Page 125 of The Billionaire Who Saved My Cat From The Mafia

In the kitchen now, I feel a large presence behind me.I don’t have to look up to know who it is.Niko’s still in the other room hollering and groveling, which means Daniil now watches over me.It’s what he does.

I hate being held captive.I hate Niko.I hate Daniil and the other henchmen who never let me out of their sights.More than anything, Ihaaaatethis game.

But I have to keep playing.It’s my duty to keep the MacLaines safe.Their well-being depends on my ability to keep this game going.As long as Niko has me to kick and hit and torture and use, he won’t go looking for anyone who might have known me in Sweetbriar.I have to keep this going for them.

I hold them all in my mind’s eye—Jasmine’s eyes sparkling with curiosity, Jamie’s homespun straight talk, Phyllis’s wisdom, Special K’s stoic badass brothers and his wonderful sisters-in-law—imagining them alive and well keeps me going.

Yeah, I’d like to stay alive, too, if I can finesse it.But I’m doing this for Special K and the family he loves.I’m doing it for the man I love.The family I’d love to be a part of, if only things had been different.

I straighten and push away from the kitchen counter.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” I tell Daniil.He nods and follows me, waiting outside the closed door.

I look at myself in the mirror.I’m already bruising around my eyes and jaw from where Niko hit me on the plane.I hope my eye doesn’t swell shut.But if it does, it doesn’t matter.No one will see me.It’s not like I can just leave the house and go shopping.I’m not even allowed to walk to the end of the dock by myself.

It’s been thirteen days since I delivered myself to Niko, and I can already tell that he’s losing patience with me, even though I continue to do everything he asks.But I can’t hold his interest.I know he wants to move on.

What “moving on” means for a man like Niko Koslov is anyone’s guess.Will he slice my throat or throw a boulder around my neck and toss me into the lake?Will he sell me?

I blink at my reflection.It hardly seems possible that just days ago I was truly happy.I was floating in the hot spring with Special K, my body humming with pleasure under his touch, his big cock inside me, his big body rocking me and protecting me under a huge blue sky.

I was honored and humbled that he’d share his secrets with me, even knowing I couldn’t do the same.

He’s the best man I’ve ever known.I should have told him that I’m his forever.That I’ll always love him, no matter what.That he’s the most honorable, decent man I’ve ever known.I should have used those exact words and more.

Because I don’t think he knows just how much I wanted to be his woman.

“I’m sorry, cowboy,” I whisper, closing my eyes.A hot tear rolls down to the corner of my mouth.

A pounding at the bathroom door makes me jump.“Yes?”I check to make sure my lipstick isn’t smeared or my false eyelashes aren’t coming loose.

“Come out of there,potaskushka.I need to fuck you.”

“Coming, Niko.”

I hate him.

I’ve let him do every disgusting and sick thing he’s wanted to do to me.I’ve gotten so good at reading his appetites, that I can anticipate what he’s in the mood for.I’ve found that if I offer myself to him in advance, in just the way he likes, I can sometimes get through it faster and with less damage to body and soul.

Sometimes.

And so tonight it will be more of the same.He’ll use me, hit me, call me every degrading thing he can come up with in both English and Russian, and then he’ll use me again.

My hand goes to my cheek.I don’t care about bruises.I don’t care about broken bones or broken skin or my broken heart.

I just have to keep playing the game.

CHAPTER 61

Special K

I’m stunned.“What did you just say?”

Evander stares at me.“Well?Do you care about Frankie, or not?”

I take a step toward the smug bastard in his fancy suit.“I don’t give a shit if you’re about to get married.I’ll apologize to Phoebe later.Right now, it’s time for you to die.”

Evander laughs.“Yeah, sure.Get on your horse and follow me down.The meeting’s about Frankie, you dipshit.We’re getting her back.”