16

Olivia

Burning…

I can smell it.

The apple wood scent reminds me of my grandfather.

He’d always have a big Cuban cigar with a glass of whiskey. Ice would clink against crystal as he swirled his drink around and he looked so commanding.

My head feels weird and my mind fuzzy. I know I’m in between asleep and awake and I should open my eyes but just for a few more seconds I want to indulge on a memory of my grandfather.

My mind conjures up the last conversation I had with him when he was well. It was a year before he died. He was sitting on the porch smoking. Eric and I sat cross-legged in front of him like we were still the little boy and girl we were when he’d regale us with his stories.

Eric wanted to be like him, even then. Even when it was clear that was never going to happen. He’d talked to him several times about forming alliances with the Bratva, but Grandfather would always decline.

Then he went to Dad hoping he would allow him to join his other sons in their business. That never happened either.

It shouldn’t have surprised me all that much Eric would get mixed up with these people.

These people…

The Order…

Aiden Romanov…

The burning smell grows stronger and the fog clears from my mind. The memories of people who used to be fade and what comes into my mind next is reality along with the memories of last night. The impact is like being zapped by lightning and it forces my mind to focus.

I open my eyes to bright sunlight, so bright and intense, I shut my eyes quickly.

It’s when I try to lift my arm to shield myself from the glare I realize with horror I can’t move my arm. A clinking sound has me snapping my gaze to my right hand and I gasp when I see I’m attached to a chain.

Both of my hands are attached to chains. A bolt of panic rushes over me when the further realization hits me that the chains are around my ankles too.

And I’m naked!

I’m lying spread eagle on a bed I’m chained to; in a room I don’t recognize and I’m naked with my legs spread wide.

When I writhe against the chains Aiden Romanov walks into my view, shirtless and merciless with his tattoos on show, reminding me of who he is.

My first thoughts are to direct my focus between my legs, testing if I’m sore. I’m not, but that doesn’t mean I’m out of the woods.

In this vulnerable, helpless, nightmarish position I’m completely at his mercy.

He puts his cigar out and my breath seizes in my chest like my body is primed for the terror to come. A cold icy wave of fear spirals its way down my spine as his heartless gaze settles on me.

Now he looks like the monster I first imagined when Amy told me about him. In my mind I conjured up the fearsome mafia boss who wouldn’t hesitate to kill.

He didn’t kill me last night but the look on his face suggests that could be because he has other things in mind for me before he ends me.

I’m naked. There’s only one thing he could want to do with me if I’m naked and restrained.

It seems stupid to be worried about that now when I was willing to offer my body up to him at the club.

I just don’t want him to take me this way. Not like Jude did.

I’m in the biggest trouble I could possibly be in and there really is no way out.

Tags: Faith Summers Dark Syndicate Dark
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