Chapter 3

Chapter Three

PRU

I 've really messed up. Nolia was so right. I had no idea what I was getting into with Vitaly.

His intense, dark eyes stay locked with mine as I press myself in the corner of the car. I'm trying to create as much space between us as possible, but it's not easy with how big he is. I knew he was a big man, but when he stood up, I quickly realized how big he was.

The way he looks at me is unsettling. I always thought my father had scary eyes because they were devoid of emotion. Vitaly is the complete opposite of that because his are full of fire. They blaze with a heat that is so real I can almost reach out and touch it.

"Please?" I try again, needing to get out of here.

This man is destined to crush me. Or, as he stated, use me and send me back. He wants me broken like the very fate I was trying to avoid.

"Stop asking," he snaps.

I can feel the tears prickle at the corner of my eyes. I'm so stupid. Why did I think he would be my savior? I let this whole fantasy build up in my mind. Nolia was right again. I am na?ve.

Vitaly looks over to one of his guards standing by the open door. He says something to him, and I know I don't have time to think about what I'm doing. In a split-second decision, I grab the door handle and pull it open.

"Pru!" Vitaly shouts.

Someone grabs at the back of my hoodie, but I manage to break free. When I'm out of the car, I slam the door behind me for good measure. The next thing I know, I'm running into the street to make my escape without paying attention. All I can think to do is run, which I'm not that great at. Nolia always teases that I have two left feet.

Screeching tires make me come to a paralyzing halt as I let out a scream. The vehicle that almost hit me is only a couple of inches away. The man inside the car shouts at me and lays on the horn. While he's letting out a string of curses, I'm lifted off my feet.

"No!" I shout as Vitaly tosses me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing. I'm a mere sack of potatoes even though I'm fighting against him.

"Enough!"

Vitaly slams his other hand on the car's hood. He hits it so hard I swear there's a dent. It seems to work because the man stops cursing and using his horn. This is my last chance to get away, because if he manages to get me back into his car, it's game over.

"Help!" I scream at the driver and kick my feet. Vitaly secures my legs against his chest, and I swear no one is paying attention to me. Remembering that you're not supposed to shout for help, I try something else. "Fire!" I yell, then a hand comes down on my ass.

The contact makes me squeal before my entire body goes lax.

"Stop it," Vitaly orders like I'm a petulant child.

I'm limp in his arms as Vitaly deposits me back in the car. His hand grips my chin, making me stare into those eyes again. Clearly no one is coming to help me.

"If I were in your position, I would exercise extreme caution," he says through controlled anger.

I blink, fighting the string of tears again. "Just let?—"

Vitaly's expression turns to ice, making the words die on my tongue. He's not going to let me go. He grabs my chin and bends down so we're eye level.

"You're going to be a good girl. Do you understand me?" I nod my head. "Say the words."

He stares at my lips like he's obsessed with them. He's done that more than a few times now, and it makes me remember what he said to everyone about my mouth being good for sucking cock. It made me ashamed and embarrassed. It also made me realize he is just like my father. I might have gotten a small thrill when he was thinking of me in a sexual way, but it was quickly brushed aside. All these men are willing to sleep with anyone, so I'm not special.

"I'll be good," I say, and his thumb swipes across my bottom lip.

He holds me for a second longer before he steps back and slams the door in my face. It makes me jump, and then the next thing I know he's getting in on the other side and sitting next to me.

"Go," he orders the driver while I wrap my arms around myself.

I'm suddenly feeling cold and all alone. Vitaly takes out his phone and completely ignores me. It's as if I'm not here at all. It's something I'm used to. I've learned how to be quiet to the point that no one notices me.

I turn my face to stare out the window and I'm still fighting tears. If I could seal off my tear ducts I would. I detest the constant sniffles that I can't seem to stop. Why can't I be strong like Nolia? You'd think that my upbringing would have made me more resilient. At some point I should have grown accustomed to the chilly silence. Yet here I am feeling my heart break over and over.

When the car turns in to an underground garage, I get tense. My cage is getting smaller by the second.

"Do you want to do this the difficult way?" Vitaly asks me when the car rolls to a stop. I shake my head, and his jaw tics. "I told you to say the words."

"No," I say softly.

It's different from my father, who never wanted me to speak. A nod was satisfactory for him because he didn't want to hear me. The older I got, the less we talked. There wasn't any use for me before, but I guess that's going to change now that I'm not home.

Vitaly steps out of the car, offering me his hand. I ignore it because I don't want to touch him. I can still feel his fingers on my chin. Every time he wants my attention, he grabs me there. He doesn't let me try to escape even an inch.

Apparently Vitaly doesn't like to be ignored. He grabs me by the wrist and hauls me out of the vehicle. "Don't think you can deny me."

His hold is firm but not painful. "You don't have to try and scare me," I say, but I might as well be talking to a brick wall.

He leads me to a silver elevator that slides open without him having to hit a button.

"Try?" He cocks an eyebrow. I swallow as the elevator doors close us in, and it makes me feel more trapped than ever.

"How long are you keeping me?" I glance over at him from the corner of my eye. He's staring right at me, still holding me by the wrist. Where the heck does he think I'm going to go? There is no getting away. At least for now.

"Until I get what I want."