He steals a glance at me, but his face is tight. His brows are furrowed.
I'm not sure what to make of it, but before I have a chance to ask him if he's ok, we arrive outside the restaurant.
"We're here," he says, pulling into a parking bay.
"I know this place. My brothers have brought me here before," I remark, pushing the door open and climbing out.
Bardil slips his arm around my waist and holds me close. I want it to feel intimate, but it actually feels somewhat controlling. Confused, I ignore it, thinking I'll wait until we're sitting and then ask him what's wrong.
Maybe I said or did something to upset him.
We walk into the restaurant, and he pulls me immediately to the left. Instantly, my heart sinks. At the table near the window, my brothers are sitting, waiting.
The moment they see us, they stand.
I try to tell myself it's a coincidence, but they don't look in the least bit surprised.
"Bardil," Matvei growls, his eyes on me. My eyes go wide with confusion.
"What's going on?" I ask, my voice coming out small and weak.
"Are you ok, Nikita?" Diomid asks. He looks furious.
"I'm… I'm… "
"She's fine. And as long as this meeting goes well, she will remain fine," Bardil snarls. "Just remember what I told you on the phone. I have snipers watching your every move. If anyone tries anything, she's dead."
My mouth drops open in shock.
Is this really happening?
"No one is going to put Nikita in harm's way, Bardil. No one but you. We just want our sister back," Timofei says.
Bardil laughs. It's a nasty, angry, bitter laugh that makes my skin crawl.Where is the man from last night? Where is the man from the hike? Who is this monster standing with his arm around me?
I try to step away from him, and he digs his fingers into my side. "No, little rabbit. You're staying right here with me," he growls. "Why don't you show your brothers what a good girl you are and be obedient?" He taunts them with his power over me.
The problem is that I have no idea if there really are snipers pointing at me. Right now, I don't even know what's real.
My heart is racing, and my chest is tight. Tears sting the back of my eyes, but the last thing I want to do is cry.
"Don't speak to her like that," Matvei snaps.
"Speak to her like what? Like she's mine to do whatever I want with?" Bardil scoffs. "Until you give me what I want, I'm keeping her. And I'll take what I want from her. Is that clear?" he says coldly.
I swallow hard.Is that what last night was?
The tears spill from my eyes and slip down my cheeks. My heart breaks in two.
Bardil brushes his thumb over my cheek, making a show of it. I turn my head away from him, horrified. Ashamed.
"Don't cry, girl. I'm not that bad. You've been enjoying yourself, haven't you?" he chuckles.
"Fuck you," I hiss.
He laughs again. Louder.
Diomid's jaw is clenched so tightly I can see the muscles rippling over his face. "What do you want, Bardil?" he demands.
