Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
“Are you hoping I’ll grow a conscience?” I let out a chuckle. “You should know better, Nina.”
“I’m begging you to.”
Anger surges into my chest because I hate hearing her beg. “Enough. Men like me don’t give back what we’ve taken.”
Never.
Her eyes widen, and she looks at me as if I’m insane. “I’m not yours to take.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, baby.” I stare at her for a moment before I say, “You became mine the moment you set me free.”
That’s a lie.
She became mine when she spent the night holding me so I could get some sleep, but I’m not telling her that.
Anger returns to her face, and her voice is much stronger than I’ve ever heard it when she snaps, “I should’ve left you to rot in that basement.”
“Yet, you didn’t, and now you’re mine.”
Disappointment and fear douse her anger. “I’ll never be yours willingly.”
A thick silence falls between us as I’m hit with the harrowing memories of Nina crying on the floor while I could do nothing but watch.
“I’ll never rape you,” I whisper, and it has her meeting my eyes again. “I might be bad, but I promise you, here and now, I will never force myself on you, and I won’t beat you. Those are two things that sicken me.” I can see she doesn’t believe me, and it has me adding, “The Cosa Nostra lives by a code, Nina. We don’t torture our women, and we sure as fuck don’t make them do anything they don’t want to. Boris and Anton are fucking depraved scum.”
When she continues to stare at me, not believing a word I’m saying, I realize it’s probably because every fucking man she’s known has hurt her.
Christ. I saw how the guards treated her.
Boris hit her in front of me and talked to her like she’s shit.
And Anton. That fucking asshole…
“You’ll learn with time that I’m nothing like the men you’ve known.” Closing my eyes, I let out a heavy sigh.
I lie with my thoughts of the past four days, but none of them are about what was done to me. I remember how Nina took care of me. With every passing hour, I was looking forward to the next time I’d get to see her.
In the room, Nina became warmth and comfort to me. She was the only human touch that didn’t hurt.
“Thank you for taking care of me,” I say, my voice soft.
“It was my duty. Nothing more.”
Chuckling, I rest my hand on my chest. “Sure it was.”
“If you’re so thankful, you can repay me by letting us go.”
“Nope.”
I hear a soft sigh escape her, and when I open my eyes again, it’s to find her staring at Simi.
“She’s not going anywhere. Get some sleep.”
Nina shakes her head, and when Simi turns onto her other side, facing me, she adjusts her little shirt that has a stain on it.
I only know of the hell Nina endured the past four days, and I’m sure there’s a lot more I’ll find out. It makes me worry about Simi.
“Did they hurt her?” I ask.
When Nina remains quiet, my worst fears make my voice turn hoarse. “Fuck, Nina. Please tell me they didn’t…”
She shakes her head quickly and looks at me. “They never did that. They just kept us apart. I was only allowed to see her for two hours every day. They threatened to hurt her if I disobeyed any orders, so I did what I was told.”
Jesus fucking Christ.
I have no words, and that’s saying a lot because I’m well known for never shutting up. Eventually, I think to say, “I won’t use your kid against you. That’s fucked up, even for me.”
When I see hope flutter over her face, I try to think of something else I can say to keep it there, but the door opens, and Dad comes in.
“How do you feel?” He only spares Nina a glance as he comes around the bed.
“I’m fine.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “Like hell you are. You look like shit, son. What happened, and what’s the deal with the woman and kid?”
“I was just tortured a little. The usual thing.” Pulling myself up against the pillows, I gesture at Nina. “They’re coming with me.”
“Why?”
“Because I say so.” Dad stares at me, very unhappy with my answers. Letting out a huff, I add, “She’s mine.”
Dad lifts an eyebrow at me. “You decided that in a span of four days while being beaten and fuck knows what else.”
“Yes.”
He nods while glancing at Nina again.
Smirking, I say, “I know what I’m doing.”
“Hmm…” His eyes return to me and rake over my body. “I still feel very strongly about taking you to the hospital.”
“Nina’s taken good care of me up until now. Once I’m home, I’ll pay Dr. Milazzo a visit and have him give me a complete check-up just to set your mind at ease.”