I can’t go back on my decision to imprison him. If I do, and Dominik doesn’t try to kill me as soon as he’s free then my men will think that I’ve grown soft. That I’ve become weak and spineless.
I already look like a fool.
Any other traitor would’ve been dead on the spot. But I couldn’t take my brother’s life.
What if there’s an uprising within my own organization? Men who think Dominik would make a better leader because they no longer think that I’m strong enough to bePakhan?
I’ll be left with nothing. I’llbenothing.
And I refuse to lose everything just because my brother decided to want more than just a quick fuck with his hostage.
By the time I reach my bedroom, it’s after midnight. My head and eyes ache from exhaustion.
Dismissing the guards stationed outside the door, I manage to make my way into the dark room and undress in near darkness. The only light is the moonlight streaming in through the windows, bathing the cage in a silvery glow.
Just enough for me to make out Alina shivering on the floor. Naked. Curled in a ball. Her hair still damp from her shower earlier.
I flip on the lamp to find her tray of food and glass of water untouched.
Something stirs deep in my chest, but I tear my eyes away from her before the feeling can take hold of me. I don’t have time for her nonsense.
Turning off the lamp without a word, I pull back the thick covers of my warm bed before slipping under them, my head sinking into my comfortable pillow. I keep my eyes forward on the ceiling despite the urge to look at her, but it gets harder and harder to resist as I listen to the sound of her teeth chattering.
Maybe I was too harsh, but she just won’t snap out of this self-destructive attitude. She can easily earn the comfort back.
If she talks. Eats. Drinks.
Something.
She has to break in the morning. She can’t go on much longer like this unless she wants her body to fail her.
That can’t be her ultimate goal. Does she hate Dominik enough to leave him?
No. Absolutely not.
Alina’s teeth continue to chatter in the otherwise silent room, and I hear a hint of a whimper from her.
Uneasiness seeps into my soul, and the weight on my chest is nearly suffocating. Maybe I went too far. Maybe my planbackfired so badly that she’ll never say another word to me or anyone else again.
I could threaten Dominik and his men once more to force her to talk, but something lurches in my gut when I think about doing that.
I think…I think I want her towantto say something to me. And that feels so goddamn pathetic that I shake my head at myself.
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to force myself to fall asleep and shut Alina out. Darkness may blanket me, but it doesn’t muffle the sounds penetrating it. I can still hear her shivering.
Suffering.
This wasn’t asserting my control of the situation. This was just damage.
I miscalculated badly.
And now I have to figure out how to correct it before her body pays the price.
Fuck.
I get out of bed with a plan in mind and head downstairs to the laundry room.
There are two sets of washers and dryers on either side of the room, along with an ironing board and some baskets to sort clothes into. I find the basket full of clean towels and toss one into the dryer for a few minutes, letting it get warm before taking it out again.
