CHAPTER TEN
1204 Words
RINA'S POV
I woke up to a banging headache.
My head was killing me and there was a ringing in my ears that refused to stop.
I rubbed my eyes until my vision cleared enough to be useful.
And then I just lay there for a second.
Because nothing about where I was made any sense.
The last thing I remembered was my legs giving out from under me and the floor coming up fast. I had expected to wake up on those cold tiles if I woke up at all.
Not here.
Not on a bed this soft.
I sat up slowly and looked around.
The room was massive. Bigger than my entire apartment. The ceiling was high and dark, almost black with small recessed lights that gave just enough glow to see by without actually making the place feel warm. Black bedsheets. Black headboard. A thick dark grey rug covering most of the floor. Two black marble side tables on either side of the bed with whiskey glasses sitting on them.
On one entire wall there was a built in shelf. Bottles of whiskey and liquor lined up perfectly. Different shapes. Different sizes. A flat screen TV mounted opposite the bed. Heavy dark curtains covering what I assumed were windows. A glass door on the far side showing a walk in wardrobe with clothes hanging in perfect rows.
Everything in this room was dark.
My eyes moved to the portraits on the wall.
Different frames. Different sizes. Expensive. not the kind you bought at a market. The kind that ended up in auctions with a starting bid that could feed my entire street for a year.
And then one of them stopped me.
A photograph.
A young man. Dark hair. A smile that was open and easy. I didn't know him.
What the f**k was going on?
How did I get here?
Had I been kidnapped again?
Did that monster sell me off to someone else?
My eyes went down and I noticed I was tucked into the bed properly. Sheets pulled up. Pillow under my head.
That was when I saw him.
He was sitting in the leather chair in the corner. Head bowed. One elbow on his knee and his hand resting against his forehead. He wasn't moving.
Was he sleeping?
I squinted.
A faint sound. Barely there.
He was snoring.
I looked at his face properly for the first time without fear blurring everything.
Sharp jaw covered in light stubble. Dark hair pushed back slightly away from his forehead. Full lips slightly parted. A small earring catching the dim light. Long lashes that had absolutely no business being on a man this dangerous.
He looked peaceful.
For the first time since I met him he didn't look scary.
I hated that.
I shook the thought out of my head and shifted carefully to the edge of the bed. My feet touched the dark hardwood floor and I stood up slowly scanning the room one more time.
I needed to get out of here.
I tiptoed toward the door. Slow. Careful. Each step calculated.
I was almost there.
"And where do you think you are going Doe."
My heart stopped.
I froze completely.
F**k.
"I know for a fact that you aren't deaf." His voice was deep and raspy.
"Ermm — I wa--nted to get wa--ter." I stammered.
"I'm not stupid. And you are a terrible liar."
I heard the chair creak as he stood up.
I refused to turn around. Refused to look at him.
He crossed the room and I could feel him behind me before I heard him. Close. Too close.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you Doe. I already told you that."
"My name is not Doe." I frowned and turned around.
He was right there.
I reached him at his upper stomach. That was how tall he was. I had to tilt my whole head back just to see his face.
How tall was this man seriously?
"Oh really." He brought his face down closer to mine.
Why did he keep doing that.
"So what is it then. Doe." He stared into my eyes like he had found something there worth studying.
"I'm not telling." I crossed my arms. I knew he just wanted to get a reaction out of me.
"Okay." He straightened up immediately. Completely unbothered.
He stepped back and walked away.
"You see that stunt you pulled today." His voice went cold. "Don't let it repeat itself. If you want to commit suicide you can do it. But not in my house. Wait till your f**king husband clears his debt."
A tear dropped down my face before I could stop it.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I was thirsty and the only water was in the fridge." My voice came out smaller than I wanted it to.
I hated when anyone's voice went cold at me. It triggered something old and ugly in my chest. It reminded me of my dad.
And I hated crying in front of this monster more than anything.
"When you are done crying get back in the bed." His voice was cold but not loud.
Those words hit different.
They shattered something. Maybe because I wanted him to care.
I have always wanted people to care.
And then the tears came loud. I was sobbing and I couldn't stop it.
"I hate you." It came out shaky and broken.
"You are not the first." He was completely unbothered.
All I wanted to do was hit him. Throw something at him. Scream until my voice gave out again.
"Just get in the bed Doe. Please. The doctor said you need to rest."
"No." I said it like a child and I didn't care.
"Get in the bed. Now." His voice rang with authority.
But I wasn't going to let him break me. Not again. Not after he had already seen me cry twice.
"No. Monster." I yelled it.
"Don't make me carry you and chain you to this f**king bed." He was already moving toward me.
"You can't do anything to me." Deep inside I was scared like a bird that had been beaten by rain. I knew he wasn't bluffing. But I wasn't going to let him see that. Not this time.
"Okay." He shrugged. And kept walking toward me.
"How about I kill Kayla."
My face dropped.
"The only person who apparently gives a f**k about you."
"How. Ho--w." I couldn't form a full sentence.
"What — cat got your tongue? Are you surprised?" He pointed at the bed. "Get on that bed right now or I kill your f**king friend."
I didn't say anything.
I walked to the bed and sat down. My hands were shaking.
He walked over and sat beside me close enough that I couldn't ignore him.
"Good girl." He almost smiled. Almost. "Now. While you are here you are going to write a letter to your friend Kayla. Tell her you are okay. Tell her you just need some space."
He paused.
"Or." His voice dropped low. "I can just kill her. Your choice."
I raised my head and looked at him.
This man was a complete psychopath.
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