Page 76 of Arseni

Am I in danger?

Go where?

“What’s going on?Where’s Arseni?”

I yank my legs back when his hand rests too close to it on the bed.Sighing, he places his palms in his lap.

“I sent Arseni on a job… I needed to get you by yourself.I…” He runs a hand through his hair and tugs at the ends.He looks troubled by something and not at all threatening, but his words make my stomach cramp.

He sent Arseni away.

He wanted me alone.

“I need to apologize to you, Margot.I’ve needed to apologize to you for some time, but I haven’t had the courage to do so.Arseni is my closest confidant.I didn’t want to betray him.”

I shake my head.“What are you talking about?”

He rubs the back of his neck as he lets out a long breath.He looks genuinely bothered by something, and it’s scaring me.“When we met, I acted like a dick.Arseni thought if I was cruel to you, it would push you closer to him.I should’ve…” He frowns as his eyes close.“I should’ve never let him bring you here.I thought for sure he’d change his mind and let you go.He isn’t a bad kid, but?—”

“What?”My voice comes out harsh.My brows pinch.

What the fuck is he talking about?

Nikita pulls back.For a moment, we just stare at each other.

“What has he told you?”Nikita asks.

What has Arseni told me?

Why?What… What is going on?

I look at the door like Arseni will be there to unmuddy this man’s words.To save me from this lunatic.But of course, he’s gone.

No sunlight peeks through the window.I’m not surprised that he left without saying goodbye, but I wish I was.I wish he understood what it was like to wake up to an empty bed after the night we shared.

The last words he spoke before I fell asleep drift into my mind, pulling my eyes shut.He loves me.If he left without saying goodbye, it’s because he thought he’d be back before I woke up.

He didn’t know this psycho would creep into his room.He didn’t know he’d shake me awake spouting nonsense.

I should’ve never let him bring you here.

What the fuck does that even mean?

“He told me everything,” I say, my voice strong as I open my eyes and turn back to Nikita.

Nikita’s frown deepens.He doesn’t say anything, but the look on his face shows his pity.

For me.He feels pity forme.

“He told me he brought me here as punishment for not accomplishing what he wanted with my coworker.He said I was your whore and it was his job to break me in.”

“Mywhore?”Nikita raises a brow.“He said that?”

I don’t respond.My stomach twists tight, hunching me slightly.

I wish he’d go away.If I had enough air in my lungs, I might scream at him to leave.

I don’t want to hear whatever he has to say.