Chapter Eleven:

Dominique

( Present day )

I had no idea how long I had been kept inside the empty room. My chest was hurting badly and I was having trouble breathing. I think they may have broken my ribs. I laid on the floor holding my belly with my eyes closed wondering if Nikolai had fulfilled his promise of taking Doug to the hospital. I wondered if Doug was fine. I also wondered where my mom and Asher were being kept. I began counting to help me drift off but my counting was interrupted by the sound of the door being opened.

I refused to open my eyes, hoping that whoever came in would go out soon.

" Get up. " A voice said.

I slowly opened my eyes and weakly raised my head. A tall guy, maybe a little older than me stood in the room lazily twirling a gun in his left hand.

" Why? Where are we going?" I asked.

" Your room. "

" My what? "

" The Pakhan has ordered that you be given a room. "

I snorted. " The Pakhan. " I said in a tone of disbelief. " I will never get over the fact that I was once in a love with a man of this awful life. "

The guy grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet. I closed my eyes tight trying to fight the pain.

" Ouch. " I whispered.

" I see you must have met Dmitri. " He said to me.

So that was the bastard's name. Dmitri. Sounded like a name an evil person would bear.

" You can call me Roman. "

" Dominique. "

" I know. Everyone around here knows your name."

" Cause you see me on TV?"

" No because no day goes by that the Pakhan does cuss you. "

I chuckled, ignoring the pain I felt while doing so.

" Glad I succeeded in haunting him. "

Roman scowled at me and turned around walking out the door. I followed behind him. We walked down the long corridor then stopped almost at the end. Roman produced a key card and placed it on the reader. The door unlocked and he pushed it open. He went in and I entered right after him closing the door behind me.

My eyes shone brightly at the sight of the room.

It was nothing like the empty room they had kept me in.

The bedroom was enormous, with dark wooden floors polished so perfectly they reflected the soft golden light from the lamps. A massive bed sat against the far wall, covered in dark gray sheets and enough pillows to make me question whether anyone actually slept here or simply wanted the room to look expensive.

Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across one side of the room, hidden behind heavy charcoal curtains. Beyond the glass, I could see part of the estate grounds surrounded by tall iron fences.

There was a sitting area near the windows with two black leather chairs and a small glass table between them. A bookshelf occupied the opposite wall, filled with books I doubted I would ever have the patience to read.

A large wardrobe stood beside another door, and when I glanced toward it, I noticed a bathroom beyond the half-open entrance.

Everything was immaculate.

Everything was expensive.

And somehow, that made it worse.

I turned slowly toward Roman.

" Why am I getting the princess treatment. " I asked. " am I not supposed to be treated like trash?"

" Well it was the Pakhan's orders. I'm just following his orders. "

I walked to the bed and sat at the edge. Roman stood close to the table wiping imaginary dust off it.

" What does he does he want to do with me?" I asked.

" Who? " Roman asked.

" You know who. Nikolai. "

" I don't know but it won't be a pleasant stay here. "

" Will he kill me? "

" No. I don't think so. "

" I hate him so much. He just had to be alive and ruin my whole life. "

Before I could blink, Roman had gotten close to me and grabbed my neck. I hit his arm repeatedly, trying to free myself. My vision became double and I was almost passing out. He finally released me shoving backwards with full force. I drew in deep breaths, groaning due to the strain on my possibly broken ribs.

" What the hell " I wheezed out. " The fuck is wrong with you?"

" Don't ever say anything disrespectful about my Pakhan. " Roman said. " I will let it go but the others won't. So mind what you say to anyone is this place. "

" I guess everyone here is a loyal dog. " I rubbing my chest.

" You have no idea what the Pakhan has done for everyone one of us here. He changed my life, he helped me when no one else would. I would give him my soul if I had to. "

" Yikes " I whispered. " That's a lil bit too much, don't you think? "

" You don't know anything about him. " Roman said. " You just went on and betrayed him. "

" Of course. " I rolled my eyes. " Everyone leaves the devil and blames me like I made his choices for him. He put himself there. Y'all give me a break and stop blaming me. "

" He should never have been with you. The whole council told him you'd be his downfall. He refused to believe. He had so much faith in you. "

" Should I feel sympathy for the man who shot my boyfriend and has my brother and mother locked up in God know where?" I said half yelling. " I don't give a damn what he may have gone through. I also went through shit and that was my price to pay. You don't see me running around throwing my pain in everyone's face. "

" Well unlike whatever pain you may have gone through, the Pakhan's is way greater. He would never have betrayed you. "

" I... I... " Sudden guilt filled me and I couldn't say anything. He deserved it. He's a devil, but why did I feel like I had made a mistake.

" There are clothes in the wardrobe. Take a shower. The Pakhan would probably come see you later. Prepare yourself. He isn't on a good mood. "

Roman tosses the key card on the bed right beside me. He turned on his heel and began walking towards the door.

I called out and he stopped.

" Can I ask where my mom and brother are? "

" You'll have to ask him that yourself. " He replied. " And don't ever say anything bad about the Pakhan again. "

" I will. Maybe not to your hearing but I will. "

" You won't survive here. "

" I'll decide that. Thank you. " I said. " And tell your Pakhan that these clothes are not up to my taste. You can't expect the face of Valenzo to wear such rubbish. "

Roman shook his head and left the room, closing the door behind him. Once again I was alone. I had no intention of staying here to be honest.

I needed an escape plan.