CATALINA
I walkedfrom one side of the room to the other, feeling restless.
After Damien told me about his sister last night, he’d held me in his arms until I fell asleep. I didn’t know when exactly he’d left the bed this morning, but it must have been early, since his side of the bed was cold when I woke.
And I woke up feeling restless.
Technically, I could leave this room whenever I wanted, but I didn’t know where to go or what to do.
Another shopping trip didn’t hold any appeal.
I needed—
I needed my men.
But Damien was off doing God knew what, and Nikolay was busy with their business. I heard something about him setting up a shipment date with Gabriel, though I tried not to think too much about that.
Shipmentcould mean anything, from drugs to weapons to … skin.
I swallowed around the nausea building.
I knew they built their empire on drugs, but I didn’t know if they had any vested interest in sex.
I hoped that wasn’t the case. I didn’t know how I would react if that were the case. I didn’t know how I would be able to look them in the eyes after, and a huge part of me was so damn afraid to ask.
But I had to know, eventually.
It just …
It just wouldn’t be now.
And I was getting so sick and tired of Mikhail ignoring me.
My hand clenched in a tight fist, feeling the burning sting of anger moving inside me, and building and building and building …
I let out a frustrated scream, grabbed the object nearest to me—a pillow—and threw it against the wall.
It barely made any noise as it hit, leaving me feeling unsatisfied and even more angry.
I let out another scream and left the room without thinking.
I blindly walked through the house. I didn’t even know where I was going until I stood in front of the door that I was pretty sure led down to the basement. I’d seen men coming in and out this door.
This was where Mikhail spent his time.
I could hear the muffled screams of men downstairs. I tried the knob. It wasn’t locked.
I swallowed.
Did I really want to see Mikhail in the act?
But the thought of waiting another day, of letting him continue to avoid me, made me feel—
Out of control.
I couldn’t take it anymore. If Mikhail didn’t want me, he would have to be a man and say it to my face, not hide in the darkness.
I clutched the doorknob and turned it, opening the door and ignoring the slight tremors in my hands. I looked down the stairs into the dark basement. The muffled screams got louder, and I could feel nausea from moments before coming back to me in full force.