Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Sergei came and went for hours at a time, leaving me to fill the silence any way I could. His apartment was beautiful and spacious, but with each passing hour, the walls felt closer and more like a prison than a safe haven. I had too much time on my hands, and I was constantly thinking of Alek and what he’d do when he found me.
Those thoughts led me to think about home.
It wasn’t because I missed it or Alek.
I didn’t.
Not even in the slightest.
It had never been good with him, not even at our wedding. I stood there next to him, wearing the dress they’d chosen for me while he slid the ring onto my finger. He was so cold and distant, and when he leaned in to kiss me, our lips barely touched, like he was putting on a show he couldn’t wait to be done with.
The intimacy we shared after was no different. When we had sex, it was like he wasn’t even in the room with me. He certainly wasn’t thinking of me. He wouldn’t even look at me, much less kiss me. He did the deed, and that was that. And this might sound crazy, but it didn’t even bother me.
I didn’t long for something more, and I didn’t feel rejected or less than.
I didn’t feel anything at all.
Truth was, I was relieved when he stopped initiating sex. I knew it wouldn’t last forever. He would expect an heir at some point, but I was tired of just going through the motions, especially when I hated him the way I did. I had good reason. It was hard to be intimate with someone who took joy in your pain.
He wasn’t one to hold my hand or kiss me goodnight, but he loved showing me just how strong and powerful he could be. He used that strength and power to keep me in my place, and it worked. He left me with memories that no amount of time could erase.
Whatever we had, it wasn’t a real marriage. It was a contract.
And now that I was out of it, I was relieved. But apprehensive.
There was a good chance he would find me, but I couldn’t go back.
I wouldn’t.
Thoughts like these haunted me throughout the day, and even more so at night. So, I did what I could to busy myself. I tried on the clothes Malcolm had bought me and pieced them together to make one outfit after the next. They weren’t anything extraordinary, just some jeans and sweats, but they were comfortable and incredibly thoughtful.
Once I put them all away, I tried reading and cleaning, but no matter how spotless I made the kitchen or how long I stared out at the city lights, my thoughts would always go dark. I needed a break, so I glanced over at Bog and considered trying to get him to talk to me.
I made my way to the kitchen and sighed when I found him sitting at his desk by the front door. He’d been there all day, watching the cameras like he was waiting for World War Three to come knocking at the door.
I understood his intensity. It was his job to hold the enemy’s lines, and he took his role seriously. He didn’t talk, and he only moved when he needed to stretch or shift his weight. I wasn’t sure if he was here to protect me or to ensure I stayed put. Maybe both.
I’d tried numerous times to make conversation, but each time, his answers were short and to the point. He made it pretty clear he didn’t want to talk, but I gave it a try. “Hey, Bog. How’s it going?”
“Fine.”
“Can I get you some coffee or a bite to eat?”
“I’m good.”
“How’s the weather out there today?”
“Cold.”
He never looked up from the cameras, making it clear he wasn’t in the mood for idle conversation, so I left him to it and went to the living room to find a movie to watch. I scrolled for a bit and decided to try an old horror film.
It was a decision I would soon come to regret.
At first, it wasn’t so bad. It was just your stereotypical dark house with creepy music playing in the background. There was a weird presence lurking around, and the lights flickered a time or two. All the usual spooky stuff. But then, a presence stepped out of the shadows, and I let out a very undignified, very loud squeal.
It was loud, like I was being murdered kind of loud, and I clutched my pillow like it might save me from being possessed. I was still trying to recover from the scare when Bog thundered into the room with his gun drawn and his eyes wide. “What happened? Who’s here?”
“No one. It’s the movie.” I pointed at the screen and gasped when I saw what was happening. “Oh, God! What are you doing? Don’t go in the basement!”