Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

THE MAN BEHIND THE BRUTE

AURORA

“Wake up.”

My eyes opened slowly.

For one beautiful second, I didn’t remember where I was.

Then I smelled bleach.

Concrete.

Damp air.

And I heard the chain move when I shifted my leg.

Reality came rushing back.

The cell.

The darkness.

Nikolai.

The engagement party.

The brute.

I pushed myself upright.

My head felt clearer than it had yesterday.

Probably because I had finally eaten an actual meal.

The empty bowl still sat beside the mattress.

I had eaten everything.

Soup.

Bread.

Every drop of water.

The brute had been right.

Nobody came during the night to take the tray.

Nobody brought more food either.

But my stomach wasn’t twisting quite as painfully as before.

“Up.”

There he was.

Standing in the doorway.

The brute.

Long black hair tied back.

Black shirt.

Black pants.

Black combat boots.

Apparently color was illegal in the Russian mafia.

I rubbed my eyes.

“What time is it?”

He stared at me.

“What?”

“What time is it?”

“Morning.”

My heart jumped.

Morning.

A real answer.

I hadn’t realized how badly I needed that.

“What day?”

His expression tightened.

“Thursday.”

I stared.

Thursday.

I searched my memory.

The engagement party had been—

I couldn’t remember.

“How long have I been here?”

He didn’t answer.

I stood slowly.

“How long?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to know how many days of my life have been stolen from me.”

Something changed in his expression.

Gone almost immediately.

“Eight.”

My stomach dropped.

“Eight days?”

“Yes.”

Eight.

I had been missing for eight days.

Whitney had to be looking.

Everyone had to be looking.

Eight days was long enough for police.

Searches.

Questions.

Maybe international authorities.

Unless Nikolai had somehow hidden everything.

Which was entirely possible.

The brute stepped inside.

He carried the same chain.

My eyes went to it.

He noticed.

“Come.”

“Where?”

“Upstairs.”

“Why?”

“Nikolai.”

My stomach tightened.

No.

I immediately stepped backward.

The chain snapped tight against my ankle.

The brute watched me.

“No.”

His eyebrows pulled together.

“I don’t want to see him.”

“Not choice.”

“I know.”

My voice sounded smaller than I wanted.

“I just…”

I couldn’t finish.

The memories were already pushing forward.

Nikolai’s voice.

His hands.

Pain.

His calm expression afterward.

The brute stared at me for several seconds.

Then crouched.

He unlocked the ankle cuff.

I froze.

Instead of immediately putting another chain on me, he stood.

“Walk.”

I looked at my bare ankle.

Then at him.

“No chain?”

“You run?”

I shook my head quickly.

“No.”

“Then no chain.”

I stared.

Yesterday he’d led me through the hallway like an animal.

Today—

nothing.

Maybe because I could barely stand.

Maybe because he knew there was nowhere for me to go.

Either way, I wasn’t stupid enough to test it.

I walked.

He stayed behind me.

That somehow made me more nervous.

I could feel him there.

Large.

Silent.

Watching.

I wrapped my arms around myself.

The clean white gown from yesterday still covered me.

Barely.

The fabric was so thin that I could see the outline of my own body through it.

I hated it.

“Do I get clothes?”

The brute didn’t answer.

I glanced back.

“Actual clothes?”

“Maybe.”

“What does maybe mean?”

“It means maybe.”

“You’re very helpful.”

His eyebrow lifted.

I immediately looked forward.

Why had I said that?

Apparently one bowl of soup had given me courage.

Or stupidity.

We reached the double doors.

He entered a code.

The locks clicked.

We stepped through.

And for the first time since I had been kidnapped—

I saw sunlight.

I stopped.

Just stopped.

The brute nearly walked into me.

“What?”

I couldn’t answer.

Sunlight poured through enormous windows at the end of the hallway.

Actual sunlight.

Golden.

Warm.

Beautiful.

My eyes burned.

Tears filled them.

I didn’t care.

I stared.

Eight days.

Only eight days.

Yet sunlight felt like something I hadn’t seen in years.

The brute followed my gaze.

His expression changed.

“You forgot sun?”

I laughed weakly.

“No.”

A tear slipped down my cheek.

“I missed it.”

He didn’t say anything.

I walked toward it.

One step.

Then another.

The brute allowed it.

I reached the window.

Outside—

mountains.

My heart stopped.

Huge mountains.

Dense forests.

Snow on distant peaks.

This wasn’t Isla Martago.

Not even close.

“Oh my God.”

The brute stood several feet behind me.

“Where am I?”

Silence.

I turned.

“Where are we?”

“You don’t need know.”

“I think kidnapping gives me the right to ask.”

“No.”

“What country?”

Nothing.

“Are we in Russia?”

His expression gave nothing away.

“Europe?”

Nothing.

“America?”

Still nothing.

I sighed.

“You’re irritating.”

“So are you.”

I looked at him.

For half a second—

I almost smiled.

Then a door opened somewhere ahead.

A man’s voice echoed.

Russian.

The brute’s entire demeanor changed.

His shoulders stiffened.

His face became blank.

“Move.”

There was the captor again.

I followed.

The floor changed from concrete to polished marble.

Black and white.

Expensive.

The walls were paneled in dark wood.

Paintings hung beneath warm lights.

This wasn’t a prison.

Not all of it.

The underground level was a prison.

This—

this was a mansion.

An estate.

The realization made everything worse.

Someone had deliberately built luxury directly above suffering.

We entered a large room.

And I knew he was there before I saw him.

Nikolai Volkov.

“Aurora.”

My stomach turned.

I stopped.

The brute’s hand hovered near my back but didn’t touch me.

“Come.”

I couldn’t.

Nikolai sat behind a massive desk.

Perfect suit.

Perfect hair.

Perfect posture.

Monster.

He smiled.

“There she is.”

I stared at the floor.

“Look at me.”

My body reacted before my mind did.

I lifted my head.

His smile widened.

“You’ve lost weight.”

I said nothing.

Nikolai looked past me.

His expression hardened.

“Aleksandr.”

Aleksandr.

My eyes moved before I could stop them.

The brute.

That was his name.

Aleksandr.

“Why does she look like a skeleton?”

The brute—Aleksandr—answered in Russian first, then switched to English.

“Viktor was responsible for food.”

“And?”

“I learned yesterday he was not doing his job.”

Nikolai leaned back.

“What did he give her?”

Aleksandr looked at me.

I answered before he could.

“One sandwich.”

Nikolai’s eyes returned to me.

“How often?”

“I don’t know.”

His smile vanished.

Aleksandr said—

“She was rationing one sandwich because she didn’t know when another would come.”

Nikolai cursed quietly.

Then looked toward a man near the door.

“Find Viktor.”

The man nodded and disappeared.

I wrapped my arms tighter around myself.

Nikolai’s gaze moved over me.

I hated it.

Not because it was openly lustful.

It wasn’t.

It was worse.

Evaluating.

Like I was merchandise he had ordered and somebody had delivered damaged.

“Has anyone touched her?”

My blood went cold.

Aleksandr’s voice came immediately.

“No.”

Nikolai looked at him.

“You’re certain?”

“Yes.”

“No guards?”

“No.”

“Viktor?”

“No.”

“Doctor?”

“No.”

Nikolai tapped one finger against his desk.

“Good.”

I didn’t understand why that mattered.

I didn’t want to.

Then he said—

“Take her to Doc.”

Aleksandr’s expression changed.

“For?”

Nikolai looked directly at me.

“I want confirmation she’s still a virgin.”

My entire body froze.

For several seconds—

I thought I’d misunderstood.

“What?”

Nikolai ignored me.

Aleksandr didn’t.

His jaw tightened.

“Why?”

Nikolai’s gaze moved to him.

“Because I said so.”

“That isn’t answer.”

“No. It’s an order.”

Aleksandr stared.

Something passed between the brothers.

I didn’t understand it.

Nikolai’s eyes narrowed.

“Is there a problem?”

“Yes.”

My gaze snapped toward Aleksandr.

Nikolai smiled slightly.

“Interesting.”

“She hasn’t been fed properly.”

“Then feed her afterward.”

“She can barely stand.”

“She walked in here.”

Aleksandr’s jaw flexed.

Nikolai continued—

“Take her to Doc. Have him confirm it. Then put her somewhere decent and feed her.”

Somewhere decent.

I almost laughed.

As if he hadn’t been the one who put me underground.

Nikolai looked at me.

“You should be grateful.”

I stared.

“For what?”

His smile returned.

“That I’m taking care of you.”

Something inside me snapped.

“You kidnapped me.”

Aleksandr went still.

Nikolai’s smile disappeared.

I immediately regretted it.

Fear crashed back.

But the words were already out.

“You drugged me.”

“Aurora.”

Aleksandr’s voice.

A warning.

I looked down.

Nikolai stood.

My heart hammered.

His shoes appeared in front of me.

I stopped breathing.

One finger lifted my chin.

I hated myself for trembling.

“You volunteered to come with me.”

“For Whitney.”

“Yes.”

“You said you’d spare her.”

“I did.”

“Then let me go.”

He smiled.

“No.”

My stomach sank.

His thumb brushed my chin.

I flinched.

Aleksandr moved.

Only half a step.

But Nikolai noticed.

So did I.

Nikolai released me.

Then looked at Aleksandr.

“Doc.”

Aleksandr stared at him.

“Now.”

A long pause.

Then—

“Fine.”

He took my arm.

Not roughly.

Still—

I jumped.

He immediately released it.

“Walk.”

I did.

Anything to get away from Nikolai.

The doctor’s room smelled like antiseptic.

White walls.

Metal cabinets.

Examination table.

Medical equipment.

My fear changed.

Not less.

Different.

Aleksandr knocked once.

Then opened the door.

A man in his fifties looked up.

Gray hair.

Glasses.

White coat.

He spoke Russian.

Aleksandr answered.

I caught my name.

Then Nikolai.

Then something else.

The doctor’s eyes moved to me.

Down my body.

Back up.

I stepped closer to Aleksandr without thinking.

The doctor switched to English.

“Get on the table.”

I didn’t move.

He looked impatient.

“Sit.”

I looked at Aleksandr.

His face was unreadable.

“Why?”

The doctor frowned.

“You were told.”

“I want to know what you’re doing.”

“Examination.”

“What kind?”

He looked at Aleksandr.

Aleksandr answered.

“He wants to confirm what Nikolai asked.”

Heat flooded my face.

“No.”

The word came instantly.

Both men looked at me.

I backed toward the door.

“No.”

The doctor sighed.

“This is simple.”

“No.”

“It will take only a moment.”

“No.”

My breathing accelerated.

I’d never been examined like that.

Never.

I’d never had sex.

Never kissed anyone.

Never let a man touch me intimately.

I’d barely dated.

The most physical contact I’d had with men had been innocent.

A hug.

A hand on my shoulder.

A dance at a party.

That was it.

And now a stranger wanted to—

“No.”

The doctor looked annoyed.

Aleksandr looked at me.

Really looked.

My hands were shaking.

I hated that he could see.

“Wait outside,” the doctor told him.

Aleksandr didn’t move.

“I said outside.”

“No.”

The doctor frowned.

“You want to watch?”

Aleksandr’s expression became dangerous.

“No.”

“Then leave.”

“No.”

I looked at him.

The doctor sighed.

“Fine. Stay.”

He pulled gloves from a box.

The snap of latex made my stomach turn.

“On the table.”

I remained near the door.

The doctor looked at Aleksandr.

“Control her.”

My blood went cold.

Aleksandr slowly turned his head.

“What?”

“You brought her. Get her on the table.”

Silence.

The doctor’s confidence faltered.

Aleksandr looked back at me.

“Aurora.”

My name sounded strange from him.

First time he’d used it.

I swallowed.

“What?”

“Sit.”

I didn’t want to.

But Nikolai was upstairs.

And I knew what happened when I disobeyed Nikolai.

Slowly, I walked toward the examination table.

I sat.

The paper crinkled beneath me.

My hands gripped the edge.

The doctor pulled out metal stirrups.

I stared.

“What are those?”

“For your feet.”

My heart hammered.

“No.”

“Aurora,” the doctor said impatiently.

I hated hearing my name from him.

“Lie back.”

I looked at Aleksandr.

He was staring at the doctor.

Not me.

His jaw was tight.

I slowly lay back.

The doctor reached toward the hem of my gown.

I grabbed it.

“No.”

He sighed.

“I need access.”

“No.”

“Aurora.”

“No.”

My voice broke.

The doctor grabbed my knee.

I jerked away.

“Don’t touch me!”

Aleksandr moved.

Fast.

One second the doctor was beside me.

The next Aleksandr had his wrist.

Hard.

The doctor gasped.

“What the hell?”

“She said no.”

I stared at Aleksandr.

The doctor stared too.

“Nikolai ordered an examination.”

“I heard.”

“Then let me do it.”

“Not like this.”

“How exactly do you suggest I confirm virginity without examining her?”

Aleksandr’s expression turned cold.

“You don’t.”

The doctor blinked.

“What?”

“You don’t.”

“Nikolai specifically—”

“I know what Nikolai said.”

Aleksandr released him.

The doctor rubbed his wrist.

“You’re going to tell your brother I refused?”

“No.”

“What are you going to tell him?”

Aleksandr looked at me.

Then back at the doctor.

“That your examination was inconclusive.”

The doctor laughed.

“You think Nikolai will accept that?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

Aleksandr stepped closer.

The doctor stopped laughing.

“You will tell him there is no reliable medical examination that proves whether a woman has had sex.”

I blinked.

The doctor looked irritated.

“He doesn’t care about medical ethics.”

“I do not care what he cares about.”

“Aleksandr—”

“Enough.”

The room went silent.

The doctor lowered his voice.

“Why do you care?”

Aleksandr didn’t answer.

The doctor looked at me.

Then him.

Something almost amused entered his expression.

“Interesting.”

Aleksandr stepped closer.

“Careful.”

The amusement disappeared.

I sat up.

Pulled the gown tightly around my legs.

My entire body shook.

Aleksandr noticed.

He walked toward me.

I flinched.

He stopped immediately.

Not offended.

Not angry.

Just stopped.

His voice lowered.

“Get down.”

I slid off the table.

My legs nearly buckled.

His hand moved instinctively toward me.

I recoiled before he touched me.

His hand froze in midair.

For one second we stared at each other.

Then he lowered it.

No anger.

No insult.

He simply gave me space.

That did something strange to my chest.

The doctor removed his gloves.

“You’re creating a problem.”

Aleksandr looked at him.

“No.”

“You are.”

“My brother created problem when he ordered this.”

The doctor’s eyebrows rose.

“That’s dangerous thing to say.”

Aleksandr opened the door.

“Good thing only three of us heard.”

The doctor stared.

Aleksandr looked at me.

“Come.”

I didn’t hesitate.

I followed him out.

We walked halfway down the corridor before I spoke.

“Thank you.”

He kept walking.

“For?”

“You know.”

“No.”

I frowned.

“For stopping him.”

His expression remained forward.

“You said no.”

I stared at the side of his face.

“That matters to you?”

He stopped.

Turned.

“Yes.”

Such a simple answer.

I didn’t know what to do with it.

Not in this place.

Not from him.

“You dragged me by my hair yesterday.”

His jaw tightened.

“Yes.”

“You chained me.”

“Yes.”

“You made me undress in front of you.”

“Yes.”

“And now you’re acting like you care whether someone touches me.”

His eyes met mine.

“I didn’t say I’m good man.”

That silenced me.

He continued.

“I said you said no.”

I swallowed.

“Why are you helping Nikolai?”

His expression closed.

“Don’t ask.”

“Why?”

“Because you don’t want answer.”

“I do.”

“No.”

He started walking again.

I followed.

“Aleksandr.”

He stopped so suddenly I nearly walked into him.

It was the first time I had said his name.

Something flickered in his eyes.

I noticed.

So did he.

“What?”

“That’s your name.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve been calling you something else.”

His eyes narrowed.

“What?”

I immediately regretted starting this conversation.

“Nothing.”

“Aurora.”

I pressed my lips together.

“What?”

“What you call me?”

I looked away.

“Nothing.”

He stepped into my path.

I moved left.

He moved left.

I moved right.

He moved right.

I stared at him.

“Seriously?”

His mouth almost twitched.

“Tell.”

“No.”

“Aurora.”

“The Brute.”

Silence.

Oh God.

I had just insulted a Russian mafia man to his face.

His eyebrows rose.

“The Brute?”

I swallowed.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I looked at him.

“Have you met yourself?”

For two seconds he stared.

Then—

he laughed.

Actually laughed.

It wasn’t loud.

Just a short rough sound.

But it transformed his face.

I stared.

He noticed.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You stare.”

“I’ve never heard you laugh.”

“You’ve known me one day.”

“I’ve been here eight.”

“And?”

“You’ve been around.”

His amusement disappeared.

“Not enough.”

I frowned.

“What?”

He started walking.

“Nothing.”

Nikolai was still in his office when we returned.

My stomach immediately tightened.

He looked up.

“Well?”

Aleksandr answered before I could.

“Doc examined her.”

Technically true.

“And?”

Aleksandr’s expression gave nothing away.

“He found nothing suggesting anyone here touched her.”

Also technically true.

Nikolai looked at me.

“Is that true?”

I froze.

Aleksandr didn’t look at me.

Didn’t signal.

Didn’t threaten.

Nothing.

The choice was mine.

I swallowed.

“Yes.”

Nikolai studied me.

“Did Doc hurt you?”

I thought of his hand on my knee.

The fear.

Aleksandr stopping him.

“No.”

Not exactly.

Nikolai leaned back.

“And Aleksandr?”

My heart jumped.

“What about him?”

“Did he touch you?”

I looked at Aleksandr.

He remained completely still.

“No.”

That was true.

He hadn’t.

Not after I recoiled.

Not even to steady me.

Nikolai seemed satisfied.

“Good.”

Aleksandr crossed his arms.

“She needs food.”

“She’ll get it.”

“More than once a day.”

Nikolai’s eyebrow rose.

“Giving orders now?”

“No. Correcting incompetence.”

Nikolai smiled.

Dangerous.

“You’ve always had a mouth.”

“So have you.”

I stared at the floor.

Were they insane?

Apparently.

Nikolai stood.

He walked around the desk.

“Aurora will be your responsibility.”

Aleksandr’s face changed.

“No.”

I looked up.

Nikolai smiled.

“Yes.”

“I have work.”

“You’ll adjust.”

“Give her to Vladimir.”

“No.”

“Akim.”

“No.”

“Why me?”

“Because I trust you.”

Aleksandr laughed without humor.

“Bad decision.”

“Perhaps.”

Nikolai looked at me.

“But nobody touches her.”

My stomach tightened.

“She eats.”

He looked at Aleksandr.

“She bathes.”

A pause.

“She remains healthy.”

I didn’t like the way he said healthy.

Like there was a reason.

A purpose.

Aleksandr apparently didn’t either.

“For what?”

Nikolai’s eyes moved to him.

“What?”

“Why does it matter?”

“Because I don’t want my property damaged.”

I stopped breathing.

Property.

Aleksandr’s face became stone.

“She isn’t property.”

The room went silent.

My eyes snapped toward him.

Nikolai’s smile slowly disappeared.

“What did you say?”

Aleksandr didn’t back down.

“She is person.”

Something dangerous passed through Nikolai’s eyes.

Then he smiled again.

“Your compassion is touching.”

“It isn’t compassion.”

“What is it?”

“Common sense.”

Nikolai adjusted his cuff.

“Call it whatever helps you sleep.”

He looked at me.

“You’re moving upstairs.”

I blinked.

“What?”

“To Aleksandr’s room.”

Both of us spoke at once.

“No.”

Nikolai smiled.

For the first time all morning, he looked genuinely entertained.

“Interesting.”

Aleksandr stepped forward.

“She doesn’t stay in my room.”

“She does now.”

“Why?”

“Because I told you to keep her safe.”

“There are twenty bedrooms.”

“And twenty men in this house.”

Aleksandr went silent.

Nikolai continued.

“You trust them?”

“No.”

“Neither do I.”

My stomach dropped.

That answer terrified me more than anything else he’d said.

Nikolai picked up his phone.

“I’ll be gone for approximately one week.”

Aleksandr’s jaw tightened.

“And?”

“When I return, she better not look like she’s dying.”

He glanced at me.

“And she better remain untouched.”

His eyes returned to Aleksandr.

“If anyone harms her, starves her, touches her, or allows her to escape—”

He smiled.

“I hold you responsible.”

Aleksandr stared.

“What exactly do you expect me to do?”

Nikolai’s smile widened.

“Lock her in your room if necessary.”

My stomach twisted.

Nikolai walked past us.

Then stopped beside me.

I stiffened.

He leaned close enough that I could smell his cologne.

“Behave.”

I stared forward.

His hand lifted.

Before he could touch my face—

Aleksandr stepped between us.

So smoothly I almost wondered if I’d imagined it.

Nikolai looked at his brother.

Aleksandr looked back.

Neither spoke.

Then Nikolai smiled.

And walked away.

The office door closed.

Silence.

I released the breath I’d been holding.

Aleksandr rubbed one hand over his face.

“Fuck.”

I looked at him.

“So…”

He glanced at me.

“What?”

“Your room?”

His expression made me almost laugh.

Almost.

“You think funny?”

“No.”

“You are smiling.”

“No, I’m not.”

“You are.”

I immediately stopped.

He sighed.

“Come.”

“Where?”

“My room.”

The words made my stomach twist.

He noticed.

His expression hardened.

“Not like that.”

Heat rushed into my cheeks.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You didn’t need.”

I followed him.

Upstairs.

Another hallway.

Then another.

The house was enormous.

Beautiful.

Dark wood.

Stone fireplaces.

Mountain views.

Expensive rugs.

It didn’t make sense.

The basement belonged in a nightmare.

The upstairs belonged in a magazine.

Aleksandr stopped before double doors.

Unlocked them.

Opened one.

“Inside.”

I hesitated.

He noticed.

“You want basement?”

“No.”

“Then inside.”

I stepped through.

And stopped.

His bedroom was enormous.

Dark.

Black furniture.

Gray walls.

A massive bed.

Fireplace.

Bookshelves.

Private bathroom.

Windows.

Windows.

I walked toward them.

Mountains stretched beyond the glass.

I touched it.

Sunlight warmed my fingertips.

“You can see outside.”

Aleksandr set something on a table.

“Yes.”

I turned.

“Do they open?”

His expression changed.

“No.”

My hope sank.

“Of course.”

He looked away.

There was a couch near the fireplace.

A small table.

Another door.

“What is that?”

“Closet.”

“And bathroom?”

He pointed.

I looked toward the bed.

Then at him.

“Where do I sleep?”

He looked at the couch.

“You.”

I blinked.

“You’re making me sleep on the couch?”

He stared.

“You prefer bed?”

My face heated.

“No.”

His mouth almost twitched.

“Then couch.”

I crossed my arms.

“You’re rude.”

“So I’ve heard.”

“Do I get clothes?”

“Yes.”

“Food?”

“Yes.”

“Water?”

“Yes.”

“Can I shower?”

“Yes.”

I stared.

“What?”

He stared back.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Then stop looking.”

I almost smiled.

Then something occurred to me.

“Are you staying in here too?”

“Yes.”

My stomach tightened.

He noticed.

“I don’t touch you.”

The words were simple.

Firm.

I looked at him.

“How do I know?”

His face changed.

“You don’t.”

That honesty surprised me.

He walked toward the bedroom door.

Then stopped.

“You don’t know me.”

“No.”

“You shouldn’t trust me.”

I swallowed.

“Okay.”

“But I tell you this once.”

His eyes held mine.

“No man comes through that door without me knowing.”

Something about his voice made me believe him.

“And no man touches you in this room.”

I thought about the doctor.

Nikolai.

The guards downstairs.

Then Aleksandr.

The Brute.

The man who dragged me by my hair.

The man who had also stopped when I said no.

Contradictions.

Too many.

He reached for the door.

“Wait.”

He looked back.

“Where are you going?”

“Food.”

I hated the relief that came with the answer.

“Oh.”

He opened the door.

“Aleksandr?”

His hand stopped.

“Thank you.”

He looked at me.

“For food?”

“For today.”

He understood.

His face gave nothing away.

But his voice was quieter when he answered.

“Lock door after me.”

Then he left.

I stood alone in his bedroom.

I waited.

Listened to his footsteps disappear.

Then locked the door.

I walked back to the window.

Pressed my palm against the glass.

Outside was freedom.

Trees.

Mountains.

Sky.

So close.

Still unreachable.

But for the first time in eight days—

I had sunlight.

A bathroom.

A clean place to sleep.

Food coming.

And a door I was allowed to lock.

It wasn’t freedom.

Not even close.

I was still a prisoner.

Still kidnapped.

Still trapped in Nikolai Volkov’s world.

And Aleksandr was still part of that world.

I couldn’t forget that.

But when I thought about the doctor’s hand reaching toward me—

I remembered Aleksandr’s voice.

She said no.

Three words.

They shouldn’t have mattered as much as they did.

But nobody had listened to me since the night I was taken.

Aleksandr had.

And that made him dangerous in an entirely different way.

Because monsters were easy to hate.

It was much harder when you discovered the monster might have pieces of a man underneath.