Chapter 16

Vlad didn't bother to check that Boris would do as he said, his enforcer wouldn't think twice. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, Vlad was able to see Jane more clearly. Her pale, delicate face was twisted in agony. Tears of pain escaped her tightly scrunched eyes and made wet paths down her cheeks. She reached for him and clutched his arm in a pathetically weak grip. Though he could see and feel the pool of blood beneath her, he couldn't tell where it was coming from. Her black jeans and leather coat camouflaged the source.

"Jane, malysh," Vlad said as calmly as he could, "Where are you hurt? I can't tell where the bleeding is coming from."

"Arm," she whispered.

Vlad had to lean close to hear her.

"I need to get your coat off, baby, to see what damage has been inflicted. This will hurt."

He gritted his teeth and ran the zipper down her front. She let out a scream of agony. Assuming he must have jostled her arm, Vlad cursed the darkness. Ignoring her pitiful whimpers of pain he sw