Page 1

Chapter One

ERIN

My head pounds.Every time I try to move it, bright, stomach-churning pain slices through me. It’s like the bones of my skull are scraping against each other and the world moves sickeningly.

Blackness swamps me and I drift away.

The world rears into an ugly life. One word is resounding in my head.

Sasha.

It hurts. My head fucking hurts and I moan.

Sasha.

This time, that thought snaps me awake completely. Not just Sasha I have to worry about, but the life growing inside me.

My heart gallops at an ungodly speed and I open my eyes, only to hiss as pain explodes again, this time at the bright light that’s blinding.

Am I being interrogated? I suck in a deep breath. I need to calm all the way down. There’s Sasha and the baby I know I want.

Demyan.

There’s also Demyan.

The anger and pain that’s been rocking me over him dissipates like it never existed. These aren’t his actions. What had Ilya said? His words jumbled and—oh God. He was shot—and… and he wanted me to run from the men who took me.

This isn’t Demyan.

And that’s a comfort it really is.

Because Demyan’s going to come after me.

I know it.

Feeling like I’ve stolen some false courage, I take it anyway, and cling to it, then I open my eyes.

The lights are still bright, but I squint, letting myself get used to it. Finally, I can see enough.

This is a cell.

A real one.

No windows.

Just a door that’s going to be locked because no one’s going through this effort to leave me to walk away.

No furniture really, just… I move… the bed I’m on. Thin, hard, squeaking.

The light above me is the only light in here and it’s still bright, like I’m under a spotlight.

I try to stand because I know if I don’t try that door and by some miracle it’s open, I’ll never forgive myself.

Swinging my legs over to the floor, I go to stand, but the clink of metal and the pull of chains hold me there. I turn as I sit and note my hands aren’t just shackled, but the chain’s locked to the wall beside the thin bed.

I scream. As loud as I can. It’s stupid. If someone’s gone to this effort, then no one’s going to hear that scream except maybe whoever’s got me imprisoned.

Fine by me.