“How did you get in here?” I ask.
“It was easy to slip past the guards and your window was open. I told you I would come for you, Natalya. It’s time to go.”
Slowly, I get out of bed and grab the bag I packed just in case. “Can I change first?”
He nods, motioning towards my closet.
I grab a dress and hesitate. “Don’t look.”
“We’re going to be married soon enough, baby. I’ll see all of you.”
“No. You said you wouldn’t touch me without my consent. I’m not ready. Please, turn around.”
He complies. Keeping my eyes on his back, I quickly change into my dress and slip on comfortable shoes. “Ok. I’m ready.”
He turns back around, his eyes raking me up and down. It makes me blush. “You are so beautiful.”
“Thank you. But how are we getting out of here?”
“Out the way we came. It’s a good thing your bedroom is on the first floor.” He slips out of the window and grabs my waist, helping me down. His touch lingers on my body even after he’s removed his hands.
“Why not kill my uncle now?” I ask. “When you’re inside the house?”
“Because he’s not here. I checked.”
Denis must be out on business tonight. Probably searching for Antoni’s body.
“Ready?” He holds out his hand. I’m not ready at all but I have no other choice.
I take his hand.
He leads me outside the back gate and around the house to his car parked across the street. It feels so taboo and wrong to be doing this. I didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye to my sisters.
“I’ll get to see my sisters again, won’t I? I need to tell them what’s happened to me.”
“I won’t take your phone. I have no desire to be a dictator towards you.”
I slide into the passenger seat, aware of my dress riding up. I quickly push it back down.
Mikhail notices as he starts the car. “For someone who dances in leotards on the stage, you’re self-conscious about your skin showing.”
“It’s more because I’m alone with you,” I admit. “And thank you. For not dictating my life.” I send each of my sisters and mom a text, letting them know that I’m gone. Mom can explain it all to them when they wake up in the morning.
“I want you to be my wife, Natalya. Not my slave. Now, we’re going to my house first. I have a few wedding dresses picked out for you to choose from.”
“And then we get married?” I ask, breathless.
“And then I make you mine.”
Chapter Four
Natalya
Mikhail’s mansion is even larger than I imagined. It looks like it stepped right out of Europe. Italian architecture to be exact. It’s beautiful but it’s also imposing and knowing that I’ll soon be living here with a man I barely know sends shivers up my spine.
“The Italians have done one thing right. They make nice buildings.” He gets out of the car and walks around to my side and opens my door before I can do it.
“Thank you.”
