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“The ransom?” I ask.
Talia walks toward the bed and sits down beside me. “He paid me what he owed me when he saw what we would do to her.”
“You mean what youdiddo.” I correct her.
“It was a show for the cameras,” she explains casually. “I would only go so far with a woman. Besides, she’s worth more if she’s untouched. My men put on a good and convincing show for the cameras.”
A chill races through me, but thankfully it isn’t followed by sickness. I shift my weight away from hers, and Talia eyes my hips as I move away. I shouldn’t have done that. I gave her back a little of her power.
Her eyes meet mine with a predator’s gleam. “And that’s the trick. Theimplied threatsare often the most powerful. Your victims will fill in the gaps with their own imagination. You only need to give that imagination enough material to grow. Her father was given a warning. He listens to warnings,Mrs. Barinov.”
My stomach gurgles loud enough for us both to hear, but I ignore it. I will myself to stare steadily into her eyes. I cannot let her think I’m as weak as she thinks. I can beat her at her own game if I have to.
I nod my head with approval. “I see you listen too,Ms.Nikitin.”
The maid enters at that moment with breakfast. Thank God! Talia looks as if her patience with me is burned out. She clasps her shaking hands and stands, focusing her attention on the maid, who doesn’t dare make eye contact with either of us.
The smell of bacon and toast wafts under my nose. And a meal that would typically make my mouth water makes my stomach churn like a car that won’t start.
Talia picks up a piece of toast and tosses it at the girl. “Why is there only one place setting?”
“There’s only one person in the room, ma’am.”
Talia’s hand is quick, and the slap stills the room. “Am I not a person?”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Nikitin.”
“The fewer mistakes you make, the less you need to be corrected.” She shoves the girl. “Go.”
The girl’s lip is bleeding. Maybe it was cut by a ring or Talia’s long nails. The girl touches her face gingerly as she hurries toward the door. But the sight of blood, even a little, is enough to send me running to the bathroom, knocking Talia aside and alarming the maid.
Damn it, Paige, she must know now. I hug the toilet while I vomit, gasping as I retch. I hear the click of heels across the ceramic floor and then hands are on my cheeks, pulling back my hair.
“The brave Mrs. Barinov cannot handle the sight of blood,” she purrs as she gently rubs my back. I want to recoil from her touch, but it does make me feel better. “What is to become of you?” She laughs as my back tenses over another bout of nausea. “Sweet, innocent Mrs. Barinov, married to the most savage pakhan of them all. How long do you think you can stay in your ivory tower before learning what your husband has done? What he’s capable of doing?”
Talia stops stroking, and something else has her attention. The maid stands at the bathroom door, staring at us. Immediately, Talia is on her feet and walking toward the door. She glances out of the bathroom, and her tenuous cool shatters again.
“You left the door open.”
The maid points at me. “But I … she is ill … I came to help.”
This time, the slaps are brutal as Talia grabs the girl by her head and rains down blows. Each hit is followed with an insult as she curses the girl for her laziness and stupidity. She doesn’t let her go as the girl weakly shields herself. They move in a circle in a bizarre dance step as Talia hits the struggling girl. My nausea is forgotten as I watch them with disgust and curiosity.
I wonder if I could ever be that cruel, and a voice inside me whispers yes.
After a minute, Talia lets the weeping girl go, screeching after her to bring another plate or else. Her face is red from the exertion and her rage. Her neat dress is askew as she brushes it down with her hands and puts it back in place. For the first time, she avoids my wide-eyed gaze. Is she really embarrassed that she lost it over a maid?
Talia smooths a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. “You look better now. I’m pleased that you are not as soft as I had imagined. I almost expected you to intervene.”
I stiffen my spine. “She didn’t need my help.”
Talia looks at me and then smiles, pleased with my flippant response. She doesn’t need to know I’m lying. I better play the game, whatever it is. She wants to see if I deserve Andrei, and to deserve Andrei, I must be like her.
“We will have meals together,” she tilts her chin. “And I will explain how a pakhan’s wife is supposed to act.”
“I guess it’s time I learn.”
“You should know by now. I hope you make it through your training.”
