Chapter 6

• After dinner, Dani was just about ready to pull her hair out.
• Everything was beginning to feel like torture in its own right. Being made to spend long hours doing nothing, unable to go outside, without even a single radio or television set to keep her distracted… Dani was practically watching paint dry while the days passed her by.
• Dani chewed on her nail and stared at the clock. It was only nine in the evening. She would’ve still been enjoying the rest of her spring break partying with friends. Instead, she was now on the other side of the world, kidnapped for ransom because her father had made an enemy of a few Russians.
• A dry laugh escaped her lips. A kidnapping was so passé. This wasn’t supposed to happen in real life! The growing ache in her temple did not improve her mood, and with a sigh she rose from her bed and left the room.
• All the lights were still on, and the chandelier in the foyer was still bright when she descended the staircase. There had been a library in this house, come to think of it. It had been a long time since she’d last read a book outside of school, but it was better than spending another minute with her thoughts.
• She headed for the hallway that led to the library, where two mahogany double doors at the end of the corridor greeted her. The doors were massive, reaching all the way to the ceiling and heavy to push when she opened them.
• Her mouth parted with amazement. Numerous shelves of books greeted her, tall and wide under a high ceiling with a wrought iron chandelier. To the far right of the room was the reading area, where cushioned, high-backed chairs faced a fireplace. A narrow, winding staircase led up to a loft, where more books lined the walls. It was every book lover’s paradise, and though she wasn’t an avid reader, the idea of reading a book by the fireplace seemed enticing.
• Except somebody else was sitting there before it.
• Dani froze at the arm that appeared behind one of the high-backed chairs to lift a glass of whiskey. Was there another guest in this house?
• “Good evening, Miss De Luca.”
• Alexei turned to face her and snapped his book shut. His gaze fell on her wine-red dress. “That color suits you well.”
• Her excitement deflated like a balloon. “What are you doing here?”
• He swished his glass and looked around. “Well, I do own this house.”
• “No, you said you wouldn’t return until after ten days.”
• Alexei gave a shrug. “Would you like to take a seat?”
• She eyed the chair before him like it was made of spikes.
• “How about a drink, then? I can ring for another glass.”
• “No, thank you,” she said, settling down. Alexei wore a plain, partially unbuttoned shirt and slacks, like he was just winding down after a day at the office. Beneath his folded sleeves, intricate tattoos covered his forearms.
• “How are you enjoying your stay here?” He took a sip of his drink.
• Dani straightened a nonexistent crease on her lap. “It’s not half-bad for a cage, I’ll give you that.”
• “No wonder you’ve resorted to the library,” he mused. “I take it you’re not much of a reader?”
• “I was about to pick up the habit again,” she snapped. “Do you even have books in English?”
• “At least half of the books in this room are.” A smirk formed on his lips as he settled his liquor down. “I hear you’ve been doing a bit of exploring around.”
• “What else am I supposed to do?”
• “At night? In the kitchens?”
• Her pulse escalated, but Dani schooled her face to stay neutral. “I was feeling hungry.”
• “And left without a snack?”
• She stared at him in disbelief, while also buying herself a good, full second to deflect. “Are you spying on me?”
• Alexei leaned back, stretching his long legs before her. “I have eyes and ears in this household. I would know your every move.”
• “Great. Do you watch me sleep too?”
• His smirk grew. “If I feel like it.”
• Dani didn’t know what bothered her more: that he didn’t look angry she was snooping around, or that there were hidden cameras in her room.
• “I would appreciate it if you limited your escapades during the day.” He drummed his fingers on the armrest. “We wouldn’t want the guards spooked to see you lurking around at night.”
• The warning was thinly veiled in his casual tone. Dani couldn’t help but rise to the occasion, anger now brewing in her veins at the idea of a safe escape crumbling before her very eyes. “Is that what you’ve returned here for? To rub this all in my face?”
• Alexei clasped his hands and gazed into the fire. “I understand your frustration. I can allow you to go outside, not that there’s much to see.”
• Dani rolled her eyes. “Well that’s helpful.”
• “Perhaps I’ll bring a friend along to keep you company. It should make the days pass by a little faster.”
• A log cracked into the fire. Dani eyed the folds of her dress and played with it. “Have you heard from my father?”
• That brief pause was enough to make her heart skip a beat. “I’m afraid not. He must be busy getting things in order. I figured I’d leave him be until our ten days is up.”
• Dani gripped the sides of her chair. “I need to know what happens if my dad can’t give you the money.”
• Alexei picked up his drink again while a fingertip traced the rim of his glass.
• “He would be killed, and we would have to find a way to make money off of you somehow.” He eyed her long and hard. “I think you know what that means.”
• A chill went down her spine.
• “I don’t get to call the shots, unfortunately. Those are my father’s terms,” he said in her silence. “So let’s hope your father makes ends meet.”
• Dani’s ears began to ring. She couldn’t have heard him right. Her father killed and ten million dollars’ worth of debt passed on to her… To be sold off or enslaved was a fate worse than death. Was she now just counting the days until the end of her life as she knew it?
• “There, now. Your father’s one of the biggest money launderers in the East Coast.” His voice sounded like it was coming from the other end of a tunnel. “Let’s give him a little more credit, shall we?”
• Dani swiftly rose from her chair. “I’m going to bed. Good night.”
• She didn’t wait for his response and stormed out of the library. Bile was rising up her throat as she raced upstairs to her bedroom. Oh God, she was going to hurl her guts out.
• Dani slammed the door hard behind her and fell against it. Her shaky knees gave way, and with deep breaths she fell to the floor, closing her eyes tight.
• I need to get the fuck out of here.