Page 126 of Stolen Temptation

Even though I’m falling to pieces all over the floor, I’m somehow still standing upright.

His bride?

Leo didn’t sell me as a painter…

He sold my hand in marriage?

How? Why? Who would want that?

“I understand why you kept the girl a secret.” Maksim Petrov’s voice is an accented, deep, gravelly purr. He licks me up and down with his eyes. “She is indeed stunning.”

I can’t stop the shudder that washes over me.

“Our father was overprotective.” The wordourcomes out of Leo’s mouth easily, as though he’s always considered me his sister and not an insect on the bottom of his designer shoes.

As though we aren’t related by rape.

As though our relationship has been anything other than hostile for the duration of my life.

Just when I thought I was too numb to be shocked.

I want to spit in Leo’s face. The thought of being with anyone besides Rory sickens me, but Rory might be…

No. I refuse to complete that sentence or linger on the vision of his unmoving, bloodstained body. Too much blood.

“She is too thin, but that can be fixed.” The woman eyes me with a similar intensity as Maksim. “She will do for my son, I suppose.”

“I look forward to joining our two families.” Leo keeps his eyes trained on me as he speaks.

“As do I.” Maksim drifts in my direction, like I’m a steak he can’t wait to tear into with his teeth.

Every cell in my body aches to run at his approach.

This man is clearly a predator in every sense of the word.

But what would running accomplish?

There’s nowhere I can go that Leo won’t find me.

I know I need to fight. To come up with another escape plan. If Rory were here, he’d be yelling at me to get my shit together and not give up.

But that’s the problem. Rory isn’t here. He may never be here again.

My shoulders twitch from the strain of holding in my sobs.

I can only stand here, a horrified, quivering statue, as Maksim prowls closer.

The Russian invades my personal space until I’m completely in his shadow, totally hidden by the mass of his body. Then he lifts one coarse hand to my face and rubs his giant, nubby thumb over my trembling lips.

“Come, darling.” His hot breath touches my skin like the forked tongue of a venomous snake. “We’ll dine together.”

I’m barely breathing.

The last thing on my mind is food.

We all take our seats at this enormous dining table covered with culinary delights, though I doubt I’ll be able to eat a single bite.

No one waits for me to pick up a fork before they dig in.