Chapter Fourteen: The Godmother.

Dominique.

I had fallen asleep in the exact spot they had left me.

I didn't even remember closing my eyes.

The pain in my body had eventually dulled enough for exhaustion to take over, and I had been too tired to care where I slept.

The sound of the door opening pulled me out of it.

Footsteps approached.

I kept my eyes closed.

A slight nudge against my leg made me flinch.

“Get up.”

I slowly opened my eyes.

Roman stood over me, his expression hard.

Behind him was a short haired woman in a lab coat, carrying a medical bag.

I pushed myself up on one elbow, immediately regretting it when pain shot through my side.

Roman's jaw tightened.

“You could at least ask how he's doing.”

I looked at him.

“Who?”

His eyes narrowed.

“The Pakhan.”

I stared at him for a moment before looking away.

“I don't care.”

Roman scoffed.

“You shot him.”

“He shot my boyfriend and abducted me and my family.”

“ That bullet could have killed him.”

“Well I'm guessing it didn't cause I wouldn't still be here if it had.”

Roman took a step toward me, but the lady immediately cut in.

“Enough.” She said. " Hi I'm Andrea. "

I nodded. " Dominique. "

" I know. "

She placed her medical bag on the nearby table and looked at Roman.

“Help him sit up.”

Roman hesitated before moving closer.

“Careful,” Andrea warned.

“I know.”

He slipped an arm behind my back and helped me into a sitting position.

I winced.

Andrea crouched in front of me and began examining my injuries.

“Tell me where it hurts.”

“Everywhere.”

“That isn't helpful.”

“My ribs hurt. My back. My shoulder.”

She carefully pressed along my ribs.

I sucked in a breath.

“Here?”

“Yes.”

She continued examining me, checking my shoulders and arms before moving to my back.

“Any dizziness?”

“No.”

“Nausea?”

“No.”

Andrea nodded.

“I don't feel any obvious fractures, but you have quite a few bruises. Nothing appears broken.”

She opened her medical bag and pulled out fresh gauze and antiseptic.

“This is going to sting.”

“I know.”

She cleaned the cuts across my face and the ones along my arms, then replaced the bandages that needed changing.

Roman stood nearby the entire time, watching me like he was waiting for an opportunity to say something.

Andrea finished wrapping one of the deeper cuts and packed her supplies away.

“You need food, water and rest.”

“I've been resting.”

“You've been lying unconscious on the floor.”

“Same thing.”

Andrea gave me a flat look.

“It isn't.”

She turned to Roman.

“Take him downstairs for breakfast.”

Roman nodded.

“And make sure he actually eats.”

“I heard you.”

Andrea picked up her medical bag.

She looked at me one last time.

“If anything starts hurting significantly more, tell someone.”

“ Yeah. "

Without another word, she walked toward the door.

Roman followed her out.

I was left alone for barely a minute before he returned.

“Come on.”

I looked at him.

“Where?”

“Breakfast.”

I glanced down at myself.

The same clothes.

I had been wearing them since the day Nikolai took me. It was probably almost a week since then.

" I look so unkept. " I whined.

" Well you refused to wear the clothes in the wardrobe. "

" I'd rather walk naked. "

“Wonderful.”

He opened the door.

I stood slowly, ignoring the ache spreading through my body.

Roman waited until I was steady before stepping aside.

“Let's go.”

I followed him out of the room.

For the first time since I had been brought into this place, I was finally going to see what was beyond those walls.

The dining room was already occupied when Roman brought me in.

Three women sat around the table.

I recognized Mary Jo immediately.

She looked at me with the same hatred she'd had when she came to see me in that room.

The older woman beside her was different.

Elegant. Composed. Her presence alone made the room feel quieter. She was probably in her late fifties. Her gray hair was held in a tight bun. She was a beautiful woman and looked good for her age.

“The Godmother,” Roman said.

I nodded slightly.

Her eyes settled on me.

“Dominique. Take a seat.”

I paused.

“You know me?”

“Of course.”

I was surprised cause I had never seen her in my life. And I was sure Nikolai had never introduced me to her while we were together.

Before I could ask anything else, the younger woman beside Mary Jo leaned forward. She smiled widely, her freckles popping out with force. Her hair was a light shade of brown. She was probably in her late teens.

“I've wanted to meet you for ages.”

Mary Jo sighed.

“Svetlana.” Mary Jo called out.

“What? I have.”

Svetlana smiled at me.

“I've follow your social media account. I'm your biggest fan. I watched you from the start. From all your auditions to your bigger gigs. I love you so much. "

“Enough,” Mary Jo muttered. “He's not some celebrity.”

Svetlana frowned.

“He actually is. He is Dominique Reed. You really don't know the weight that name carries. I'm literally seated in front of greatness. "

I couldn't help staring at her.

She was clearly fascinated by me.

The Godmother, meanwhile, calmly picked up her fork.

“You look different than the last time I saw you,” she said.

I frowned.

“I've never seen you in my life.”

The Godmother chuckled.

“You were asleep when I came to see Nikolai at his place. He had me whispering the entire time so I wouldn't wake you. I've never seen him act that way.”

I scoffed and reached for a piece of bread.

“Do me a favor, child,” she continued. “Nikolai hasn't left his room this morning. Take some food to him.”

I nearly choked.

“I'm not doing that.”

“I won't ask twice, child.”

Her voice dropped.

She suddenly looked formidable.

I scrambled out of the chair and grabbed the tray of food that had been set aside for him.

Roman stood at the same time.

“I'll show you the way." He said walking ahead of me.

I followed reluctantly, carrying breakfast to the last person I wanted to see.