Marissa As soon as the door closes behind me the tears start to fall. Antonio takes me in his arms and gently strokes my hair. He doesn’t say a word, only hushes me. I have no idea how long we stand like that, me silently crying and he comforting me. When my tears slow down I lean out from him to look up into his dark eyes. “Thank you.” I croak out and then lean back into his embrace again. “Let’s go up to our room.” He unfolds his arms around me and takes my hand. “Didn’t you have something we needed to do?” He smiles down at me but keeps walking. “Oh. I certainly have something in mind that we can do. But nothing that has to be done.” His tone is husky but at the same time filled with mischief. “Then, why?” “I heard everything they said. I knew they upset you and I only wanted them to leave.” His voice loses all sound of joke and lust. Instead it is stiff and slightly angry. “We can do whatever you want. Do you want to take a swim?” “Yeah. That would be nice.” “Skinny dip?”
Marissa I don’t answer his greeting, only keep looking at him while trying to scold my face to look free of fear. When he realizes that I won’t greet him back he starts to speak again. “I hope you didn’t encounter any trouble on your way here?” It’s obvious that he’s trying to make me more scared than I already am with his obviously faked pleasiantries and I hate to admit that it’s working. “What do you want from me?” “Hm. You see, Marissa.” The use of my name has a shiver of fright run up my spine. “Antonio has something of mine that I want back and you are going to help me.” “And what is this thing that he has taken?” Even though the fear is consuming me I manage to keep my voice leveled as I speak. “A friend.” That has me remembering Josie and James. “And my friends?” Ivan smirks at me as he makes a gesture towards one of the men behind him. The man leaves through a door to the far right and we are left sitting in silence as we wait. Ivan sits with a cold smile on his lips and
Antonio I’m in the middle of a meeting with the tech crew when my phone rings. When I see Luca’s number I answer even if it is in the middle of an important speech from my underling. “She has been taken.” Those four words, words I never hoped to hear are being said. The blood in my veins turns to ice for a second only to bubble up to boiling the next. “What?!” The people in the same room as me all jump in fear of the angry outbursts. The one closest to me even leans away so make sure there is distance between my fist and their faces. “Someone put laxatives in my food and when I had to run to the bathroom, leaving her without protection, she was taken away. I never had time to call in Steve. Nico saw them leave, but too late. It was the Egorov kid. He is following them as we speak.” Luca’s voice is strained and I hear the sound of flushing in the background. “Don’t intercept. I want her back unharmed.” “Understood.” I hang up and focus my attention back on the members of the meeti
This chapter contains sexual assault. If you find that triggering you should skip. Marissa The relief that Anton had to take a call goes away as fast as it came when my brain registers what he has planned for me. He’s gonna rape me. I have to get out of here. I quickly put on my bra and sweater again. I will not make it easy for him to rape me by staying unclothed, that's for sure. I try the door without much hope for it to be open and as I thought it is locked. My eyes scan the room. It is small with bare concrete walls. The floor is concrete as well and has a floor drain in the middle. On the wall next to the door I see pipes and an outlet for water. Whatever they used to do in here was dirty and needed to be flushed regularly. The only object in the room is the thin foam mattress. There are no things littering the floor and no sheets on the mattress. I lift it to see if there is anything underneath but the only thing I find underneath is the blank concrete floor. I start to sea
MarissaMy head feels like it has been through a thunderstorm, then thumped by a horde of elephants and lastly thrown off a cliff. I groan as I try to open my eyes. One eye I manage to pry open but the other one is swollen shut.“Shhh. It’s okay, my love. You are home again.” Antonio’s deep voice reaches me through the pain. He leans in so that I can see him through the crack I manage to open. There is a soft smile on his lips but it doesn’t reach his eyes. His eyes are filled with concern mixed with anger. I lift my arm to search for him and he quickly takes my hand. “You have a concussion and some severe bruising and swelling on your face. But no serious injuries.”“Wha…” My throat is parched so my voice
Marissa“I want a life that is more normal. I want to go home to my friends, to have my friends over whenever I want. I want to meet my parents and have a relationship with them. I want what I had but you took from me!” His arms around me tightens.“Your parents will hurt your feelings with questions about money.” His allegation has anger rising in my chest. I push against him and this time he lets me lean out a little bit to look into his eyes.“You should not be the one to decide if that hurts me. I should have the right to decide what hurts me and what doesn’t. I should have the right to decide who I want to have a relationship wi
Antonio My head is pulsing with an oncoming headache. That useless idiot Morozov really screwed up big time. I have been trying to get to him since he took over after his uncle but he has always found a way out. But now all the afterwork that has to be done thanks to his death is taking up time I’d rather use for other things. Like seeing that Marissa is okay. There has to be a new leader for the Russians and I would want to start off on a good foot with whoever takes the place. It will probably be the cousin of Morozov that takes his place. He is about the same age as me and much more cooperative. He is his father’s son, smart, organized and has values. I think we can have back the truce I had with his father. He might not be all that happy with the amount of
MarissaThe next morning I was more or less back to normal. Sure there was some swelling left and a few cuts that had not yet healed but at least every movement didn’t cause me pain. I was a bit nauseous in the morning and had some difficulty eating breakfast but it disappeared after an hour or so. Today I’m going to pick up James at the hospital and Josie at her apartment and then we’re going to have a look at the apartment Antonio is willing to provide them.From now on it is Luca and another bodyguard, Steve, that will be with me at all times. I find it a bit overbearing but at the same time I understand Antonio’s concern. And frankly, I would rather not be kidnapped again either.Steve is closer to my age and is still in training, accordi
MarissaThe sun is shining as I look out through the car window at the white february snow. It is pristine white and glitters like diamonds as the sun touches it. It snowed the night to today so it is all new and untouched. It is cold outside, much too cold for my liking, but today the coldness is perfect. It turns the landscape outside to that of a snowy fairytale.The branches of the trees look like they are made out of dark sparkling crystals. The ground looks soft with blindingly white snow. The sun is shining brightly on the purely blue sky with only a few scattered cotton clouds.Next to me my mom sniffles as we see the church across the snow covered fields. It white plaster contrasting with the even whiter snow. The large colorful windows and the
MarissaThe next morning I wake up feeling deliciously sore from our rough lovemaking the night before. But as I brush my teeth another, not so pleasant, feeling hits me. With a second to spare I run to the toilet and empty the contents of my stomach. Antonio comes rushing into the bathroom with his shirt halfway buttoned and his belt hanging loosely around his waist.“Are you sick? Are you still affected by the concussion? Should I call for Dr. Stevens?” He collects my hair and rubs my back. I wave at his speech, still focused on heaving into the bowl. When I’m done he dries my mouth with a piece of paper.“I can’t speak while throwing up!” I growl at him and he has the decency to look apologetic.
MarissaThe ride home went much faster than I had hoped. The promise of a punishment has me on edge. Sure, a spanking arouses me more than I would have hoped, but it still hurts like hell. Especially the day after. I’m sure this time will hurt alot since he is furious about the kiss.As we make our way through the hallway towards his room I hesitate outside my room. “Perhaps I should change?” I know I’m only procrastinating but I really don’t want my ass black and blue tomorrow.“There is no need. I want you completely naked.” He tugs my hand and I have no choice but to follow him to his room. When he closes the door behind us a shiver of both fear and anticipation goes through my body.
MarissaBoth James and Josie agree that the apartment is much better than anything they could ever dream of ever living in on a student salary and will go home to pack and move in as soon as possible. I am very pleased that they have agreed and will look past their differences and live together.When we exit the building I see Antonio leaning against a car on the other side of the road. His posture is stiff with his ankles crossed over each other and arms crossed over his chest. His face is perfectly scolded in an indifferent expression and his eyes are hidden behind a pair of shades. Even if there are no obvious signs I can see that he is furious. I stop in my tracks to take him in and try to think of a reason for him to be this angry.I wring my hands
MarissaThe next morning I was more or less back to normal. Sure there was some swelling left and a few cuts that had not yet healed but at least every movement didn’t cause me pain. I was a bit nauseous in the morning and had some difficulty eating breakfast but it disappeared after an hour or so. Today I’m going to pick up James at the hospital and Josie at her apartment and then we’re going to have a look at the apartment Antonio is willing to provide them.From now on it is Luca and another bodyguard, Steve, that will be with me at all times. I find it a bit overbearing but at the same time I understand Antonio’s concern. And frankly, I would rather not be kidnapped again either.Steve is closer to my age and is still in training, accordi
Antonio My head is pulsing with an oncoming headache. That useless idiot Morozov really screwed up big time. I have been trying to get to him since he took over after his uncle but he has always found a way out. But now all the afterwork that has to be done thanks to his death is taking up time I’d rather use for other things. Like seeing that Marissa is okay. There has to be a new leader for the Russians and I would want to start off on a good foot with whoever takes the place. It will probably be the cousin of Morozov that takes his place. He is about the same age as me and much more cooperative. He is his father’s son, smart, organized and has values. I think we can have back the truce I had with his father. He might not be all that happy with the amount of
Marissa“I want a life that is more normal. I want to go home to my friends, to have my friends over whenever I want. I want to meet my parents and have a relationship with them. I want what I had but you took from me!” His arms around me tightens.“Your parents will hurt your feelings with questions about money.” His allegation has anger rising in my chest. I push against him and this time he lets me lean out a little bit to look into his eyes.“You should not be the one to decide if that hurts me. I should have the right to decide what hurts me and what doesn’t. I should have the right to decide who I want to have a relationship wi
MarissaMy head feels like it has been through a thunderstorm, then thumped by a horde of elephants and lastly thrown off a cliff. I groan as I try to open my eyes. One eye I manage to pry open but the other one is swollen shut.“Shhh. It’s okay, my love. You are home again.” Antonio’s deep voice reaches me through the pain. He leans in so that I can see him through the crack I manage to open. There is a soft smile on his lips but it doesn’t reach his eyes. His eyes are filled with concern mixed with anger. I lift my arm to search for him and he quickly takes my hand. “You have a concussion and some severe bruising and swelling on your face. But no serious injuries.”“Wha…” My throat is parched so my voice
This chapter contains sexual assault. If you find that triggering you should skip. Marissa The relief that Anton had to take a call goes away as fast as it came when my brain registers what he has planned for me. He’s gonna rape me. I have to get out of here. I quickly put on my bra and sweater again. I will not make it easy for him to rape me by staying unclothed, that's for sure. I try the door without much hope for it to be open and as I thought it is locked. My eyes scan the room. It is small with bare concrete walls. The floor is concrete as well and has a floor drain in the middle. On the wall next to the door I see pipes and an outlet for water. Whatever they used to do in here was dirty and needed to be flushed regularly. The only object in the room is the thin foam mattress. There are no things littering the floor and no sheets on the mattress. I lift it to see if there is anything underneath but the only thing I find underneath is the blank concrete floor. I start to sea