“Quiet, Bandit,” I hushed him, knowing that Sergei wouldn’t hesitate to harm my dog.
“Inside the house,” Sergei said to me in Russian. “And leave the animal in the backyard.”
I hated to leave Bandit outside, but when it came to Sergei, it was the only way I knew to keep Bandit safe and alive. Bandit wasn’t happy. He fought me, trying to get in through my legs, mostly because he wanted to stay with me.
“I’m sorry, baby,” I pleaded with him as I held him back and then quickly shut the door. The look of betrayal Bandit gave me as he stood in the rain almost broke my heart.
Sergei impatiently motioned to one of the kitchen chairs. “Sit.”
I was too scared to do anything but comply.
Sergei moved behind me and, without ceremony, handcuffed one of my wrists to a bar beneath the table.
Giselle watched impassively from beside the island.
I stared back at her numbly. This brutal day had started with a team of cops streaming into my home and arresting me. Then I’d spent the entire day in a jail cell, contemplating my fate. Giselle had been the only familiar face, and though I’d never trusted her, I needed someone so bad. She bailed me out of jail, and I had played right into her hands.
“Axel told me I could trust you.” My voice was cold, tight with hurt.
She flinched. “I’m sorry. He has my boyfriend.”
Sergei looked back at her and spoke sharply. “Shut up.”
“I did what you asked.”
“Did you get the cash I asked for?”
“It’s in the bag. On the island.”
Sergei pulled the bag toward him and opened it.
This was an absolute nightmare. I couldn’t believe this was happening. “Where is Axel? Was he arrested?”
Sergei looked up. “Shut up.”
She flinched and looked at the ground.
Sergei tossed the last of the counted money back into the bag and then he moved over to Giselle. He grabbed her by the back of her hair and roughly pulled her back so her face was lifted to his. “You did as I asked.”
She looked terrified. “Yes.”
“You got the money and Mila.”
“As promised.”
She gave a surprised scream as he used her hair to unceremoniously drag her out of the kitchen.
“Sergei, what are you doing?” Giselle’s voice was raw with fear.
I fought the handcuff that bound me, working with both of my hands, trying to find a way to unhook myself. I paused momentarily when I heard a lot of scuffling in the pantry, but then I heard nothing else. No squeaks or screams or anything that might be construed as fighting.
I didn’t take my eyes off that pantry door while I fought against my bondage.
Call it instinct or stupidity, but I grabbed the necklace that held the key Axel had given me. I snapped it off my neck and dropped it to the floor just before Sergei reappeared. He walkedinto the kitchen like nothing had happened. I waited for Giselle to appear behind him, but there was nothing but silence from the pantry.
Maybe he’d tied her up? Maybe she was handcuffed to a shelf? Why couldn’t I hear her? Maybe she was listening to see what was happening out here. Fear threatened to overtake me, and I had to work not to lose my shit.
He wouldn’t really hurt her. He’d probably gagged her and tied her up. And that’s why I couldn’t hear anything.
