Page 100 of The Marriage

Old.

Tired.

He won’t think twice about it, Cherie had told Karine on the way over about her coming along. It’s the only way I can get a girl back in a livable piece as it is with the asshole.

Karine didn’t ask for more details.

She didn’t really need to, though.

Cherie remained downstairs while one of the men gestured for Karine to follow. She gave the madame one last look as she was led up a winding, metal staircase to the second floor of the quiet mansion.

She could still hear the woman’s warnings from earlier in the car.

Don’t meet his gaze.

Do what he says, he won’t suspect a thing.

He usually starts with a belt ...

Karine had counted every step. Across the entry, up the stairs, and even down a long corridor until they stood outside a door to a room where she could hear some muffled sound. Every fourth step, she’d taken a breath.

She needed to remind herself to do it.

And why she was here ...

For Roman.

For her sister.

God ... for herself.

She didn’t bother to peer beyond the brim of the floppy hat to see the face of the man who directed her where to stand. She was too busy remembering the way her sister had begged that night, and how much Dima enjoyed it.

The man knocked hard on the door. Dima’s voice came through. Commanding. Grotesque.

Dull.

She didn’t expect him to sound so flat.

Like he was bored.

Goosebumps bloomed on her arms, and like she was floating in a dream, with no control over her own legs, she strolled into the room when the man opened the door. He shut it noiselessly behind her.

The bedroom was big, but not well-decorated with Dima standing at the end of the bed. A glass of vodka in his hand, and the big screen TV with a rugby game playing that he put on mute explained the muffled noise. His eyes remained glued to the screen even while she stood there, trembling at the sight of him.

She was too close to him.

Her heart didn’t just race, it screamed.

Karine had spent every waking and sleeping moment these past months—hoping she would never have to see him again.

And there he was.

Dima held the glass up to his lips, without glancing at her once. “Take off your clothes and open the drawer next to the bed.”

He usually starts with a belt ...

“You’ll find what I want in there. Bring it to me on your knees.”