I shot to my feet and exhaled a harsh breath. I had to do something. To move. Otherwise, I’d only spiral further. As I swallowed and felt the ache of where that man had almost choked me to death, I ran my fingertips over the skin. It would be raw and red from the abrasion.
Turning in the direction of the bathroom, I sighed and wondered if cleaning up could give me the illusion that I could wash away the reminders of the incident. All showering did was make me tired. The up-and-down adrenaline rush and the aftermath of a fight-or-flight instinct had me sleepier, too. After I gave up on the hot, steamy bathroom as a way to feel better, I got dressed in a pair of sweats from the dresser and crawled into the bed.
Closing my eyes, I steadied my breath and tried to keep my hopes up.
Tomorrow. I can try to figure out how to get out of this mess tomorrow.
To my surprise, I woke up rested. Dreams of that man and nightmares of gun violence had me tossing and turning all night, but I was proud of the fact that I toughed through it and didn’t try to seek out anyone in this house. Going to Mikhail for comfort was the opposite of common sense.
But as I sat up and felt my stomach grumbling, I faced the reality that I needed to act now.
Finding more clothes, I got dressed to head downstairs somewhere and find food. The door wasn’t locked—I’d checked—but I was under no impression that I could go wherever Iwanted in this building. Whether I was a guest or a captive hostage, I wouldn’t be allowed to have free rein here.
Mikhail was the boss.
I cringed as I reached for the door, loathing the command and control he had over me.
He was waiting for me downstairs in an enormous dining room. Following the scents of coffee and breakfast was all the guidance I needed.
“Sleep well?” he asked, looking up at me from reading on his phone, seated like a king at the head of the big table.
I glowered at him. “I should’ve been sleeping at home, in my own bed.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” He gestured for me to sit. “Who knows what would’ve happened if I hadn’t shown up when I did.”
I gritted my teeth and sat, furious at how right he was.
“I wouldn’t have been in this position to begin with if it weren’t for you.”
He nodded. “Yes.” Without showing any emotion behind that statement or elaborating, he clasped his hands together and pressed his steepled pointer fingers at his chin. “I will look into keeping my enemies away from you.”
“I can’t just stay here,” I protested. “Not forever. I have a job. I have a life.”
“For now, it’s in your best interests to tell your superiors at the hospital that you are taking a leave of absence.”
I wasn’t in the mood to restart that fight that I didn’t belong here. I got it. He was uniquely able to keep me safe from those men. “Fine.” I swallowed my pride at submitting at all.You cocky bastard.“For now,” I emphasized.
He almost smiled but didn’t make eye contact.
Arrogant, cocky, bossy man!
“I received the details about a leave of absence yesterday, something that was already in the works.” Heaving out a deep breath, I mentally cringed at manipulating anyone like this. “I will contact my supervisor and give the implication that I will be leaving for that.” I stabbed a piece of food, hesitant to eat it just yet. “If I don’t, people will question my absence.”
“Good idea,” he said, and I couldn’t tell if he was mocking me or humoring me or if he actually wanted to praise me.
“But only for now. Until you can…” I furrowed my brow. “Until you can make sure no one will be after me because I treated one of your men.”
He nodded, again not looking at me. The temptation to see him and make eye contact goaded me to force him to face me.
“I can’t call or contact anyone, though,” I added dryly.
“Already trying to escape?” Now he glanced up, smirking. When I didn’t relax my expression and react to his tease, he said, “I will contact my team to permit you to use your phone under a secure router, under supervision.”
I curled my fingers into a fist as it sat on my lap.
Before I could retort to that highhandedness, two men entered the room.
I hated that I recognized both. They both smiled at me, seeming surprised that I was here.
