3

Elena’s POV.

They finally untied my hands. The relief I felt lasted only two seconds. Two rough-looking men grabbed my arms and started dragging me through the long, fancy hallways of the mansion. I tried to pull away, but they were like stone walls.

“Let go of me!” I hissed, still furious my wrists were red and hurting from the ropes, but I didn’t care. All I wanted was to get out of this nightmare.

They didn’t say a single word. Just pushed me into a room and locked the door behind me with a loud click.

I stood there breathing hard, looking around. The room was actually beautiful big bed, expensive furniture, a huge mirror, and soft lighting. But the color… everything was deep ash gray. The walls, the bedsheets, even the damn curtains. It looked cold and depressing, like a fancy prison cell i hated it instantly.

“This sucks,” I muttered angrily. “Who the hell chooses ash gray for a bedroom? Idiots.”

I started pacing like a caged animal. My mind was racing. How do I get out of here? There must be a window… a phone… something. But when I checked, the windows were locked tight with some kind of security glass and no phone anywhere. Of course.

A few minutes later, the door opened again.

A woman walked in, probably in her late thirties. She had a blank face, like she had no emotions at all. She carried a tray of food rice, chicken, some vegetables and placed it on the table without looking at me.

“Wait!” I said quickly, switching to my sweetest voice. “Please… you look like a nice person please help me. These men kidnapped me. If you let me go i can pay you. I’ll give you anything you want. Please, just open the door. . .”

The woman didn’t even glance at me. She turned around and walked out like I was invisible. The door locked again.

I stared at the closed door, my blood boiling.

“Fine!” I shouted. “Be that way!”

I looked at the food tray. My stomach was growling, but I was too angry to eat. They thought they could lock me up and feed me like a dog? Hell no.

With one angry swipe, I knocked the entire tray onto the floor. The plate shattered.

Food splattered everywhere rice on the ash gray carpet, chicken sauce staining the

perfect floor. It felt good for a second.

But then. . .

The door burst open so hard it slammed against the wall.

I jumped up from the bed, heart flying into my throat. All three brothers stormed in like they owned the air I was breathing. But Dmitri… he looked the angriest. His mismatched eyes were blazing as he marched straight toward me.

Before I could even back away, his hand shot out and grabbed my jaw hard, fingers digging into my skin. He forced my face up so I had no choice but to look at him.

“You think this is a fucking joke?” he growled, voice low and dangerous. His breath was hot against my face. “We gave you a nice room. We gave you food like a princess. And you dare throw it on the floor like a spoiled little brat?”

I tried to pull away but his grip got deeper. Pain shot through my jaw.

“Look at me,” he snapped. “Look at my brothers. My name is Dmitri Volkov. I’m the one who will punish you when you misbehave. This one here. . .” he jerked his head toward the smirking guy, “Is Nikolai. He will break you slowly and silently until you don’t even remember your own name. And my elder brother Viktor? He will burn you into ashes if you keep testing us.”

His nails dug deeper into my skin. I whimpered, the sound slipping out before I could stop it. Tears stung my eyes and threatened to fall. It hurt so much, but I refused to cry in front of them.

“You dare not defy me, pet,” Dmitri warned, his voice dropping even lower.

“Enough, Dmitri,” Viktor said calmly from behind him.

But Dmitri didn’t let go if anything, his grip tightened. A small, broken sound escaped my throat. “Please…”

The room went quiet for a second. Dmitri’s eyes widened slightly, then a dark satisfied smile spread across his face.

“Look, brothers,” he said, sounding almost amused now. “She begs. The little princess actually begs.”

He leaned closer, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered, “Ohh darling… speak louder. Tell us hear how sorry you are. Tell me and my brothers that you’re not going to do it again.”

My heart was hammering. For a tiny moment I wanted to say it. I wanted the pain to stop. But then that stubborn fire inside me burned hotter than the fear.

“Fuck you,” I spat, looking him straight in his crazy eyes.

His fingers pressed harder into my face, nails biting into my skin. Pain across my jaw.

“Tell us you’re not going to do it again,” he repeated slowly.

I was breathing fast, tears finally slipping down my cheeks, but I didn’t look away.

“I said FUCK YOU!” I yelled right in his face, my voice cracking but full of defiance.

My words seemed to echo in the room. Dmitri’s face changed. Something wild flashed in his eyes. For a second I thought he was going to really hurt me. Nikolai chuckled softly like he was enjoying a show, while Viktor watched with those cold, calculating eyes of his.

Dmitri suddenly released my jaw but before I could feel relief, he grabbed a fistful of my hair instead, yanking my head back so my neck was exposed. I gasped.

“You’ve got a dirty mouth, little pet,” he murmured, staring down at me like he wanted to devour me. “I can’t wait to fuck that attitude right out of you.”

My body trembled. Fear and something else I didn’t want to name mixed together in my stomach. I hated how close they all were. I hated how my skin was heating up under their stares.

Viktor finally stepped forward and placed a hand on Dmitri’s shoulder.

“Enough for now,” he said, but his eyes were locked on me. “She’ll learn. One way or another.”

Nikolai moved to my other side, trailing a finger down my arm slowly. “She’s shaking. Cute.”

I wanted to scream at them again, but my voice was stuck in my throat. My jaw throbbed. My scalp burned from Dmitri’s grip. And honestly i was scared and deep down I knew this was only the beginning.

Dmitri leaned in one last time, his lips almost touching mine as he whispered.

“Keep fighting, princess. It only makes me want you more.”

He finally let go and stepped back with the others.

The three of them stood there, watching me like predators who had all the time in the world to play with their new toy.

But as they turned to leave, Viktor looked back at me with those dark eyes of his.

“Clean up the mess you made, pet. Or next time… we won’t be so gentle.”

The door closed behind them with a heavy click.

I sank down onto the ash-gray bed, touching my sore jaw. What the hell had I gotten myself into?