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I playfully hit him in the chest. “Not like that! I mean...as a friend. She’s been the only one who’s shown me any kindness since you guys kidnapped me.”
Grabbing my wrist, he pulled me against him. “How do you want me to treat you, Lucia?” he asked in a husky voice that sent a shiver through me.
“The way you’d treat your woman.”
Surprise flitted through his eyes. “You want to be part of our world?”
“As long as you, Yakim, and Leon are around,” I said honestly. “I’d rather be in a world of violence and blood than be part of a pretentious society that bends to money and power. Give me another chance, Danny...Mikhail.”
“You still can’t forget Danny, huh?”
“I’ll never forget the boy I fell in love with.”
With a sudden move, he wrapped his arms around me and pressed me against his hard, muscular body. His warmth enveloped me, protecting me from the chill of the early evening.
I lay my head against his chest, seeking comfort. “Can we start over?” I whispered.
“You’ll have to prove yourself to Yakim,” said Mikhail. His hands rubbed soothing circles on my back. “He’s decided to protect you from Callum but I doubt he trusts you fully.”
I buried my face in his chest.
“You’ll have to prove to all of us that you can accept both Yakim and Leon. I was the youngest and they always protected me. They’re the ones who sacrificed their minds and sanity to keep me alive and thriving.”
Stepping away, I stared up at him. “I understand them better now,” I said. “But, you’ve got to understand the situation I’ve been in too. I didn’t stay with Callum because I enjoyed a cushy life. My dad is the only family that matters to me. The only reason I want to get away from you guys is to get him away from Callum.”
“Don’t even think of escaping,” he ground out at once. Grabbing my wrist, he forced me to walk down the sidewalk. “We’re buying some underwear and leaving,” he said in a grim tone. “You should know your size, so pick some and get done.”
Shit, I cursed internally. The mere mention of wanting to leave ruined his mood. He probably thought I was using Dad as an excuse to leave.
Making them believe I was on their side seemed like the biggest obstacle in my way. Would there be enough time to prove myself to them before they completely broke me?
26
Lucia
Mikhail went completely silent since the moment on the sidewalk where I confessed about my need to go back to Dad. He didn’t say a word as I bought several pairs of bras and panties. The store I chose was one of the luxury brands I was used to but that didn’t seem to faze him.
On our way back, I shamelessly clutched onto him with both my arms, pretending to still be scared of riding the motorcycle. I was helplessly falling in love with my captors despite them treating me so roughly.
Maybe I was just as messed up in the head as them.
Leon showed me a side to him that should’ve scared me. The blood and gore were disturbing. I could barely stomach the idea of having sex with three dying men in the same room, but at the end of it all, I still wanted Leon.
It was the same with Yakim. My disgust for him evaporated the moment I realized who he was and how he got those scars.
Despite hurting me and taking my body against my will, they always made sure I was safe. Not only that, they were risking their lives to keep Callum away from me. Was it so far-fetched for a woman to fall in love with the men who kept the monster at bay?
Despite telling me they owned me, they were giving me choices I never had.
The bike came to a sudden halt, throwing me up against Mikhail’s back. We were beside the diner I’d mentioned to him earlier.
“Get off,” he said in a heavy, commanding tone.
I awkwardly climbed down the bike and fidgeted with the clasp of my helmet. Mikhail came up beside me and slapped my hands away. With one ‘click’, he unlatched the strap and easily removed the helmet from my head.
Locking our helmets to the bike, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me alongside him.
I expected him to enter the diner. Instead, Mikhail dragged me toward the building’s back. Overflowing trash cans lined the wall here. Smoke from the exhaust pipes wafted over our heads. A few lamps illuminated the area but most of it was shrouded in shadows.
