CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Married To Sidorov?

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.”