AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Everyone knows you,” I breathe weakly. “Luca told me…he used to talk shit about you. You’re Kristina’s right-hand man, aren’t you?”
Jude laughs, and I blink in shock. I can’t be wrong…can I?
He drops my chin and turns away. “Ah, so your little brat talks shit about me, huh?”
I feel a burn of shame, all too aware how Luca is truly a man-child.Especiallycompared to this fine specimen of man right in front of me…
Jude turns back around with more of that cord he used to tie me up, kneeling down in front of the couch. I close my eyes and bite my lip, trying to ignore how I’m sort of buzzing off the fact a man of his caliber is on his knees in front ofme.
What the hell am I doing?
He pulls my ankles gently forward with his large hands but ties me together securely, making sure there’s no way I'm able to run; much less hobble my way out of here.
“He’s notmylittle brat, you know,” I reply mindlessly, wishing immediately I had more control over my words.
Jude looks up, his hands now wrapped around my shins. I‘m frozen, waiting for his response.
“You’re right,” he answers, a sly grin meeting his lips, his voice tinged with disgust. “He’s the one whoownsyou, angel.”
Owns me?I turn away, looking blindly across the room as I already know what everyone seems to think—I’m Luca’s bitch. Thinking he can do whatever he wants to me and yet I have to go along with it because Iwantorneedhim…
But the truth is, they’re all right.
I can feel my eyes starting to water out of frustration—or desperation. I’m not sure of anything right this second.
But not wanting my kidnapper to see is far-fetched. By the way he rocks back onto his heels, I think he’s already noticed.
“So, Kristina is the one who sent you?” I snap, eyes swaying back to his.
He sharply turns around, his back facing me as he takes a step away. “Just how much do you know about yourfiancé?”
His gaze is clouded when he meets my stare now halfway across the room. I’m in a living room, I quickly realize. Small, but comfy. A black stone fireplace sits across from me, obviously well-used, and a bottle of expensive looking bourbon rests on a side table.
All of a sudden, I’m parched.
“I know…” I try finding the words to explain Luca but feel somewhat at a loss. “I know he gets himself into trouble,” I admit drily, not taking my eyes off the bottle of bourbon. My heart sinks as I know I should confess the rest. There doesn’t seem to be a point in denying what I’ve been aware of all along. “I know he’s challenging the Bratva in more than one way, thinking he can lead better than Kristina. I know he runs drugs from the north and…kills people sometimes.”
Jude laughs again, the sound loud and harsh in the small space. “And yet, you’re sitting here willing to marry a man like that,” he says as if to pity me, a sneer raising his lip.
“Do you really think anyone out there wouldwillinglymarry Luca Gusev?” I hiss back, swallowing thickly, still wishing I had something to drink.
Jude quickly disappears, only to return a minute later with a tall glass of ice water in hand.I was hoping that’s what he was after.
Carefully, he tips my chin up with two fingers, our eyes connecting as he presses the glass lightly to my lips. The water is refreshing in a way it shouldn’t be…life-giving, almost. I drink it greedily, liquid running from the corners of my mouth down to my neck.
And slowly, I pull back when I’ve had enough, catching those sharp gray eyes following the trail of water droplets on me.
I start to tremble, and he turns away again, tossing something on my lap in the motion. It’s heavy and…familiar.
My father’s coat.
“It’s cold in here,” Jude mutters, and right before leaving me all alone in this unknown place…
3
JUDE
I’ve only had the angel for five hours, but even that’s been too damn long. My entire place smells like her already—apples, fused with a clean crisp cotton. It’s enough to make my chest tighten, causing my head to fog over.
