Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

PRU

I stare at the closed bedroom door, my body still humming. What the heck just happened? Did he really take my virginity and then lick it off his fingers? I press my thighs together and tell myself that it was not hot. I repeat it over and over in my head, trying to force myself to believe it.

Does this mean I'm ruined? That's some bullshit. I don't care about my virginity, but to think that I'm ruined because I am no longer a virgin irritates me. I pull myself from the bed and put my clothes back on. I am not going to wait for him to come back and find me lying in his bed naked. But now that I'm dressed, I'm not really sure what I am going to do.

I suppose I should try and run away and attempt to get my life into my own hands. Everything is always chosen for me. I wanted to choose Vitaly, but that was a mistake. Now I'm a pawn in whatever game he wants to play with my father. He'll use me until he's gotten what he needs, then toss me away. I can't let that happen.

Deciding I should look for a weapon, I go to the other side of the bed and start opening drawers. "Oh shit," I whisper to myself when I see a gun.

I've been around guns my whole life, but this is the first time I've ever touched one. It's heavy as I turn it over and inspect it. I know the basics, so I look for the safety. I fiddle around with it for a moment, and eventually I think I find it. Not that I can test it.

I shove it in the front of my yoga pants and pull my hoodie down over it. After that, I check myself in the mirror to make sure that it can't be seen. Once I'm good, I look around and decide I should check this place out.

I'm going to assume that I'm not locked in the bedroom. Who would place a lock on the outside of their own bedroom door? Unless he regularly does this kind of thing. Irritation hits me again thinking about Vitaly kidnapping other girls and locking them up in his room. I shouldn't care, and I don't. Not one bit.

Whatever.

When I open the door, I scream in surprise. I wasn't expecting someone to be standing there waiting on me.

"Good morning." The same man from last night greets me. He was the one that gave me the drugged cake.

"Good morning? No, it is not a good morning," I snap at him.

"I am Francis." He bows his head, but I'm not going to be deterred by his politeness.

"You drugged me."

"But you got a good night's rest."

I open my mouth and then snap it closed. Okay, so I do feel pleasantly rested. "That's not the point!"

"Are you ready for breakfast?"

"Seriously?" I cross my arms over my chest.

"You have to eat," he says, and my belly growls.

His eyes drop to my stomach, and I cover it with my arms. I'm hoping he won't notice the gun.

"I'm not hungry," I lie.

"Breakfast will be in the dining room," he tells me and then walks away.

I glare at his retreating form and notice that no one else is out in the hallway. I step out of the bedroom, wondering if I could make an escape. I'm not sure where I'd go, but I should try to at least get out of this building. That would be a start. Then I need to find a way to get in touch with Nolia.

As I creep down the hallway, I pause when I reach Vitaly's office doors. They are only cracked open a few inches, but I have to pass by his office to get to the elevator. Should I bolt across and hope he's not looking or move slowly?

I choose stealth and proceed slowly. When I pass by, I let out the breath I was holding, but I'm sure I didn't see anyone inside. This might be easier than I thought. Maybe he thought I wouldn't try to escape.

I find my answer when I reach the elevator, but I am unable to use it. There isn't a button but a screen that lights up with a digital keypad.

"The dining room is this way." Francis says.

"Holy crap!" I jump. "Stop sneaking up on me."

"If anyone is sneaking around, I believe that would be you," he accuses.

"This is a fire hazard." I point my thumb over my shoulder toward the elevator. "I bet it doesn't meet the building code."

"I assure you, if there is a fire, you'll get out safely," Francis says and steps back. He motions with his hand for me to come with him. "Now breakfast." Does he really think I'll eat anything he gives me? Who knows what else they'll put in it?

"I'm not eating your food!" I say angrily and stomp past him.

There has to be stairs around here. Or, better yet, a phone. I'm pretty sure landlines aren't a thing anymore. Francis doesn't follow me. In fact, no one does.

A spark of excitement fills me when I walk through a door and see that it's not the dining room but a library. My escape plan is going on hold for a second.

"Holy crap," I say in awe as I look at the space.

Shelves of books line every inch of the walls that go up over thirty feet. There's even a ladder on tracks to reach the highest ones. I run my fingers across the books, not sure where to start. This place is like a dream. Then I see a desk and rush over to it, hoping to find a phone.

"Looking for something?"

My head pops up from where I'm searching a drawer to see Vitaly standing nearby. Why is everyone so damn quiet when they walk? It's starting to scare me.

"I'm just nosy." I shrug and close the drawer.

We stare at each other for a long moment, and then I'm the one to break it. Damn it. I can't win anything with this man. Not even a stupid staring contrast.

"I was told you won't eat."

"I'm not hungry," I say.

Vitaly strides across the library until he's right in front of me. "I don't like liars."

"Well, I don't know what to tell you. You already"—I make air quotes with my fingers—"ruined me." I glare up at his handsome face. "So what else is there to do?" I shrug, doing my best to pretend I'm not afraid of him.

Or turned on.

"Trust me, little one." He leans down, his mouth almost touching mine. "There are many things I could still do to ruin you."

It's not hard for me to believe he's telling the truth.