Asher nods. “Swear you won’t hurt us though?”
“I swear. Kervyn has no intention to hurt either of you. Especially not Penny because of her current state.” Luka holds his hand out. “Keys?”
Asher reluctantly puts them in his hand, laces our fingers together, and leads me to our car. We get in the back, squished with the luggage. Luka and the guard both put the child lock on the door so we can’t get out. When Luka gets in the driver's side, he locks the windows as well. “Just a precaution,” he comments.
We are silent while we drive, but Luka and the guards speak a lot, quickly, and in Russian. I don’t know if they’re talking about us or something completely different, but it makes me scared.
I hate conflict and seldom stand up for myself. I need to this time, though. I need to say no to Kervyn. I need to protect Asher. Asher is still holding my hand in the car and squeezes it as though she senses my feelings.
Once we’re within the walls of the estate, Luka drives us to the front door, where more guards are waiting.
As soon as Asher gets out of the car, two guards take her by the arms and start leading her inside. I quickly try to follow, but Luka stops me. “You’re parting ways here temporarily. Don’t worry, it won’t be for long.”
I follow Luka, looking around as we walk in. This is not the apartment where we made love that night. What might have been a mysterious but inviting home, feels ominous to me, and I am hesitant to continue when a guard gently takes my arm and starts leading me upstairs. I am taken to a room, escorted in, and then they leave.
Just like that.
The door is shut, and I hear the lock click into place. I immediately rush to the window, but they are barred. There is no exiting through them. I pace around the room, looking for a weapon of some sort, but even if I find something to club them with, they probably have guns. Oh shit, what if they have guns and take us out and shoot us. Isn’t that what Mafia people do?
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.
