Chapter 11

ELEVEN

Hollis

Dimitri had delivered the dress and toiletries to go with it, makeup, and, thank god, a toothbrush. It was my favorite item out of everything. If I had to do this, at least I'd do it with a clean mouth. Standing over the sink, I tried to stop myself after brushing my teeth for the third time.

I'm okay.

I repeated it to myself, taking deep breaths.

I'm okay.

I'd tried for days and days to forget getting on my knees in that room, being forced to open my mouth, and being used like that. Forgetting wasn't going to be an option. Maybe I needed to learn to live with it, like a pebble in my shoe. Right now, it seemed like it had sharp edges; no matter how I turned, it cut me to ribbons. Perhaps one day, its edges would be smooth, and then eventually, it would be worn down to nothing, finally disappearing into a grain of sand.

Earlier, when Dimitri had told me that he liked to kill people and he'd put Gregor on the list, I thought maybe I should be worried about that. I felt a vague sense of anticipation instead. It made the pain less sharp to think about Gregor and the doctor dying. I wondered how it'd feel to see their bodies on the ground. This wasn't me. I tried to tell myself when I looked in the mirror. I wasn't this person. Vengeful, delicate, full of rage, afraid.

I thought back to the idea of Dimitri. He only brought me a sense of peace and safety. I didn't want to go tonight, but I didn't think I needed to be afraid if he would be there .

I stared at my reflection in the hotel bathroom mirror, a surge of determination overpowering the dread. The dress Dimitri had chosen for me hung elegantly on my frame, its deep blue fabric hugging my curves in all the right places. It was designed to make a statement, and tonight, I had to be more than just Hollis. At home, I was the single mom, the office girl, the bookstore girl, and the person who scrapped by. I had to become someone else — someone confident, alluring, and untouchable. I wasn't sure I could do that.

As I applied the makeup Dimitri had given me, I thought about Olive and Mrs. Hooper. Knowing my daughter was safe gave me a renewed sense of purpose. This wasn't just about survival anymore; it was about finding Makarovich so I could go home. The thought of him, the man behind so much suffering, made my blood boil. I wished Dimitri were here to take down Rodriguez, too, but maybe I could speak to him about adding to his list.

I finished my makeup, added the final touch of bold red lipstick, and stepped back to assess my work. The woman staring back at me looked nothing like the terrified mother I felt inside. I hoped that would be enough—a mask.

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I took a deep breath and opened it to find Dimitri dressed in a tailored suit, accentuating his commanding presence. His eyes swept over me, a glint of approval in his gaze.

"You look perfect," he said, his voice low and steady. "Remember, stay close to me tonight and follow my lead."

I nodded, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "I understand."

" Malysh, there will be times that I need to touch you. Will that be okay?" His face was grave, dark.

"Yes." I wanted to go home, and even if I were uncomfortable and perhaps not entirely ready for this, I would find a way. I told myself Dimitri was a safe person.

"Okay, come here," he stood patiently waiting until I stepped towards him, my breath hitching. " Closer, baby. Put your arms around my neck."

I had always been shy. My experience with men started and ended with my high school boyfriend, Chad Wainwright. After Chad, I decided men were more trouble than they were worth. Not to mention, I had Olive to focus on, and our small family was all I could handle.

Trembling, I moved into his reach.

"That's it. You're in control. Lay your head against me; feel my heartbeat so I can tell you something."

I stepped forward until my cheek was against his dress shirt.

"Hmmm," he murmured. "Now the arms, my little troublemaker." He was right; I could feel his heart beating steadily against his shirt. I fixed my eyes on the fabric, noticing the faint outline of more tattoos underneath the white. I raised my face to him as my arms looped around his neck, the warmth of his skin against mine. He smelled like heaven, a place of soft clouds. I let my eyes fall shut, imagining angel wings, pure white. "Can I put my arms around you, malysh?"

"Yes." Somehow, despite everything, I wanted him to. This strange man was someone whom I would have run from in my regular life. His arms came around me softly as if he was worried I'd break. Taking comfort from him, I allowed myself not to think about what I was doing. I'd trust that he'd lead this next part of whatever mission he was on, and then he'd get me home. Not that I had a lot of choices.

"Alright, baby." Ghosting a hand over my hair. "We're going to be fine. I'm going to protect you, ok? This will be easy as pie, alright. Just stay with me. Don't leave my side."

"What if I have to pee?" I asked. There was no reference for me on what to do if I had to use the bathroom at a trafficker's house.

"Then I'll take you and stand outside the door, but I won't risk you getting taken. Luka will come with us. The only goal is information. If Makarovich is there, that'll be a stroke of luck, and Luka will follow him. Then we can get this nightmare over."

"Then you'll kill him?" I clarified. I wanted to know.

"Yes, I will worry about it. Then I'll deal with him," he confirmed casually as if he were ordering takeout. His fingers absently stroked my hair, a surprisingly tender gesture that contrasted sharply with the violence he spoke of. Despite myself, I leaned into his touch, finding an unexpected comfort in the warmth of his hand. Something was reassuring about his calm demeanor, his unwavering confidence.

"What about Gregor?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. The mere mention of Gregor's name made my stomach churn, but I needed to know. The fear and anger I felt toward him were tangled in a knot that refused to loosen.

Dimitri's eyes darkened, the softness in his gaze replaced by a steely resolve. "Oh, he's going to die too," he said, his voice dropping to a lethal whisper. There was no hesitation, no doubt in his words. It was a promise as immutable as the sun rising.

My breath caught in my throat. The idea of Gregor's death should have horrified me, but instead, it brought a grim satisfaction. "Can I watch?" I surprised myself by asking. A part of me needed to see it and witness his end to believe it was over.

Dimitri's eyes widened slightly in surprise before a glint of approval sparked in them. "You absolutely can," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. He seemed to understand, perhaps better than anyone, the need for closure, for justice.

We fell into a silence then, the gravity of our conversation hanging between us. Despite the darkness of the topic, there was a strange sense of peace in the room. Dimitri's fingers continued to stroke my hair, each gentle caress soothing the frayed edges of my nerves. I leaned into him, enjoying the warmth and the peppery scent of his cologne .

I closed my eyes, allowing myself to relax for the first time in what felt like forever. The nightmare of the past days seemed less terrifying with Dimitri by my side. He was dangerous, yes, but he was also my protector. And for now, that was enough.

Eventually, he pulled away, his hand dropping from my hair to rest on my shoulder. "We need to get going," he said softly. "Rodriguez won't wait forever."

I nodded, opening my eyes to meet his gaze. There was a determination there, a fierce protectiveness that made me feel safe despite the danger we were about to face.

"I won't leave your side," he vowed, threading a hand through mine.

As we left the hotel, Luka and Dimitri conversed in Russian, sometimes heatedly, but it was hard to tell. The language was harsh and guttural to my ears. I wasn't sure if they were angry or not. Finally, Luka settled himself into the car's front seat, and Dimitri seated us in the back.

The ride to Rodriguez's mansion was filled with tense silence. I could feel Dimitri's eyes on me occasionally as if assessing my readiness. I forced myself to stay calm and embrace the role I had to play.

As we pulled up to the opulent mansion, the reality of the evening hit me. I had to pretend to be a woman he had bought for his pleasure. The thought should have made my skin crawl, but I felt safe with Dimitri. Somehow, after the moment we'd had in the hotel room, I wasn't dreading it as much as I had been. He'd keep his word. Dimitri threaded his hand through mine as he helped me from the car, speaking in Russian to Luka as he led me to the door.

"Let's go, baby, It's time to pretend."