I look out the window at the darkness. We're above the clouds now, and there's nothing below but an endless black void.
My head aches, and I press my fingers into my temples.
"Why Alaska?" I ask quietly. "What fate is waiting for me there?"
He's silent for so long I think he won't answer. "I have a home there. You’ll be safe."
“I’d be safer in my own home.”
“No, you wouldn’t.”
I shake my head. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“There is a lot I’m not telling you.” He leans forward. “Because I’m the kidnapper and you’re the captive.”
I glare at him and he leans back again.
"This is insane," I breathe. "You’reinsane.”
“Murderer. Insane. You do like your labels.”
“Here’s another one.Asshole. That works too.”
He smirks, and I want to punch him right in his perfect mouth.
The plane levels out, and the seatbelt sign dings off. The attendant reappears with more vodkas.
"We're at cruising altitude. Would you like dinner?"
"Yes," Nikolai says without looking away from me. "Something light."
The attendant disappears again, and we're alone except for the muted roar of the engines.
I down the second vodka and relish the new wave of warmth carving its way through me. My muscles finally relax. In fact, all of me starts to relax.
"Eat when it comes," Nikolai orders gently. "You'll need your strength."
"For what?"
"For everything that's coming." He stands and moves to the seat next to mine instead of across from me and I instinctively press myself against the window, but there's nowhere to go. His thigh is inches from mine, his shoulder nearly brushing mine. "For the storm that's about to hit. For the choices you're going to have to make."
"What choices?"
"Whether to trust me. Whether to fight me." His hand comes to rest on the armrest between us, close enough that I can see the scratches my nails left on his wrist. "Whether to accept that your life as you knew it is over, and something new is beginning."
The fear and panic I had successfully vanquished with vodka come roaring back. This time with greater force. What does Nikolai mean when he says my life as I knew it is over?
"I don’t want this," I say breathlessly.
His fingers brush against mine where they're gripping the armrest. "You need to accept it."
I jerk my hand away. "I'll never accept this."
He leans in closer, and I can smell him, something dark and delicious that makes my pulse race. His lips are close to my ear when he speaks.
"We'll see,malyshka. We'll see."
He pulls back and stands and returns to his seat. He opens a laptop and begins working, dismissing me as casually as if I'm not even here.
