Page 56 of Sacred Blood

Wow, talk about cold motherfuckers! I was too busy hurling to notice the vehicle had stopped until two hands seized me and dragged me out of the car. I could barely keep my feet as they marched me away.

“Move it!” one of the guards barked at me.

Move it? Move what? My feet weren’t even touching the ground most of the time, but like a good sport, I wiggled my legs even faster as they carried me between them. Should have worn my running shoes. I was seized by a spasm of crazy laughter.

We entered a dimly lit warehouse partially filled with crates. I was dumped on a chair in the center of the large space. One of them tied my hands behind my back and almost in unison, the four men stepped back, forming a half-circle around me. It finally dawned on me that these men were either military or ex-military, but from where, I had no idea. Only one man had spoken and he’d sounded American.

A door opened and banged shut above me. Shifting my glance, I saw feet housed in very expensive shoes and next, tailored pants over long, muscular legs. When he came into full view, I gasped outright as the similarities were uncanny. Although I’d never met him before, I knew this was Sonja’s father, Ivan Knyazev. His eyes were as cold as any shark’s, and there was the suggestion of a toothy glint behind his smile. I understood at once this guy was a total predator and I’d fallen into his net.

He lifted his chin at one of the men, who scurried to grab him a chair and place it opposite mine. He was so tall that even when he sat down opposite me, I had to lean back to see his face. Now I knew where my friend got her height from. Wait, not friend. She was my enemy now, as she’d set this up with her monster father.

“Hello, Allegra. It is nice to finally meet the woman who will become my wife.”

His voice was hoarse and raspy as a hanged man’s. As I wondered about it, he pulled a cigarette from his pocket and one of his men stepped forward to light it.

It was hard not to roll my eyes at his antics. “Yadda, yadda, yadda. I’m a big scary villain,” I chanted. “I know already! Let’s get on with it.”

“Smoke?” he asked, completely ignoring my outburst.

“No. I don’t smoke, and I don’t date men who smoke. Sorry, I can’t be your wife.”

I don’t know what I hoped to achieve by acting like a brat, but it seemed to be my modus operandi in extreme circumstances. If Tano were here, he’d turn my attitude around with his growly commands and expert touch. Although he wasn’t with me, I took courage from his possessiveness of me. My heart said he would find me. Maybe dead or possibly alive, but either way, he would find me and wreak vengeance on those who took me.

Ivan leaned back in the chair, which looked tiny under his massive frame, his legs sprawled out in front of him. His frost-colored eyes regarded me balefully. “You have a smart mouth. I’ll have fun punishing you with my cock when you speak out of turn, shoving it down your throat and watching you gag while gasping for breath.”

It was ridiculous to get upset at this point. But for reasons I could only blame on temporary insanity, I reacted to his words. “Try it, motherfucker, and I’ll bite it clean off.”

I expected him to rain down retribution on me, but he laughed. Lightly at first, but it grew into great guffawing and his soldiers joined in. When Ivan’s laughter cut out, so did his men’s, right on cue. It was creepy and showed his dominion over their robotic actions.

“Take her and put her in the cage,” he ordered. “Maybe a time out will teach my lovely bride better manners.”

His men untied me and hauled me roughly to my feet while Ivan watched dispassionately. But as I fought in their hold, one of them twisted my arm and I cried out. Ivan was on his feet in an instant, gripping the offender by the neck.

“You dare hurt what is mine?” He punched the guy in the face several times before dropping him to the floor. “Proceed and remember, no one hurts her. That will be my privilege and mine alone.”

Although I held on to my haughty expression, I couldn’t help but shudder at his words. The man was a complete sadist. I could almost feel sorry for Red, growing up with this monster. Yes, she had betrayed me, but perhaps she’d had no choice.

The cage was sized for a large dog. I was a small woman that fit inside well enough. Despite the fear of being locked up, the confinement also served as a kind of wall between me and the insanity of my situation. Huddling in a corner, I finally gave in to despair. Hiding my face in my folded arms, I cried as silently as I could.

I was really in a bind with no hope in sight, except the knowledge that somehow, Tano and his brothers would find me. If they found my body, they would avenge me. I tried to take comfort from that, even as I indulged in a fantasy in which they found me and set me free. Gaetano would be furious, justifiably, but before he could punish me, I would insist on that marriage. Not because I needed protection.

Not because I was trapped. And not because I suddenly believed I couldn't survive on my own.

A week ago, marrying Gaetano had felt like surrendering my independence. Now, sitting in a cage waiting to discover whether I would live or die, I finally understood what he'd been trying to tell me all along.

He wasn't asking me to give up my freedom.

He was offering me a place beside him.

A partner.

A home.

A future.

The realization hit me with startling clarity.

I didn't miss the mansion.