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“Alexei’s sending someone to watch your mother,” I offer the information to Ariana in the hopes it will make her relax. When she doesn’t say anything, I ask, “Did you hear me?”
“Yes, but I’m sure as shit not going to thank you,” she mumbles.
Taking a deep breath, I pick up the cup and go sit on the couch.
She gives an irritated look. “Do you even watch TV when you’re not busy murdering people?”
Keeping my eyes on the screen, I clench my teeth until I’m sure nothing aggressive will leave my mouth. “I don’t watch TV, but there’s not much to do on the island.”
“Well, go find something. You make me uncomfortable.”
My eyes snap to Ariana. “For someone who believes I’m going to kill her, you have zero survival instincts. Annoying your abductor isn’t the wisest thing to do.”
Her eyes narrow on me. “I plan on going out with a fight. If I can annoy you to death, it’s a bonus.”
Letting out a chuckle, the corner of my mouth lifts. “Like you tried and failed to fight me earlier?”
“Screw you,” she mutters, turning her gaze back to the TV while a red blush creeps up her neck and over her cheeks.
I hate that she’s humiliated, and again it’s on the tip of my tongue to apologize for leaving her tied to the bed, but I bite the words back.
We continue to watch the show, which turns out to be about vampires. Every couple of minutes, I feel Ariana’s eyes on me, and before I can think it through, I ask, “Like what you see, Malyshka?”
“Ugh,” she grunts. “In your dreams.”
I let out another chuckle.
“What did you call me in Russian?”
“It’s similar to little girl.”
She huffs, and then we manage to watch an entire episode before Ariana talks again. “What’s in the basement?”
“None of your business.”
Another minute passes. “For someone who keeps telling me this whole nightmare is for my safety, you sure aren’t going out of your way to put me at ease.”
Taking a deep breath, I slowly let it out before I turn my gaze to her. “For someone who’s getting my protection for free, you sure are ungrateful.”
Something sparks in Ariana’s eyes, and then she crosses her legs and gives me a curious look.
Aww fuck. Here comes the questions.
“How much do you charge?”
“You can’t afford me,” I mutter.
“Tell me anyway.”
I let out a silent burst of laughter. “I’m not going to discuss my finances with you.”
“Okay, how much would you ask to protect me for a week?”
A frown begins to form on my forehead. “Where are you going with this?”
“I just figured if I pay you, maybe you’d be less of an ass.”
Leaning forward, I rest my elbows on my thighs and stare the girl down. “This is me being nice.”
She pulls a disgruntled face. “Then I’d hate to see you upset.”
A smile tugs at my mouth. “Then don’t piss me off.”
She shoots me a glare and turns her attention back to the TV. It only takes a couple of minutes before the dejected expression returns to her face.
Fuck, Demitri. Just give the girl some kind of reassurance.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Ariana,” I finally say the words she’s been needing to hear.
“How can I believe anything you say?” she counters and holds up one of her bruised wrists. I stare at Ariana until she starts to squirm, looking uncomfortable. Then she mutters, “Also doesn’t help when you give me that look of death.”
Needing to set things straight, I say, “I understand you’re scared. I’m only keeping you safe out of respect to the head of the Bratva, which means I’m getting nothing from it. Just like you, I don’t want to be here.”
I let the words sink in, then add, “If you attack me, I’m going to restrain you. I won’t hurt you, and I sure as fuck have no interest in touching you. You’re just a job, Ariana.”
A weird look flashes across her face, and then she turns her attention back to the TV, doing her best to ignore me, which suits me just fine.
ARIANA
I didn’t get much sleep last night, with Demitri sitting on the other couch, watching me like a guard dog. I kept dozing off only to jerk awake with fright.
I only stayed on the couch because I didn’t have the strength to face that bedroom.
I feel off-balance, my emotions constantly jumping from being terrified to feeling embarrassed with what happened last night to anger.
After making myself some coffee, I decide to explore my prison in the hopes of finding a way to escape. Opening the sliding doors, I step out onto the deck and slowly make my way down the steps. I wait to see if Demitri is going to come after me, but when there’s no sign of him, I head in the direction of the trees.
