Chapter 17

Ivan laughed manically, holding another cell phone in his hand. "I told your boyfriend and boss that I want $50 million for you." He chuckled darkly, handing the phone to one of his men. "Take a photo of me holding the knife to her throat," he ordered. "I promised that I'd kill her myself if they didn't come up with the money."

Lena sobbed as Rogers came toward her again, the sharp metal of the knife biting into her skin as he held it to her neck. "Smile pretty for the camera. Oh wait—you can't. You look good bound and gagged." Rogers trailed one hand down her body as she shook in fear.

"Got it," the guy with the phone said, smirking as he looked at her. "She's a pretty one. I bet she could take both of us at once."

Ivan's gaze swiveled toward the man, rage crossing his face. "Send the photo! And get the hell out so I can enjoy my prize."

The man muttered and stalked out of the bedroom as Ivan turned to stare at her once more, his gaze glossing over. "I'm not going to drug you this time, my pretty little jewel," he said. "I'm going to spend hours enjoying you, letting you suck me off real good before I fuck you. I know you want it. Look at you already trembling in anticipation."

Lena froze, and his dark laughter filled the bedroom. A new wave of fear washed over her. Ivan just wanted to scare her. He wouldn't really assault her for hours. If he was going to rape her, hopefully he'd get off and get the hell out.

"Cat got your tongue?" Ivan asked, seemingly delighted with his supposed cleverness. "You look good with a gag in your mouth, but you'll look even better sucking on my cock." Ivan crossed the room to slam the door, then returned to her, wrapping one meaty hand around her throat. He squeezed gently, and Lena began trembling in fear. "Be good for me," he admonished, "or I'll have to choke you until you pass out. Turn you over to my men when I'm done. They'd rip you to pieces," he added with a hard laugh.

He bent over her, and she could smell the stench of his heavy cologne and alcohol on his breath. "Good girl," Ivan said, his lips at her ear. "You dressed so pretty for me today," he said, leering at her breasts in the black lacy bra she wore. Then he was kissing and biting at her neck, slobbering all over her. "Maybe I'll bite your pretty breasts next, leave my mark all over you. Then I'll fuck you until you know exactly who you belong to now."

Lena quaked with terror as his teeth nipped at her skin again, then jolted in surprise as the bedroom door suddenly swung open, slamming into the wall.

"They're coming!" one of the men yelled as he rushed into the room, phone in his hand, eyes wide with alarm.

Ivan jerked away from her, rage crossing his face. "What? We just got here!"

"They're on the main road. Two vehicles just pulled into the parking lot at the strip mall. Big guys, probably former military. I think they're looking at a map. Brown was on lookout and just called me. We wanted to make sure we weren't followed here, but they're closing in."

"Fucking hell!" Ivan raged. "I didn't even get to enjoy her yet!"

Hope suddenly bloomed within Lena's chest. Her cell phone. Ivan had made her unlock it to get the team's contact info, but it had been turned on when they'd driven out here, neatly tucked in her purse. Gray and his teammates were tracking her. Coming for her. She knew it was them.

"We have to accelerate the plan," Ivan said, his crazed lust disappearing as a calculated look crossed his face. "Pity, because we were just getting started. Let's move her. Call the others to tell them we're on our way."

Lena whimpered as one of the men grabbed the knife, but then he was cutting her free from the ropes. Ivan stood at the dresser, his back to her, but then was crossing the room toward her with a syringe. "Hold her in place." His eyes landed on hers, glittering with excitement. "Sorry my little jewel. Looks like I'll have to drug you again after all. We'll have so much fun together when you wake up."

Rough hands held her down, and then she felt the prick of a needle, her world beginning to fade as Ivan loomed over her. "Don't forget this one is mine," he scolded his men as their hands began to wander.

No. No. No.

This wasn't happening again.

Lena succumbed to the darkness.