Katya stared at her gaunt reflection, barely recognizing the girl staring back. Her wet hair hung lifelessly against her shoulders as she took a deep breath. For two long months she had been a prisoner in her father’s house. Jorge was free to come and go, but Katya had not left this room once since she got here.
As she dried her body, she winced when the fabric brushed over the tender marks left by Jorge. He was never gentle when he used her. He seemed to get off on marking her flesh in some way, leaving a trail of evidence of his wrath. Once she was dry, Katya brushed her teeth and pulled her still damp hair into a braid. She walked into the room to find Jorge sitting on the bed. He watched as she pulled on panties and a loose sun dress.
“We are going downstairs.”
“What?” Katya turned toward him. “I get to leave this room?”
“Only because I will be with you. If you try anything stupid; I will fuck you up. Do you understand me?”
Katya nodded, happy that even if it was with a monster, she was getting to leave the confines of her room. “I understand.”
Jorge stood and pressed her against the dresser. “Good. Now,” his hand pulled her braid, jerking her head back.
“Stop looking so broken,” Jorge laughed at her. “You’re lucky you’re not dead for betraying your father.”
“I wish I were dead. Death would be better than this.”
Jorge stopped abruptly, startling Katya. His fingers wrapped around her throat as he got in her face. “Watch what you say, because death can still be arranged.”
She gasped for air as he released her neck. She watched as he pushed open her father’s office door and then pulled her in behind him. Her father was seated behind a massive desk, looking smug.
“Daughter.”
“You lost the right to call me that, Dmitri.”
“Ah, I see. Very well then. It appears the Anastasi’s and Silva’s are working together.”
“What?” Jorge stammered. “That’s bad, Dmitri.”
“Psh. I’m not worried about them, Jorge. They are, however, searching for you.”
“Fuck. What does that mean?”
“It means you can no longer leave this house. I cannot take a chance on them finding us. I have taken some precautions and sent my finest men to clean up the mess. I should have killed them when I had the chance.”
“No!” Katya screamed. “I didn’t give myself over to this monster for nothing. I thought you were a man of your word. Do you have no honor?”
“Honor?” Her father stood. “Honor is for the weak, my dear. You showed that honor means nothing when you ran into the arms of the enemy. Take her out of here, Jorge. I don’t want to see her again. When you tire of her, kill her and l will deliver her body to her lover.”
Jorge nodded as he pulled Katya from the room. “Hear that? Piss me off and you’ll get your wish. I almost want to kill you, just so I can see your boyfriend’s face when he finds your broken and used body. Lucky for you,” his fingers dug into her arm, “I’m not done with your body. Let’s go. My dick needs some attention, and this time you’re going to do everything I want.”
Katya let the tears flow. As much as she wanted to see Matias again, death was looking more and more like her way out. She didn’t know how much longer she could hold on in this hell hole.
Matiasbarelysleptonthe flight to Vegas. He and Cristian agreed he needed to be there with Bastian since they’d found evidence Katya and Jorge were being held there by Dmitri.
Bastian was waiting on the tarmac with Massimo. “Matty, glad you're here. Did you get any rest?”
“Barely. Have we located where they’re being held?”
“Well, Katya is being held, but Jorge is being hidden. And no, we don’t have an exact location.”
Matias shook Massimo’s outstretched hand as he said, “How’s Antonio?”
“Better. Your brother has been staying at his place. He’s been a tremendous help to us.”
Matias looked at his brother in question. “Bastian has always been the caregiver of the family.”
“It’s just been easier. Antonio has provided some more details about the night he was taken. Plus,” Bastian smiled at Massimo, “Massimo’s place isn’t really set up for company.”
