Chapter-3: Words, Babochka

“Rose, They wouldn't have time to track us as the engagement is after a few hours from now on and by the time they realise your disappearance, they wouldn't have any choice but to put Valentina in your place. So don't stress out.”

Rose nodded at Dante, she was relieved thinking she escaped from an unwanted union but her solace was short-lived. She screamed when suddenly a convoy of black SUV’s ambushed their car hard from the sides.

Rose' head bumped against the window while Dante jerked ahead on the steering wheel only to be pulled back straight because of a seatbelt.

“What the fuck!” Dante cursed loudly before he put the brakes and his car screeched ahead and came to an abrupt halt.

“Dante, what is happening? Who…” her words were interrupted as the driver's door of the car ripped open and two men yanked Dante out of the car roughly.

Rose's eyes froze in dread. “Dante!” she yelled. Her heart was pounding hard against her ribcage in fear.

The door of her side ripped open too. And a brown eyed man appeared in her vision. Rose flinched back with a startled cry but frowned. He seemed a stranger, definitely not one of her father's guards. Now the whole scenario scared her senseless.

“Who? Who are you?” Rose asked, trying to sound brave but the man only chuckled in answer. He grabbed her arm and pulled her out violently.

“Dante!” she screamed anxiously for help. And the man holding her once again chuckled. “Your lover boy is getting our hospitality for touching our pride, Zolovka.” Isaac Sokolov grinned.

His words aroused goosebumps in her whole body. A cry sounded in her ears and Rose’ stomach dropped, seeing six to seven men beating Dante mercilessly on the ground. He was wailing and begging them to leave him.

“Noooo. Stop it. Why are you beating him?” She cried out while struggling to get free out of Isaac’s hold.

“Please, leave him. He did nothing wrong. Hurt me…but not him please…” she begged, crying.

Isaac whistled, “True love!”

Rose sobbed, begging them to leave him until the men stopped beating Dante and stood back in row like robots when the car door of black SUV opened and a tall man stepped out. Rose couldn’t see his face but his aura screamed authority and dominance.

Vladimir Sokolov stood straight in his mighty glory and looked at the scene in satisfaction. He moved towards Dante with his slow dominating steps and stood before his terrified state.

“You should never have touched what's mine, Boy,” Vladimir’s heavy dark voice dried Dante’s throat and words blocked in his mouth seeing the dark man towering over him.

Vladimir raised his hand in the air and One of his men handed him a golf stick. He raised the stick in the air and hit Dante in the face so hard that even the wind shook in terror along with Rose and Dante’s body. He let out a painful screech as his face ripped open and blood slashed on Vladimir's face.

“Nooooo!” Rose screamed loudly, “Please stop! Don't hurt him!” She cried out and begged the man whose face was hidden in the darkness of night. “Hurt me if you want but not him! Pleasee…”

However, Seeing his would-be wife crying for another man was intolerant of the Pakhan. Her violent cries snatched his undivided attention as He ceased for a moment and craned his neck towards Rose’s direction.

His eyes held the dark cold gaze and a small scream escaped Rose’s throat as she took in his sight.

‘He is a scary monster!’

Mia’s words rang in her ears and Rose’s complexion paled seeing his face. His half face was covered in scars from his forehead upto his neck and half with Dante's blood. For a moment, Rose thought the devil himself appeared in front of her.

And this devil was her betrothed!

Vladimir handed the golf stick back to his man who continued hurting Dante while He decided to confront his would-be wife and notified her of what He expects her to do in the future.

Rose stiffened when she saw the tall cruel man walk to her, her captor freed her silently and stood a few steps back from her.

Rose trembled in fear and moved backward. “S..stay away from me.” she stuttered.

Vladimir stood three steps away from her and scrutinized the girl in front of him closely. Her trembling body was clearly telling him how terrified she was of him. Good!

“Beg for his life again and I will keep him alive only to torture him again, every single second of his life!” His rough voice fell into her ears as his big calloused hand gripped her chin and Rose's voice got stuck, eyes went as wide as saucers and her whole body became a terrific mess.

“Vladimir Sokolov doesn't like touching tainted goods! My things are either solely mine or I ruin them for the whole world, Babochka.”

His ice chilled tone brought a shudder down her spine and she whimpered.

“Remember Babochka, From this day onwards, Vladimir Sokolov owns you. Not only you but your soul too.” his hands snaked through her neck to her nape as He jerked her face close.

“If you can't become mine, then there is no need for you to breathe anymore. Try to run away from me again, and it will be a thrilling game for me for what I will do to your whole family after ending you,”

Color lost her face And that was the last thing she heard before her vision blackened in terror and she went limp in his arms.

.

.

Rose fluttered her eyes open, her mind confused at the unfamiliar ceilings of the car but then she sat up with a jolt when her eyes landed on the man sitting beside her calmly. Vladimir Sokolov!

Her memories slowly returned and a wave of fear washed her features making her shudder. Vladimir was doing something on his phone without paying any heed to her nervous wreck.

Terrified of him, Rose turned to open the car door silently to run away from him. But her movements halted when she noticed the familiar mansion in front of her eyes.

Barbieri's mansion!

For a second, her heart skipped its beat. Damn! For how long, she had been unconscious? Rose bit her lips. Did He bring her here to humiliate her?

Now, She was definitely doomed! She knew her father was going to kill her if Vladimir told him what she did.

‘Oh dear God, save me!’ she begged the almighty God because now only he could save her and no one else.

But a humorous chuckle stiffened her body.

“You do not have to fear anyone or anything except for me, Babochka,” Vladimir husked grimly before locking his phone screen and finally shifting his attention to her. “As I said, now I own you which means only I reserved the right to punish you.”

She blinked at his words, her heart was still running a marathon in her chest. Vladimir heaved out a heavy breath, “Tell me, my dear Fiancèe, Do you remember what I told you before you pathetically fainted in my arms?”

His deep, low voice along with his domineering intense gaze unsettled her. Words didn't leave her mouth and she could only nod in answer.

“Words, Babochka. When I ask you something, I want you to answer me using your tongue.” Vladimir nodded stiffly.

“Ye…yes.”

He sharpened his eyes at her monosyllabic answer. “What?” He demanded sharply and Rose parroted the words He said to her earlier.

“Tha…that you will kill my…family if I tried to run.. from you again. And you owned me.” She licked her lips.

Vladimir rested a finger under her chin making her stiffen in fear. She swallowed seeing his scarred face from close and blinked a few times, wanting to jerk away from his touch but his stern gaze froze her in place. “And will you try to run away from me ever again?”

Rose couldn’t meet his dark hazel eyes and lowered her gaze.

“N..no. I won't try to run from you again.” The words left her mouth as if they were set by default.

“And?”

Rose knew what He wanted to hear. She could feel it in the air. She didn’t want to say it but she had no other option left.

“I.. will marry you.”

Vladimir nodded in satisfaction and pressed a button beside him in the car. Rose' side of the door clicked open. “Now Get out, we have an important day tomorrow.”

Rose didn’t take a second to waste and alighted the car hurriedly and silently watched the car swooshed away, snatching her every chance to escape this unfortunate marriage.

Defeatedly, she made her way back to the house through the same secret passage while cursing her fate in mind.