The stress makes me feel dizzy, and I sit down. Where is Asher? I wish I knew so I could comfort her. I don’t know what else to do but to sit here on this bed and wait.

It feels like hours before someone unlocks the door. I jump up and watch as Luka walks in, followed by a maid.

“We brought you dinner. Kervyn thought you may be hungry after spending the day in here.” Luka watches as the maid sets the tray of food on the bedside table.

“What’s happened to Asher?” I ask.

Luka smiles, but they leave again without a word, and I’m terrified that something horrible has happened to my best friend because of me. I ignore the food for a while but also know I need to keep up my strength if I’m going to find a way to escape from Kervyn’s grasp.

I look at the food. It’s pasta with some sort of creamy white sauce. Alfredo maybe? I sit at the bedside table and eat carefully. I’m halfway through the bowl when I stupidly wonder if they would try to kill me through the food. I set the bowl down and fret about it for ten minutes.

I remember how excited Kervyn was that I was carrying his baby, though, and I have to believe that he wouldn’t do any harm to me while I’m pregnant with his heir. It is clearly a huge deal to him if he’s gone through all this to get me back.

I finish the food and drink the fruit juice that was brought with it. I don’t have anything to change into and don’t actually care that the bedspread is all fancy and nice. I keep my shoes on, ready to run at any time. I curl up on the bed, facing the door, and slowly drift off to sleep.

“Miss Winters?” My eyes fly open, and my heart beats a million times a second. The maid from before is standing there with my suitcase. “Mr. Milov has asked you to join him for breakfast. He’s asked me to bring your things so you can freshen up.”

I look around and see Luka. “I would like to use the bathroom.”

“The en suite bathroom is behind that door.” He points to a door I thought was part of the closet before. “And once you’re done, I’ll be outside to escort you.”

I make quick work of freshening up and changing. Maybe I can plead with Kervyn to—I don’t know—let me go? It doesn’t seem likely, but I have to try.

I step outside the room, and Luka nods. “This way.”

He leads me downstairs and onto a terrace where a large table is situated, ladened with food. I see Kervyn. Even now, he’s so handsome as he eyes me out.

“Penny, I’m pleased to see you’re feeling up to talking,” he says, indicating for me to sit to his left.

“I didn’t feel I had much choice,” I said quietly. I need to maintain confidence. I cannot show fear.

“Not really, but one does like the illusion of having a choice. That’s all choice is really—an illusion. In reality, whatever we pick will lead to the same consequence. But that’s not what I called you here for. Please. Eat.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have an appetite this morning. I will have coffee, though.” I look at Luka. “Black, two sugars.”

Kervyn chuckles. “He won’t listen to you, but Luka, go to the kitchen and arrange some coffee for Penny, please.”

Luka nods and leaves.

“He would have listened, maybe, if you had said please.” Kervyn starts to pick fruit from the plates in front of us. They all look ripe and juicy.

“So, you ran away. I understand. Marriage is a big step to take, and it can be daunting.” He starts to cut up the fruit with a sharp-looking knife, and for one wild second, I wonder if I can grab the blade and stab him. No, I’d definitely be killed then.

“I’m not discussing anything further until you tell me where Asher is,” I demand, crossing my arms.

“Don’t be a petulant child, Penny. It doesn’t work that way. This isn’t some romance book some idiot wrote.” He stabs a piece of fruit and brings it to his mouth to bite into it. Once he swallows, he shrugs. “Asher is upstairs still, resting and probably having breakfast. I am a rather pleasant host when I’m not irritated. I don’t care if you don’t want to discuss it or not, Penny. There is no choice here. Not even an illusion of one. You are going to marry me. You are potentially carrying the heir to the Milov family fortune, and quite frankly, you no longer have a say in the matter.”

I glare at him, feeling an unfamiliar anger building up within me. Everyone keeps making decisions for me as though what I think doesn’t matter at all.

I’m tired of it. I’m tired of being treated like I’m just a pushover. I stand up suddenly and grab a glass of water.

“I am not going to marry you. You will have to kill me first.” I throw the water all over him and then stare at him in anger.

Chapter 7 - Kervyn

I close my eyes as the water splashes over my face. I take out a napkin and wipe my face, looking at her. Two of my guards have moved closer, but I wave them off.

“It’s okay.” I get up and lean forward, catching her chin in my hand. I force her to look up at me and see all her bravado leave her eyes as my gaze bores down into hers.

“You really should not defy me.” I look up as Maria comes in carrying a tray of coffee, and I wave her away. “No. She likes to throw liquids, so she doesn’t get hot coffee.”

Maria nods, turns around, and leaves.

I look back down at Penny. “Not many people defy me. Especially not those who have done their homework and know who I am. I assume you have learned who I am in the grand scheme of things?”

Penny nods slowly, and I let go, sitting back down.

“Tell me, what do you know?” I steeple my fingers together and watch her.

Penny swallows. “You’re a bad person. You run the Russian Mafia in Vegas, and you’re wanted in connection with lots of unsolved crimes.”

I nod. “So you did the basics, didn’t delve too deep into my history. It’s there if you’re looking for it, you know. The Internet is so vast now that you can find anything you want.”

I lean forward and start to put fruit on her plate.

“If you had done more research, you would have learned a few more things about the kind of man I am.” I look at her fiery glare and see she still has some defiance in her.

I lean on my elbows, a terrible habit I get when I want to respond specifically to insolence. I did it all the time with my younger brothers.

“Penny, the things you learned about me are the least of your worries. You should worry about the things that aren’t reported about.” I smile and rest my chin on my closed fist. “You might think your little defiance is going to get you somewhere, but all it is going to get you is loneliness as I keep you confined until the birth of our child, after which you will no longer be needed.”

Even as I say the words, I regret them. I regret the fear in her eyes, but I also regret the lie. I cannot hurt her. That attraction to her is real. I need to push it aside now, though, for the betterment of the family. The heir is all that matters now.

I quickly pick up and stab the knife into the wooden table, causing her to jump. “I am not one to care about friendship. I’ll kill anyone who puts my family at risk. Do you understand my meaning?”

Tears well up in Penny’s eyes, and it’s a stab to the heart. I didn’t want to make her cry, but I must ensure she knows the rules. I watch coldly as the tears spill down her cheeks, and she shakes her head. She sobs out, “I will never marry you. You are a monster. There is nothing you can say or do that will make me go through this stupid plan of yours.”

I shrug and call out, “Luka.”

My brother is quick to respond, and I say in Russian, “Go fetch the friend.”

He leaves again, and Penny turns to watch him leave, then looks at me. “Where’s he going?”

“Does it matter? There’s nothing I can say or do to change your mind.” I pull the knife from the table and start chopping up some kiwi.

I pop a small piece into my mouth and stare at Penny as the loud sobs become silent tears streaking down her face. She shivers, and I incline my head. “Are you cold? I can have a heater brought out. It is a lovely time of year in Vegas when it’s not as hot as it normally is. A little nip in the air. Ah, here we go.”

Penny whips around as Luka drags a bound and gagged Asher from the room.