“What the hell are you talking about, Lily? You know that name is a taboo on these streets. Don’t let anyone hear you.” Maria, a poor market vendor, whispers as she bends down and picks a piece of rotten tomatoes that had fallen out of her bag.Lily laughs scornfully, raising her perfectly arched eyebrows.“And what do you think will happen? Will he magically materialize out of thin air and slice our throats? Please be serious, Maria.” “I don't want to get into trouble, Lily. It seems like you are not from this side of the city, which is why you feel so comfortable mentioning his name so well.” Maria says, stacking her goods which she brought to the farmers market for sale, promptly ignoring Lily. “Why won't I be, I told you, he cannot do us anything.” Lily says, rolling her eyes. “When that boy was barely out of diapers, I heard he killed one of his nannies and even right now, rumour has it that he killed his parents to take over their fortune.” Maria whispers once more, not able
“Let go of me!” I struggle in the grasp of one of the hooded guys who was currently groping my breasts harshly. “Keep screaming, it turns me on.” The guy says, laughing harshly in my ears. I become jelly in his hands at his statement. I force my muscles to relax even when they fought to do the exact opposite.“Do you know who the hell I am? When I'm out of here, I will make sure you pay for this!” My father screams as the men manhandle him, pushing him onto the floor. “Papa, what do these men want?” I ask my father in a voice shaky with fear. “This is not the time to be asking stupid questions, Anya. Just do what you are told and keep your mouth shut.” My father says to me with a snarl on his lips. I squeeze my hands into a fist, preventing myself from making an angry retort. I still needed my father as much as he needed me. It was unheard of for a young unmarried lady in this part of the world to leave her father's house except for her husband's house. “Where is our money, Maks
Drip. Drip. Drip. The sound of blood hitting the cheap linoleum floor resounding throughout the empty room. I test the chains binding me to the single pole in the middle of the room and I find I can barely move a few feet away from the pole. I feel the wounds on my back reopening at the slightest movement. Always on my back. The pain of old scars mingled with the new ones until I couldn't tell one apart from the others. He never whipped me in any visible place. His aim was to inflict as much damage without actually damaging me so I was still presentable to any viable suitor. I sit upright, blacking out for a moment from the pain. The pressure in my bladder increases by the minute. I spot the black bucket sitting in the corner and I cringe at the embarrassing mental picture of having to urinate in that bucket. I look at the familiar walls of the basement. These walls were like my best friends, swallowing my painful screams and soaking in my blood. I had been whipped a hundred str
ANYA'S POV I listen quietly, trying to understand what had woken me up. I had been deep in the throes of a nightmare when suddenly a loud sound effectively woke me up from sleep. I get down from my bed and move quietly towards the door, placing my ear gently on the door, only proceeding when I hear nothing. I pull open the door and take the back stairs leading to the lounge area. When I get there, the sight in front of me has me clutching my mouth in fear. My father was lying on his face, very much dead, with a bullet hole in his head. The dark, thick blood spreading around him was like a memorabilia to his fate. I notice other things about his body. He was missing some fingers, and his knees seemed to be bent at an odd angle. Tears roll down my eyes at the sight. I wasn't crying for my father. No, he didn't deserve that. I was crying for the freedom that I could taste on my lips and feel with the tips of my fingers. Who killed him, though? Was it the masked man? I take a look
“Dostatochno! You will come with us quietly or get a bullet in your head like your father.” Dimitri interrupts my loud curses and wails. I look at him angrily but keep silent. I was strong-willed but not enough to die for it. “This isn't necessary, I won't fight you.” I say angrily to one of the men who cuffed my wrist and pulled me along with him. The man gave me a look that clearly said he knew better. I huff in annoyance as the man's stride becomes longer than mine. When I look at his face, I see him smirking. The fucker!. He was doing this on purpose!. “You can slow down. You don't have to prove to anyone how tough you are by belittling me.” I say angrily. The man clenches his jaw in silence but slows down a little. When we step outside my father's house, my legs involuntarily slow to a stop. The man understanding my need for my final goodbye, let's go of my hand and they all turn their backs on me. I turn towards my house, knowing deep in my bones that this was going to b
“Why should I have to pay for the sins of my father? I have suffered enough in his hands already.” I say in a voice thick with sorrow. “We all have, Malyshka. One way or the other. But that doesn't make you any less his child. As much as his wealth is yours, so are his sins.” Dimitri says in a voice tipped low with what I would have called pity under normal circumstances. “His wealth isn't mine. He made sure that in the event he died, all his money would either go to my husband or charity.” I say looking away while swiping the tears rolling down my eyes angrily. I don't know why I said that, the last thing I should be doing is fraternizing with the enemy. “I don't need your pity. If you indeed feel sorry for me, just let me go. Or is that too much to ask from your big ego?” I say taunting him, glaring at him from under my lashes. “I could let you go.” Dimitri says after some time, refusing to fall into my trap and take my bait. “But I won't, I have far better plans for you.” “W
DIMITRI'S POV: “What do you plan on doing with her?” Ivanov asks as I throw back the scotch, welcoming the harsh burning feeling in my throat. “What you've always wanted me to do, brat.” I respond while turning another finger of scotch into my empty glass from the tumbler. My brother immediately understanding what I mean, whistles under his breath. “Giana wouldn't like this.” He responds while chuckling low. I shrug my shoulders in a show of nonchalance. It wasn't just a show, I really didn't care what Giana thought. I know she deserves better than me, but alas, she is stuck with me for the rest of our miserable lives. “It's a good thing she wouldn't know about it.” I say in a calm voice. This wasn't me threatening him. There was no need for Giana to know about my plans. And he was going to see to it that none of my men would breathe a word about it. “Careful brother, you are beginning to sound soft.” Ivanov says in a teasing tone. “You and I both know that I could marry her
I needed water and I needed it fast. I eye the water in the far end of the room towards the door but I don't even try moving towards it. I tried before and I didn't even get five feet close to it. I swallow my saliva once more, trying to alleviate the patchy soreness in them but I have no such luck. ‘I bet Alina would have known what to do in this situation.’ I think sadly. She didn't deserve what happened to her, she deserved more than the ending she got, but doesn't everybody? I don't know the exact time he came back. I don't know how long I stay on that floor dying of dehydration, time was of little consequence as seconds blended into minutes, and minutes into hours. This time though, he comes in with a little bowl that one could mistake for a dog's food bowl. He stops in front of me with a menacing look on his face. When I try to shuffle away from him while whimpering in pain, he pulls me back roughly to him by the chain. “Not so confident now, are we?” Dimitri asks with a m
WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS EXPLICITLY DESCRIBED SEXUAL ACTIVITIES. PLEASE, DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU ARE TRIGGERED BY SUCH. “Kneel.” Dimitri says in a cold tone as he shifts away from me, giving me the space to obey his orders. I grit my teeth and avert my eyes away from his, turning away from him and folding myself into a fetal position as my own form of defiance. All is quiet for a minute until I feel the cold hard unforgiving edge of the knife in his hand pressed deliberately against my lower back. I stiffen against my wishes, scared that any minute from now, the sharp edge of the blade will pierce through smooth skin, settling deeply in my lower back. “The human skin is extremely fragile, easy to cut through. The blood beneath the skin much more enthralling than any other liquid.” Dimitri says in a cold tone that has me shivering. “You can just go ahead and stab me, 'cause I will never obey you.” I say in a shaky tone through gritted teeth as he presses the blade a little har
“Put away the knife, Malyshka.” Dimitri says in a cold hard tone bereft of any form of emotion. “No. I told you it’s my turn now, let's play my own game. Wanna know what it's called?” I ask with a sly smile, “Set me free or I kill you.” I respond to my question without giving him a chance to speak. “Are you threatening me, Malyshka?” Dimitri asks with a wide smile on his face, “I must say, I like this wild side of you. My little kitten is finally showing her claws. I should start calling you My little kitten. Malen'kiy kotenok.” Dimitri says with a wide smile on his face responding to his own question just like I did earlier. “I'm serious, Dimitri, I will hurt you if you don't let me go!” I say to him as the knife begins to tremble in my own hands. Why wasn't he scared? Was he trying to make me go through with my threat? I'm not sure I have the stomach to hurt anyone, much less Dimitri, the leader of the Bratva and head of the Gusef family.“What exactly is your plan, Malen'kiy ko
Dimitri's POV “What are you doing here, Malyshka?” I ask in a soft tone I can barely recognise myself.Anya continues to stare blankly ahead of her, not responding to my question. She was dressed in a flimsy nightwear and some socks I had put on her, before I left her alone in the bedroom. I sigh heavily as I bend down and heft her into my arms. I take notice of the fact that she was very light in my arms. Easily half the weight I lift every day to stay fit. “I would kill your father again if I ever got the chance.” I say quietly to her. I wish I could apologise for what happened earlier, but I can't. It had to happen. I doubt she would have agreed to wear the collar otherwise. “Did he suffer?” She asks after some time, interrupting the tense silence as we make our back to her bedroom. “Yes, he did, Malyshka. That I can assure you of.” I respond, hesitant to give her any gory details that might further upset her. “I want details.” Anya says, shocking me immensely. I never would
“Boris Sidorov.” I say coldly as I step into my office. Ivanov gives me a confused look, probably wondering when I had become friends with a scoundrel of this nature. “Mr Gusef! Priyatno poznakomit'sya. YA znayu, naskol'ko ty deystvitel'no zanyat.” It's a pleasure meeting you. I know how busy you can truly be. Boris says with a nervous chuckle as he shifts from one foot to the other. I give him a sharp look, not welcoming him or inviting him to sit with me. I settle down on the double-piece couch the one closest to Ivanov. “Kakiye problemy u vas yest' ?” What problems do you have? I ask him, in an emotionless voice. Ivanov places his hands on Boris's shoulders and shakes his head slightly when Boris tries to sit on the chair opposite me. You do not sit in front of the Pakhan unless you are invited to. “Ummmm—— my wife is missing.” Boris says, his eyes flicking between the bulk that is Ivanov me. I knew Boris Sidorov very well, although unfortunately so. He was Maksim Fedorov's
Anya's POV I swat away the hand gripping my neck although carefully but still firmly, but the hand refuses to let go. My breathing becomes shorter and shorter until I'm gasping due to lack of air. What is going on? Who is choking the life out of me? “Calm down. Malyshka. You can breathe. You are okay.” Dimitri says calmly but steadily, slowly rousing me from my drug-induced sleep. “What— is go—oing on? I can't breathe.” I barely manage to say in between gasps. “You can breathe, Malyshka. The collar is not tight.” Dimitri says, trying to pull me out of my mind. My hand flies to the intricate design of the collar wrapped snugly against my throat, and I try pulling it off me but it doesn't budge. “It won't open, Malyshka. It's biometrically operated.” Dimitri says in a quiet cold voice. I feel around the collar and my hand lands in what seems to be a little electronic lock, just under the base of my hair.“There's no need for the collar, Dimitri. I promise to do all that you say.”
I wipe the fog covering the window and recoil in anger and shame when I get a good look at my reflection. I had dark circles around my eyes, and my cheeks looked sunken, not that they were ever puffy or filled. I run my fingers over my bare neck and imagine what it would look like with a chain around it. My breathing picks up and I claw at my neck as I imagine not being able to breathe from the tightness of the imaginary chain. I punch the glass, not even having the energy to wince in pain when the glass shards pierce into my knuckles. Uh oh. Dimitri was going to be so pissed. I doubt he wants me hurt. I feel the blood trickle down my palms and I watch in fascination. I pick up one of the broken shards that had fallen in the white spotless sink and I stare at it for a long moment. The blood drips from my hand and makes a magnificent hue on the spotless sink. I lift the shards to my left wrist, and the thought of cutting through the fragile nerve and skin has never been so appeali
“Who is she?” Giana asks finally, her anger matching mine.“Someone you would never be.” I say in a cold tone, not in the least bit concerned of aggravating her. Giana grips her knife tighter in her fists as though she is contemplating using it on me. I stare at her, daring her to try it. Whatever peace existed between the Petrovs and the Gusefs was already on thin ice, any insolent action from her would ruin all that her family had fought to protect, and she knew it perfectly well. “I don't care who you keep as a side piece, Dimitri, as long as you fulfil your responsibility to me as my husband.” Giana says in a cold tone, finally getting a rein on her anger. “But you see Giana, I have no responsibility to you.” I say in a calm tone as I sit down on the chair beside hers.I stay quiet for some minutes, allowing my last statement to sink in. I watch the wheels turn in her head, probably wondering where I'm heading with this conversation. “That's bullsh—” Giana starts to say but I
“Thank you very much, I'm done.” I say to the man's turned back as I take out my hair from under the hood of the sweater he brought for me. “You can call me, Ivanov.” The man says, turning back to me. “I'm not sure your Pakhan would like that. Was he the one who told you to get them for me?” I ask drily as I look around the room and flex my wrists, more than happy to be free even if it's just for a few minutes. “No, he wasn't.” Ivanov says with an expression on his face similar to that of his brother, the Pakhan. I thought Dimitri sent his brother to get some clothes as a form of begging for my forgiveness for all he has done to me up to this point but yet again, I'm wrong. “Why are you helping me? What is your motive?” I ask with narrowed eyes after some minutes. “No motive, Malen'kiy tsvetok.” Little flower. Ivanov says in a soft tone while his eyes rove over my red-rimmed eyes and tear-streaked face. “There is always a motive. No man in your line of work will do something so
“The sooner you do as I say, the sooner you leave this room.” Dimitri says in a strong tone, his Adam's apple moving in tandem with his words. “And why would I trust you? What if you plan on leaving me here for the rest of my life?” I ask in an annoyed tone. “You don't have to trust me, malyshka, you just have to obey me.” Dimitri says, sitting on the stool he brought along with him. I flush a beetroot red when my stomach makes a growling sound betraying its emptiness. “I'm not hungry.” I say eyeing the bloodstains on his shirt. “I didn't ask if you were. Unfortunately for me and fortunately for you, I need you alive for the plans I have for you. I cannot have you die of starvation.” Dimitri says sighing like it's a truly disappointing situation. Yeah right. If anyone should be complaining, it should be me who has been left naked for I don't know how many days. Although, after Dimitri left me the last time, I noticed that the room became warmer, I guess he ordered his men to turn