment that I’m not going to let myself try to understand hits me, but I let that shit go right out the window. Because I totally don’t care if he thinks I’m hot or if I turn him on. Nope, not at all. So I try to flip it.

“So like, you’re a sadist?” I ask, confused because really it’s me that's exerting all the pain if you think about it. He closes his eyes for a long moment, mumbling something under his breath I can’t hear. “Are we going to just stand here like this? My feet kinda hurt.”

“Sit down.” He steps back and points toward a sofa. His loft warehouse place is kind of cool. It doesn’t give off the vibe that he brings people here to torture and kill them. I guess I have that going for me.

Sergei paces back and forth for a few minutes. His cat does it with him. It’s kind of adorable. I don’t think Sergei even realizes that the cat is pacing with him. It’s at that moment I realize that Sergei Taletti has an emotional support animal. I hold my breath so I don’t start laughing again. Sergei might be right. I’m insane. Then again, I’m a dead girl on borrowed time as it is. I might as well have a little fun before my days of torture begin at the hands of his father. This might be my last hurrah.

“Why do your feet hurt?” His question is so out of left field he has to repeat himself so that I can process it.

“When I kicked my heels off, I think there was a piece of glass on the ground.” I lift my foot to look at it. “Gross,” I mutter. and not because of the small cut on the bottom but my feet are covered in dirt. “I’m dirty.” My eyes again fill with tears. What the hell is happening to me? My emotions are all over the freaking place.

“We can just clean them. Fuck. Do you have to be a princess about everything?” He half shouts at me. Trash meows, obviously not liking it. “You should have said something sooner.” Is he implying he would have tended to it?

“When? Between you trying to take my virginity before your daddy or—” Sergei picks up a cup sitting on the counter and throws it against the wall. It shatters, exploding everywhere.

Trash starts to meow louder. I wasn't expecting that reaction, but it provoked him more than any of the other things I’ve said or done. I’m going to tuck that away for later.

“Now you’re upsetting the cat too. Are you happy?” I yell back before I stand up from the couch, pretending his explosion of anger didn’t scare the shit out of me. I pick Trash up, then head away from Sergei to find a bathroom.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

“Away from you.” I continue to pet Trash’s head, trying to comfort him. Or maybe it’s myself that I’m comforting.

“The bathroom is there. Your foot needs attention.” He points his thumb the other way.

“Whatever.” I lift my chin and try to walk past him, but he steps in front of me.

“You’re not going to the bathroom alone.”

“Oh, you’re into watersports?”

His eyes widen. I think I really shocked him this time. “What? A princess can’t know about sadism and watersports?”

“I wouldn’t think a virgin one would,” he says dryly. “But you just tried to get me to kill you. I’m not stupid enough to let you go to the bathroom alone.”

“As gross as it is for you to come to the bathroom with me, thank you.” I keep my tone extra smug. “You may accompany me.” Really, I just want to wash my feet.

“You’re thanking me?”

I step around him. “Yes, thank you for starting to realize I’m not as stupid as you seem to think I am.”

7

SERGEI

Inever said she was stupid. Did I? I try to think back.

“Ugh.” She tries to step past me.

I take her arm.

She fights at first, then relents, though I suspect it’s only because she has Trash in her other arm.

“Come on.” It comes out gruff, but I keep a gentle hold on her. She’s already injured. Fuck.

She step-hops to the bathroom and looks around.

“Here.” I let go of her arm, grab her waist, and lift her onto the counter.

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