Chapter 10 - Elena

The first couple of days in the cabin have been unremarkable. I spend most of the day curled up by the fire reading. You could almost imagine it being on holiday if there wasn't a handcuff on my wrist. Sounds of nature, crackling fire, a decent enough book to read, and meals prepped for me. It basically is a kidnapping holiday.

Arseny still doesn't trust me enough to uncuff, and if he's not cooking dinner or showering, he's sitting next to me on the sofa, reading a book, or carving a piece of wood into something.

In the two days we"ve been here, he has carved a wolf, a hippo, and a mountain lion. I also notice he doesn't answer his phone. Either no one is contacting him, or he has it on silent mode and ignores any calls.

I haven't seen him take his phone out, but his guard delivers food to the cabin in the morning. Was this prearranged? Was he lying about him taking me on a whim?

I look over the top of my book at him as he carves. When he glances my way, I look back at the book.

"What?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to see what you're making now," I comment.

"What do you think makes more money? Laundromats or butchers?" he asks.

"Laundromats, probably. All that change, and if you sell soap in the laundromat, that is extra. Plus, you can filter so much money through there that people wouldn't notice." I turn the page of my book and glance at him. "Why?"

"Well, you said yourself that you are a key player in your family," he says. "Surely you have opinions on things."

I look at him, surprised. "You want to know my opinions on things?"

"It'll pass the time." He goes back to the carving in his hands.

"How much time do we need to pass?" I ask sneakily, hoping he'll answer.

"As much as we need to. Why don't you tell me how I should handle your father?" He puts the carving down and looks at me.

"Be straightforward. Don't do this smoke and daggers act that you're currently doing. Go to him and discuss business straight to his face." I close my book and set it down.

"That's rich considering he's doing a covert power play against my family," he says. "I don't think you know how your father ticks."

"I know exactly how he ticks, and he isn't doing covert anything."

"How did you hear about the butchers, then?" he asks me. Did you have to find out on your own, or was the information volunteered to you?" He sits back and stares at me for a moment, but I don't answer him. I won't give him satisfaction.

"I thought so. You have an excellent mind for business, but your father doesn't appreciate that about you and doesn't keep you informed."

"Kidnapping me is only going to anger him," I say. "Holding me hostage for this long is going to make him lash out. It would make anyone lash out. I'm his only daughter."

"You say that like it's a badge of honor. I wish we had girls in our family. It would have been interesting to grow up with a sister. I have a niece, though, but I doubt she'll be part of the family business."

"Do you really look down on women so much?" I ask. "That you don't think we deserve a seat at the table."

"On the contrary," he sighs with a smile. "I think some women deserve a seat at the table, but we shouldn't groom them for it. Women can be feisty, fierce, and unstoppable, but for the most part, the rules of the game are that the women stay home and keep house while the men work."

"It's very old-fashioned," I say sarcastically. "So lovely and traditional."

"It's not my rules, just the rules." He holds his hands up. "If you want a seat at the table, you're going to have to get your father to listen to you."

"That's what I was trying to do before you so charmingly took me from the city." I open my book again.

"See, you're trying. Don't try. Do. Actions speak much louder than words." He picks up his carving again.

"Like kidnapping a mafia princess?" I ask.

"Yes, just like that. Although having a thought-out plan can be better." He chuckles softly to himself.

I can't help but smile.

Another couple of days pass, and I feel like I'm getting cabin fever from being stuck inside here all day, every day, with nothing to do to pass the time except to read and have occasional conversations with my captor.

I follow him as he goes to retrieve the goods that his guard has dropped off this morning.

"I got something to keep you occupied." He hands me a deck of cards.

"This will really pass the time," I say sarcastically.

"I could send them back?" he raises an eyebrow.

I hold them close. "Do you play poker?"

"Maybe later."

He takes the rest of the stuff to the kitchen and cooks us breakfast. Pancakes today. He surprises me all the time with how he cooks. Once we're done, I sit at the coffee table in the living room and play solitaire. He goes back to carving.

I play a few hands before I look at Arseny. "I can teach you how to play poker."

"I know how," he comments. "Are you that bored?"

"Yes," I say, exasperated.

"Fine, we can play a few hands of poker. But if you lose, you can't sulk." He puts his carving down.

We move the table closer to the sofa, and I shuffle the cards. "No cheating," I say.

"Agreed."

I deal the cards and we start to play. At first, we play in silence, simply saying whether we fold or not, but that doesn't last too long.

"So tell me, princess, if you took over the family, how would you improve your family's wealth?" he asks me.

"You're trying to get me to share secrets with you," I say as I play my hand. "That's a bit cheeky."

"I'm not going to steal your ideas," he says, playing his hand. "I win. Come on, let's see what you've got cooking."

"I'd do concerts and shows," I finally say as I deal another hand.

"Concerts and shows? Vegas has plenty of those. Why would that help your family?" He picks up a card,

"Do you know how much money you make from those? It's the perfect front for laundering money. No one would suspect a lot of money being made through a concert or show. It's just what happens." I play my hand. "Two pairs."

"Pair and three kings," he says, laying down his hand.

"Okay, how about we play for real?" I ask.

He raises an eyebrow. "For money?"

"For clothes," I say. "We'll play strip poker."

He smirks. "You'll lose, and you'll regret it."

"I won't lose. I'm just getting warmed up." I smile back at him.

"Fine, but we play until someone is fully naked, deal?" He holds his hand out.

I shake his hand. "Deal," I say more confidently than I feel, but I need to prove that I can do this.

"Before we start, let's have dinner, get some snacks and drinks, and lay a blanket on the floor." He stands up. I have no choice but to follow him, shuffling the cards nervously.

He takes out a pan, grills a steak each for us, and makes some fries to go with it. We sit at the island counter and eat without saying much, but I can't help but think he's up to something. He seems to be enjoying himself a little too much.

He probably thinks he's going to whip me at poker, and I'll have to dress down until I'm naked. He's got another thing coming. I've been bluffing him so far.

We finish dinner, and he washes the dishes before we move the coffee table out of the way. He turns the overhead light off, turns on two nearby lamps, and starts the fire. It's enough light to see, but it definitely creates an atmosphere—a heat in the air.

He thinks he's being so smooth—he knows nothing.

I deal the game and am surprised when he puts his cards down. "Give me your hand," he says.

I hold out my hand, and he uncuffs me. "Just for the game, don't try anything clever."

"Deal," I say, and I mean it. I'm a person of my word.

I won't try anything this time, but if another opportunity arises,I'm out of here first shot, preferably when he's distracted.

At first, we play in silence, I win the first game, and Arseny takes his shirt off. I can see scars highlighted in the dim lighting. They're almost glossy, while his skin is matte. They stand out like proud battle cries, screaming I survived. What next?

That's not all I notice. He has some chest hair and then a little path of hair all the way down that disappears into his pants—the garden path.

Something I hadn't noticed before was the little silver cross on the silver chain around his neck. It makes perfect sense, as most Russian families are staunch Catholics.

I deal another hand, and he wins. Reluctantly, I take my shirt off. He gets up, fetches some crisps and peanuts in bowls, and sets them down next to us.

I have some peanuts, trying to keep myself distracted from the fact that I'm in my bra in front of him.

He doesn't bat an eyelid and takes the cards from me to shuffle and deal.

"No cheating," I remind him.

"Do you always just say what's on your brain without thinking?" he asks as he deals. We both take our cards.

"I like to voice my opinion, yes." I put down two cards and pick up two. I try not to show that I'm happy.

He moves, and his muscles flex involuntarily. I can feel my stomach doing flips at the thought of him being naked. We play our hands, and I win.

He stands up and makes a big show of slowly undoing his pants before he pulls them down. He's not in boxers today; he's in briefs. And the shape of his cock protruding is huge.

I look away and eat some crisps as he sits down again. "Seems like you're going to win if I'm not careful."

"I always get what I want," I say with a smirk before I blush. I make it sound like I want to see him naked. I'm such an idiot.

He smiles and hands me the deck to shuffle and deal. I try not to gawk at him too much as I hand the cards out and pick up my five. I win again.

I wait with bated breath, but the scoundrel takes his socks off instead. I can't help the giggle that escapes my lips.

"Thought you'd won, didn't you?" he says. "Not today."

"Oh, I am winning today," I say, a little flustered. "You're still more naked than I am, and you've only got one item of clothing left."

"Are you excited?" he asks with a low voice.

I blush. "To beat you? Of course, who wouldn't love kicking your ass?"

He shifts again, and his muscles ripple.

I deal the next hand, and we play. It's a quick game. I lose.

I take off my tracksuit bottoms, and I'm left in my socks and underwear.

"You know it's unfair because you have an extra item of clothing that I don't. Your bra." He deals the next hand, and we start to play.

"It's not my fault you're a man," I tease him.

I feel a bit hot with the fire keeping us warm. It's a slow, long, calculating game before finally we show our hands.

"I win!" I exclaim. "I win. I win. I win."

He sighs and stands up, unabashedly pulling his briefs down and standing in front of me naked. My glee in winning is momentarily lost as I look at the mammoth cock now in my line of sight.

"You win, remember?" he jokes with a low chuckle.

Suddenly, the room feels too hot, and I stand up. "We should get dressed. No, no, in fact, I need a shower. A full shower. Alone." I look at him. "That's not a problem, is it? I mean, there's no exit out of the bathroom except through that door that I'm sure you'll guard with your life."

He's still naked. I can't help but notice he ‘manscapes' before I look away again. He pulls up his briefs, thankfully, and then, for the first time, I see him take out his phone and look at it.

"Yeah, you can have a shower." He looks at me. "Alone."