I’m trying not to read too much into the kind things Georgi is doing for my daughter. I need to stay on guard because this could be a trap.
After all, I betrayed him and lured him to certain death.
At some point, Georgi is going to take his revenge. He’s probably only waiting until he feels better and has had time to heal.
Chapter 13
Georgi
When Nina has Simi settled on the bed and she remains sitting beside her child, I glance at the food.
She only had one bite.
When I’m sure Simi is asleep, I say in English, “Come sit here so we can talk.”
Nina’s body tenses more than usual, and she moves to sit at the foot of the bed. Her eyes are filled with the incessant terror I’m beginning to hate.
“You’re not going to pay apriceif you eat and drink anything.”
She stares at me with an expression that tells me she’s tolerating the conversation so she doesn’t get into trouble.
Getting up, my body protests, and I limp to the cart. I pick up a piece of toast and smear butter on it before walking to Nina.
I hold it in front of her mouth, and using a tone that says, I won’t accept any arguments, I order, “Eat.”
Her eyes flick up to my face. “Nothing is free.”
“Nina.” I lift an eyebrow at her, the healing cut tugging at the hairs. “If you get sick, who’s going to take care of Simi?”
“I’m used to only eating once a day. I won’t get sick.”
“When did you last eat?”
“Yesterday afternoon.”
I lean down and take hold of her hand, placing the toast in her palm. Limping back to the armchair, I sit down again and stare at her.
She’s so traumatized and conditioned, it’s probably going to take months before she lets down her guard.
“You won’t be kept from your daughter. I will not use her as a pawn to control you, and you sure as fuck will never be raped again. No one will hurt you or Simi.”
She climbs to her feet and sets the toast down on the cart. “We don’t have passports.” Slowly, she turns around to look at me. “Let us go.”
“No.” Boris and Anton would find them, and the thought of that happening makes my stomach turn. “I don’t need passports to smuggle you out of the country.”
I don’t miss the flash of disappointment on her face. She begins to wring her hands, and I feel the burst of panic and fear coming from her. “What are you going to do with us?”
“Nothing.”
Nina’s eyes flit to mine. “Please, Georgi. I’m sorry for the part I played in your abduction.” Giving me a pleading look, her voice climbs a pitch. “I set you free. Doesn’t that count for something?”
Rising to my feet, I walk until I’m close to her. It forces Nina to tilt her head back, and once again, fear darkens her irises.
I stare at Nina as I try to sort through my emotions and figure out why I’m so hell-bent on taking her.
My time in the chamber flashes through my mind. I remember how things wouldn’t seem quite as brutal whenever she was with me.
I remember how she snuck in one night to give me water, breaking the rules even though being caught would’ve cost her dearly.
