attention once again as I look down and watch the beams dance across Nikolai’s tattooed physique.
I can feel him swallow hard then expel a breath when he replies, “Okay.”
We climb back in bed, and Nikolai rolls away from me. But I can’t put my erratic thoughts to bed without the comfort of knowing he’s beside me, so I slide across the king-sized mattress until my chest is flush with his back. I settle my head on the pillow next to his and inhale the comfort of his scent. For the first time in my adult life, I’m seeking out another man’s touch to calm me.
C HAPTER F OURTEEN
Nikolai
August 19, 2015 10:13 a.m.
“Y ou need to condense your belongings,” I tell Josslyn as I finish getting myself dressed. “You will be flying to Grozny, and you don’t want to check a bag.”
She starts pulling all the items out of her suitcase and garment bag while I scroll the booking website and punch in her card number, purchasing her ticket.
“The airline will allow one carry-on and one personal item. Your briefcase will be your personal item, but you need to decide what stays and what goes between your other bags.”
She’s been very cooperative since our conversation last night, finally understanding the importance of remaining in character and following directions to a T.
As she’s repacking, I notice her hands trembling slightly. She is very nervous about leaving after I shared with her about her near abduction. However, flying there shouldn’t be too dangerous. Often times, the scouts don’t go near the commercial airlines unless they are really desperate. There are too many ways to get caught. Too many cameras and guards are lingering about.
Josslyn is rehanging shirts, dresses, and clothes, storing them inside her garment bag. She dwindles her shoes down to two pairs: the sneakers and her black dress heels. The dress she wore for Vlad and the dress she wore when we danced in Vegas are left in the closet.
After spending all this time with her, I know she needs something to get her in the right mindset. I want her aware of her surroundings and how she comes off to others, but I don’t want her frightened.
“Josslyn.” I grab her arm as she tucks toiletries inside the zipper pocket of her garment bag, but she refuses to give me any attention. “Look at me,” I command, and she finally connects her eyes with mine.
My eyes are hard, and my jaw set in a firm, tense line. I need her to snap out of her self-pity and transform back into the spirited woman I first encountered. She is looking at me, but not really concentrating on me. The fiery side of Josslyn is easier to deal with than the zombie in front of me.
Needing her to snap out of it, I lift my palm and crack it across her face. The action makes her narrow her eyes and her frame tenses.
“What the fuck?” she shouts then pushes me back with a hard thrust.
My eyes widen in delight, and I can’t help the corner of my mouth sneaking up.
“Why the hell did you slap me?”
“Because, my dear, you’re in a trance, and I can’t deal with you when you’re like that,” I respond.
“I was just doing what you told me to do. Excuse me if I’m not overly excited to walk through a gauntlet of human traffickers with the hope that my cute American ass doesn’t get snagged.” Her breaths are deepening and labored. The fire is definitely back.
“This … This right here is the woman you need to be, Josslyn. I need you aware of your surroundings while being a complete and total bitch to the outside world. Do you understand?” My voice is gruff, and I keep my tone short, wanting her to think I’m pissed. “If you act like a wounded little girl or a fucking robot, you will get taken, and you will die. Do you understand me? Give people a reason not to fuck with you. If you’re going to remain active in this plan, then I need the woman I met two weeks ago. The cop with the fight. Not some weak, worthless woman. Do you get it? Make
I can feel him swallow hard then expel a breath when he replies, “Okay.”
We climb back in bed, and Nikolai rolls away from me. But I can’t put my erratic thoughts to bed without the comfort of knowing he’s beside me, so I slide across the king-sized mattress until my chest is flush with his back. I settle my head on the pillow next to his and inhale the comfort of his scent. For the first time in my adult life, I’m seeking out another man’s touch to calm me.
C HAPTER F OURTEEN
Nikolai
August 19, 2015 10:13 a.m.
“Y ou need to condense your belongings,” I tell Josslyn as I finish getting myself dressed. “You will be flying to Grozny, and you don’t want to check a bag.”
She starts pulling all the items out of her suitcase and garment bag while I scroll the booking website and punch in her card number, purchasing her ticket.
“The airline will allow one carry-on and one personal item. Your briefcase will be your personal item, but you need to decide what stays and what goes between your other bags.”
She’s been very cooperative since our conversation last night, finally understanding the importance of remaining in character and following directions to a T.
As she’s repacking, I notice her hands trembling slightly. She is very nervous about leaving after I shared with her about her near abduction. However, flying there shouldn’t be too dangerous. Often times, the scouts don’t go near the commercial airlines unless they are really desperate. There are too many ways to get caught. Too many cameras and guards are lingering about.
Josslyn is rehanging shirts, dresses, and clothes, storing them inside her garment bag. She dwindles her shoes down to two pairs: the sneakers and her black dress heels. The dress she wore for Vlad and the dress she wore when we danced in Vegas are left in the closet.
After spending all this time with her, I know she needs something to get her in the right mindset. I want her aware of her surroundings and how she comes off to others, but I don’t want her frightened.
“Josslyn.” I grab her arm as she tucks toiletries inside the zipper pocket of her garment bag, but she refuses to give me any attention. “Look at me,” I command, and she finally connects her eyes with mine.
My eyes are hard, and my jaw set in a firm, tense line. I need her to snap out of her self-pity and transform back into the spirited woman I first encountered. She is looking at me, but not really concentrating on me. The fiery side of Josslyn is easier to deal with than the zombie in front of me.
Needing her to snap out of it, I lift my palm and crack it across her face. The action makes her narrow her eyes and her frame tenses.
“What the fuck?” she shouts then pushes me back with a hard thrust.
My eyes widen in delight, and I can’t help the corner of my mouth sneaking up.
“Why the hell did you slap me?”
“Because, my dear, you’re in a trance, and I can’t deal with you when you’re like that,” I respond.
“I was just doing what you told me to do. Excuse me if I’m not overly excited to walk through a gauntlet of human traffickers with the hope that my cute American ass doesn’t get snagged.” Her breaths are deepening and labored. The fire is definitely back.
“This … This right here is the woman you need to be, Josslyn. I need you aware of your surroundings while being a complete and total bitch to the outside world. Do you understand?” My voice is gruff, and I keep my tone short, wanting her to think I’m pissed. “If you act like a wounded little girl or a fucking robot, you will get taken, and you will die. Do you understand me? Give people a reason not to fuck with you. If you’re going to remain active in this plan, then I need the woman I met two weeks ago. The cop with the fight. Not some weak, worthless woman. Do you get it? Make
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