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The expression on his face darkens until he looks like death itself. “You’re lying to me.”
Pulling free from his hands, I step back. I close my eyes and whisper, “You’re scaring me.”
I hear him suck in a couple of deep breaths, then he gently pulls me to his chest. There’s so much worry in his voice when he says, “Please tell me.”
The humiliation is too fresh, and I don’t know how Viktor will react. He’s no longer the only man who’s touched me.
“I’m just tired,” I groan. “Let me get dressed so I can sleep. Please.”
He lets out a deep sigh, then grabs my underwear and crouches by my feet. “Left leg.” I place my trembling hand on his shoulder and step into the panties.
While Viktor dresses me, exhaustion sinks into my bones. Everything inside me feels black and blue, and with every passing minute, the trauma sinks its claws into me.
While I had to fight for my life, there was no time to process anything, but now that I’m safe, it’s all flooding me like a tsunami, hell-bent on drowning me.
When I’m dressed, Viktor frames my face and leans down to capture my eyes. “We’ll talk once you’ve had some sleep.”
I nod, thankful that he won’t push the subject right now.
He presses a kiss to my forehead. “Get in bed,moyaMalen'kaya Roza. I’m just going to shower, then I’ll join you.”
He tugs me to the bed and throws the covers back. When I lie down, he gently tucks me in and presses another kiss to my temple.
“Night,” I whisper.
“G’night, baby.”
I quickly close my eyes, the term of endearment threatening to make the tears come.
I listen as Viktor moves around the room and the water running in the shower. When he comes out of the bathroom, the bed dips under his weight. He pushes an arm beneath my head and pulls me back until I’m cradled against his body.
I keep my eyes tightly shut and my breaths as even as possible, hoping he’ll think I’m already asleep.
“Ya lyublyu tebya, moyaMalen'kaya Roza,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my hair.
I think I know what the words mean and focus on how safe they make me feel.
No one can hurt you anymore.
You’re safe in Viktor’s arms.
Walking through a field, I’m surrounded by giant buildings that reach into the clouds.
Suddenly a tornado warning fills the air, the sound sending a wave of alarm through me. Shadows start to form from the clouds, then they take the shape of the five heads of the Cosa Nostra.
“Die,” Mr. Messina hisses.
“Die,” Mr. Amato echoes him.
The tornado warning grows louder, and I frantically glance around for a place to take shelter. A door opens in one of the buildings, and I run to it. When I dart inside, lights flicker on, showing a great hall. There’s a stage where my grandfather, father, and uncle are seated.
Uncle Ricco’s eyes rove over me. “She’ll go for a good price.”
“No!” I cry, my heart splintering into a million pieces. “Why did you do this to me?”
“I’ll pay ten million,” Mr. Greco’s voice booms through the hall.
I open my mouth to scream, but nothing comes out.
