Page 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Gabriel blinked open his eyes as sunlight seeped into the bedroom through the edges of the drawn blinds. He glanced next to him to see the other side of the bed was untouched and he was alone. Hadn’t Viktor returned to the bedroom at all?

Gabriel got out of bed and fixed the covers before going into the connecting bathroom. He wanted a bath, but there was only a shower in here. After emptying his bladder, he went to the bedroom door and opened it.

The hallway was quiet and Gabriel stepped out and walked down it. He still had a slight limp to his gait, but at least his ankle didn’t hurt as much as it had the previous days. As he walked, he noticed how silent it was, almost like there was no one in the house, though he knew he wouldn’t have been left alone here. A few steps later, he came to another door in the hall and opened it, revealing a separate bathroom that also had a tub.

Shutting the door behind him, Gabriel used the counter to support himself as he slipped off his underwear and left it on the tile floor. He then plugged the drain and started filling the tub with warm water before getting in. For a while, there was only peace and quiet with only the trickling of water to accompany him. Taking the bar of soap from the indent in the porcelain, Gabriel started lathering his wet body before rinsing it all away. He then dipped his head into the water, feeling it run down his hair and face before pushing his locks out of his eyes.

The doorknob turned and Gabriel’s head shot in the direction of the door, his eyes wide and his body tense as it opened. He sat and stared as Viktor stepped into the bathroom and then shut the door.

Pulling his knees up to his chest and wrapping his arms around himself, Gabriel felt his skin prickle and his stomach flutter as Viktor leaned his back against the door and folded his arms over his chest, watching him.

“Sleep good?” Viktor asked.

Gabriel blinked before he nodded. “You didn’t tie me to the bed or lock the door.”

“It wasn’t necessary,” Viktor said.

“Why?” Gabriel asked.

“You won’t be able to go anywhere without me knowing about it.” He paused, his eyes never straying from Gabriel. “I’m going to let you be free around the house. You can even go outside.”

Gabriel was relieved to know that he wasn’t going to be locked in a room or chained to a couch all day and night. But he also knew this meant he was going to be under surveillance at all times. If not, then Viktor wouldn’t have come to this decision in the first place.

“Okay,” Gabriel said.

They watched each other in silence. Gabriel felt exposed and vulnerable under his captor’s strong gaze, but he couldn’t look away.

“Viktor...” Gabriel swallowed. “Why did my dad kill your sister?”

Viktor said nothing, and his eyes were cold and hard. Gabriel worried that his question was a mistake and that Viktor would hurt him because of it. The more silence that passed, the more anxious Gabriel became. Maybe he shouldn’t have said anything about it at all.

“I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have?—”

“You really know nothing,” Viktor said, his voice low, but he didn’t sound angry.

Gabriel dropped his gaze to stare at the sudsy water and shook his head. “Even before my dad disowned me, I was never involved in his business. He never told me anything; I was always on the outside. I just... I don’t understand why he’d do that to her.”

“My sister was ten years younger than me. She lived on her own and worked in a bar owned by your father. They must have met that way, and I think they were together at some point. Something happened between them for Frank to kill her.”

Frowning, Gabriel slowly lifted his head to look at Viktor again, noticing the clenching fists by his sides. Body trembling, Gabriel took in a steady breath and made eye contact with Viktor. “I know this won’t make a difference... but I’m really sorry, Viktor. I wish he’d never done that to her. He’s a monster.”

Viktor’s eyes were intense as he watched him, and Gabriel glanced away. “I understand why you did it, why you took me. I wouldn’t blame you if you changed your mind about keeping me alive.”

Gabriel listened as Viktor walked to the tub, and through his peripherals saw as he sat on its side. When Viktor took hold of his chin, Gabriel flinched, but he otherwise stayed still as Viktor slowly turned his head to face him.

“Calm down. I’m not going to hurt you, okay?” Viktor said.

Gabriel stared into those blue eyes and whispered, “Okay.”

Viktor released his chin before tucking a stray wet lock of hair behind Gabriel’s ear, making him shiver.

“You’re terrified of me, boy,” Viktor murmured. “You’re shaking.”

Gabriel had been afraid of his father for a long time and didn’t want to feel the same way now, but he was scared, mostly because he didn’t know what would become of his life as Viktor’s sex toy. The idea that Viktor could do whatever he wanted with him whenever he felt like it made his stomach twist.

“Can you blame me?” Gabriel asked.

The corner of Viktor’s lip twitched upward, and Gabriel sighed, feeling the water around his body starting to become cold. “I want to get out of here,” he murmured before pulling the plug. The water began swirling down the drain and he stood, Viktor doing the same.

Gabriel carefully stepped out of the tub, glancing at Viktor as he held him by the forearm and helped. He then grabbed a fluffy towel from the rack and wrapped it around his waist. Viktor opened the door, and placing his hand against the small of Gabriel’s back, guided him through the hall and into the master bedroom.

On the bed were his blue jeans and beside them lay a white plastic bag full of items. Gabriel stopped and gazed down at the bag before glancing at Viktor, who nodded as though he was giving him permission to go through it.

Gabriel tipped the bag upside down onto the mattress, and out fell a packet of underwear marked in size small, and two other packets, one with socks and the other with cotton T-shirts in them.

“They’re yours,” Viktor said.

“Thank you,” Gabriel said as he glanced at him. Looking away, he pulled the towel from his body, feeling Viktor’s eyes on him, and put on a pair of black briefs and a light gray T-shirt. After pulling on his jeans and buttoning them up, he sat on the bed and put on a pair of white socks. It felt good to be properly clothed again.

When he looked at Viktor again, he saw that he was on his phone. He lowered the device and then turned his attention to Gabriel. “Go and have breakfast. I’ll come for you later.” He left the bedroom, and for a moment Gabriel stayed where he was.

Getting up, Gabriel walked out of the bedroom and into the hallway. There was not a sound, but a smell. Going further, he reached the opening of the hall that led into the living room, the aroma of toast welcoming him.

Gabriel made his way through it and to the kitchen, where he stood by the bench. Sasha had his back to him, his hair tied back as he stood over the stove, turning something in a pan.

“Take a seat,” Sasha said.

Gabriel went to the dining table and sat down. After a few moments, Sasha moved away from the stove and walked to the table with two plates in his hands, setting one down in front of him and the other across the table.

“Thanks,” Gabriel said, looking up from his toasted bread and scrambled eggs to Sasha, who took the seat across from him. Picking up his fork, Gabriel scooped up some eggs and ate them with the bread, chewing slowly. He couldn’t deny how well prepared and tasty all the meals over the past few days had been. Even the eggs were fluffy and creamy.

“You’re a great cook,” Gabriel said as he looked at him. “Are you a chef?”

The corner of Sasha’s lip twitched upwards. “Not yet.”

“Why not?” Gabriel asked.

“I have more important tasks right now.”

Gabriel knew that meant working for Viktor. “Do you live here too?”

“No, I’m only staying while you’re here.”

“You’re acting as Viktor’s eyes and ears while he’s away?”

“Yes,” Sasha said.

Gabriel nodded, and they ate in silence for a while. Oddly, he felt a lot more comfortable around Sasha than with Viktor, and he guessed it was because Sasha wasn’t the one who was in charge of his kidnapping. And also because, unlike Viktor, he was easier to talk with.

Once he’d finished his breakfast, he stood and took the empty plate to the kitchen. Sasha walked in after him and said, “Leave them. I’ll handle it.”

“Okay,” Gabriel said and set it down on the bench before he walked out of the kitchen. For a moment he stopped and stood in the living room, not sure what to do now.

Gabriel started walking, deciding to explore the building. Viktor’s home was a large one-story house with a traditional layout and design. He counted a total of four bedrooms and three bathrooms, a large living room, kitchen and dining area he’d already been in, and a large garage. As he walked down the hall, he knew that if he went further, he’d be heading in the direction of the basement, but Gabriel wasn’t keen on going down there. After spending days in the basement, he didn’t want to step foot anywhere near there again, especially not so soon.

When he turned around and walked toward the foyer, he saw a closed door by the entrance of the building. He assumed it was either a study or an office. Gabriel went to it and heard murmurs from inside that sounded like Viktor’s voice, then Sasha’s, but he couldn’t hear exactly what they were saying.

What were they talking about? Although he was curious, Gabriel knew better than to go where he wasn’t invited. He’d learned that lesson the hard way when he was a little kid and he’d gotten in trouble for going into his father’s office.

Now, with nothing to do but watch TV or go outside, Gabriel chose the latter. He opened the front door and stepped out into the air cool and slight breeze. There were men dressed in black pants and dress shirts patrolling the grounds of the property, but that wasn’t something new to Gabriel. Growing up, his father had also had men who guarded his home. But since Gabriel had been thrown out two years ago, he stayed on his own in his small apartment, and so he was no longer used to the constant surveillance.

As he shut the door behind him and walked further toward the stairs of the porch, he noticed that the guards were looking at him, watching his every move. They walked around almost leisurely, but with stony expressions and hard eyes. Were they waiting for him to run?

In an instant, the idea consumed him. What if he did attempt it? Would he be successful? Gabriel stood frozen for a minute as he played it out in his mind. But it wasn’t worth it. There was no way he’d be able to escape, not when everybody was anticipating it.

Gabriel sighed and sat on the porch steps, resting his elbows on his denim-clad knees with his fists on either side of his face. He didn’t know how long he stayed outside, watching the guards as they watched him in return. Time seemed to pass quickly, and he only went inside for lunch when Sasha came to get him, but even then he hardly wanted to eat. After forcing himself to take a few mouthfuls, Gabriel found himself outside again. After so much time in the basement and without enough fresh air, he almost didn’t want to go back inside the house at all.

He watched as the colors in the sky shifted from a pinkish orange to a purplish blue as it drew closer to early evening. As the night lamps turned on, Gabriel couldn’t help but gaze toward the gates in the distance. He wished he could go home to his small apartment and his own bed, but that all seemed so far away and completely out of reach.

A dark figure nearby caught his attention, and Gabriel turned his head to take a better look. A man stood close by, watching him with a furrowed brow.

Gabriel glanced away, but now that he’d seen the guard, he couldn’t ignore the feeling that he was still being watched by him. He guessed it was normal for Viktor’s men to look at him with hard expressions, almost like they hated him. He shouldn’t be surprised, though. He was, after all, a prisoner, and it’s not like he was expecting them to be kind to him either. But as long as they didn’t touch him or hurt him, he was sure he was going to be alright. At least, that’s what he hoped.