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I steal a glance across the car towards him. He’s looking forward so I take my time letting my eyes trace over his profile. His angular jaw and rugged face. Those gorgeous piercing grey eyes that can see straight into me. My heart flips with excitement.

I have never felt this attracted to a man before.

I’ve also never, in my life , even thought of doing something this risky.

I can’t believe I agreed to go back to his place with him. I assume that’s where we’re going. Somewhere quiet where we can talk—and whatever else he wants to do to me because I’ll let him. I want him to do crazy things to me. Which is wild because I’ve never even been with a man and now I’m about to be with him on the first night I meet him. It’s liberating making my own choices just for me. Not following someone else’s rules for my life.

It’s stupid to believe in fairytales like love at first sight but there is something about him that is magical and mysterious enough for me to do that.

I watch the city lights flash past the window as we drive away from the clubs and the noise and all the people dressed up so beautifully for their night out.

My brother has created so many rules in my life. Dictating what I can and can’t do—where I can and can’t go. It’s smothering—and tonight is the first night I’ve gone against everything he’s ever told me.

And I’m loving it.

I feel wild and free and reckless and fun.

Rigor looks over at me and I grin.

He smiles too and my heart goes weak at the sight.

Holy wow he is gorgeous.

Illegally good looking. It should be a crime.

Tonight, I am making choices for me. This is about what I want to experience. And quite honestly I’m excited to see where this thing between Rigor and me is going. It seems to be so much deeper than just a fling. I could be wrong—and if I am that’s ok too. A fling with the hottest guy on the planet doesn’t sound too bad.

But somewhere inside me my intuition is saying it’s so much more.

He could be my soulmate.

If I went through the rest of my life, obeying my brother's rules I would never have the chance to meet the person I’m meant to spend the rest of my life with. For all I know it could be Rigor.

If I hadn’t come out tonight, I’d be sitting home alone reading my book—just like every other night. And just how my brother wants it.

No life.

No adventure.

No risk.

No fun.

I giggle to myself, feeling like a rule breaker.

“What’s so funny?” Rigor asks, glancing at me with his brows raised.

“I’m just—happy.” I shrug.

It’s true.

I am happy.

He doesn’t say anything but the spark in his eyes makes me believe he likes the sound of me being happy.

We drive for about fifteen minutes more before he pulls over outside a building that looks closed up and dark. I don’t like it at all. It sets warning bells ringing in my head.

This isn’t his apartment. This isn’t anything. It’s dingy and dirty and gross and way too quiet.

“Where are we?” I ask, suddenly nervous.

“It’s ok, we won’t be here long.”

I shift in my seat. Fidgeting with my hands. My body growing more tense with each passing second.

“But what is this place, Rigor?” I stammer, wondering if I’ve made a mistake after all.

He walks around the car and pulls my door open.

“I can just wait in the car—” I’m suddenly terrified.

He grabs my arm and tugs me harshly out of the passenger side. I squeal in fright and try to pull my arm away, but he has a grip of steel.

“Rigor!” I shout, flooded with fear and fighting tears. “Please let me go.”

“I can’t do that, Alyona,” his voice is cold and calculated. Nothing like the seductive, richness I heard in the club. His face is steel too. I can’t read his expression. It’s like the man I was with a second ago has vanished.

“Rigor—” I stammer, not knowing what to say. Not understanding what is happening. “What do you want from me?” I sniff.

Rigor ignores my question and drags me towards the dirty stone steps leading up to a locked door. My clutch is still strung over my shoulder and I think to myself— your phone is in there . Call for help as soon as you get a chance. It’s going to be ok.

Pulling a key from his pocket he unlocks the door and kicks it open, then drags me into the building.

My heart is beating so fast it feels like a flock of birds trying to escape the cage of my ribs, bashing against the bones in panic.

I want to throw up.

I want to scream.

But I’m frozen with fear.

I can’t let that fear overwhelm me. I need to pay attention. I have to survive whatever is happening right now.

I wrap my fingers around my clutch. It’ll be ok. It’s going to be ok.

As he pushes me into the elevator, I manage to stutter a question. “What is this place?”

“It’s an old office block. We have a late-night meeting,” he answers without looking at me.

“A meeting?” I wish I knew what the hell was going on.

The elevator doors beep as they slide open and we step into a hallway with dark green carpets and peeling brown wall paper. It smells musty in here, like no one has opened a window for months.

He shoves me when I stumble and pause. “Keep moving,” he snaps.

The severity of the situation I’m in starts registering in my mind.

I don’t know where I am, and no one knows I left the club with him. How stupid was I?

I should have sent Siana my live location or at least let her know this guy’s name. She doesn’t even know I was dancing with him.

He takes a sharp left turn and pulls me to follow, around another corner and then into a room. Someone’s office.

A filthy, stuffy, smelly office.

I take in a sharp breath of fright when I see a man waiting for us. He’s wearing a scruffy old grey suit that looks like it needs a wash, standing behind a desk covered in a mess of paperwork.

This whole place feels unclean and dodgy.

Horrible thoughts flood my mind. I’ve heard stories of girls being taken and the things that happen to them. Why was I so stupid? Why didn’t I just stay at home like I told Avraam I was going to do?

Again, I’m fighting tears that start to blur my vision. I blink them away and look forward.

Rigor pushes me all the way into the room and closes and locks the door behind us.

I can barely breathe. Is this some weird sex thing?

Like a sex party? Is he selling my organs on the black market? Are they going to cut me up and auction my body parts off piece by piece?

What is going on?

My hands are shaking horribly. My entire body is weak, and the world is starting to spin around me. Breathing becomes more difficult.

Rigor goes to talk to the man who hasn’t even looked in my direction yet. He’s just bent over his desk and shuffling through papers.

He pushes a folder towards Rigor and points down to the page lying open in it.

They are leaning over it as though it was important. Rigor picks up a pen while the guy is discussing something with him.

This is my chance.

This is it.

I have to move quickly.

I pop my clutch open and grab my phone, intending to dial my brother.

Before I can press his name Rigor is next to me and snatching the phone out of my hands.

“Not so fast, sweetheart. I’ll take that,” he says calmly.

“My brother—my friends—“ I mutter numb and helpless.

“Oh don’t worry, I’ll be sure to stay in touch with your friends on your behalf. They’ll be so happy for you when they find out you met an amazing man and set off on a two month trip around the world. I’ll even send them pictures along the way—it’s way easier to fake than you might think.”

They won’t even be looking for me, I realize in horror. They will be happy for me. Siana knows how much I want to travel.

All hope leaves my body, running from my blood in a cold, quiet flood.

My heart sinks. His cold eyes are locked onto me as he slides my phone into his back pocket and out of my sight. “I don’t think you’ll be needing that anymore,” he says without a smile, without a grimace—just nothing . No expression at all.

I stare at him with my mouth hanging open.

Where is that guy I met in the club? And who is this new person?

What does he plan to do with me?

I’m paralyzed with fear for whatever is about to happen to me.

I’m going to die, and my brother will find out that I lied to him about where I was tonight, and he will be so angry with me.

“She can come sign here,” the other man in the room says the sudden sound of his voice makes me jump.

Rigor grabs me around the back of my neck and pushes me towards the old desk.

“Here.” The guy points to a blank line on a document.

“What is this?” I stammer.

“Sign, Alyona,” Rigor snarls.

“I’m not signing that. I don’t even know what it is.”

Rigor spins me to face him and grabs my throat. He lifts me off my feet, squeezing so tightly I can’t take in a breath of air. My eyes are watering, and my heart is beating so fast it might explode.

“Sign it—or I’ll be forced to hurt you—and I don’t really want to hurt you,” he growls against my lips.

The worst part of it all is that when his lips brush against mine, my body still responds with desire—despite everything else going on. Despite the fact that he is clearly a fucking asshole —my stupid body is still turned on.

He drops me to my feet and with shaking hands I pick up the pen and sign. The other guy nods. “It’s done?” Rigor asks.

The stranger picks up the paper that both Rigor and I signed a moment ago and my stomach clenches tightly. What is done?

Folding it, he slides it into a brown envelope.

“It’s done. Congratulations.” The other man nods, handing the envelope to Rigor.

I chew the inside of my cheek, tasting blood because I’m biting down too much.

I blink away the tears and whisper, “What is that?” thinking it must be some kind of sale agreement. Or maybe I just signed my organs away.

“It’s our wedding contract,” Rigor says casually, as though it is the most obvious thing in the entire world.

“Our what?” I cry out in shock.

Rigor steps close to me and grabs my jaw in his broad hand.

“You are my wife now, Alyona. Congratulations on our marriage,” he chuckles.

“I—I—” A loud sob falls from my lips and suddenly I’m bawling my eyes out. I don’t understand any of this. Why would he want to marry me by force? Why bring me here? He’s only just met me—what does he stand to gain from this? Maybe he needs to sneak me out of the country, and this is the only way to do it—so that he can sell me somewhere far away.

I’m so scared all I can do is cry.

Rigor steps away from me, letting go of my jaw and sneering. He looks annoyed by my outburst.

I should stop crying, I shouldn’t make him angry. I don’t know what he’ll do to me. But I can’t control my emotions.

I was so stupid not to listen to my brother.

Rigor sighs heavily, almost a growl. I bite down hard to try to stop the sounds escaping my lips.

Get control of yourself, Aly. It’s time to think about survival. Pay attention. Find a way out.

Rigor wraps his hand around my upper arm and pulls me back towards the office door.

“Thanks for coming in so late tonight.” He nods towards the other man.

“No problem,” he mutters in response, sitting down behind his desk to light a cigarette.

I don’t fight Rigor. I’m saving my energy now.

When I see a chance, I’ll take it.

He unlocks and pushes the door open, then we are back on the ugly green carpet, walking towards the elevators.

He’s deadly silent and keeping his eyes straight forward.

I can’t get a read on him. But that’s no surprise. One minute he was the man of my dreams and the next I’m thinking he’s planning on trafficking my organs. He pushes me into the elevator. I can still smell his cologne. Closing my eyes I try to ignore it.

I feel so blindsided. People say I’m too soft—that I’m na?ve. I guess this proves them right.

The elevator doors chime open on the bottom floor and we walk into the foyer, then out onto the street.

He stands next to the car and pulls the passenger door open.

“Don’t try anything, Alyona,” he warns me with threat in his voice. I look up towards his face and lock eyes with him. His eyes are so pale they make me shudder with a cold spike down my spine.

I glare at him with as much confidence as I can muster.

He shakes my arm. “Answer me,” he growls.

“Fine.”

“Fine what?”

“I won’t try anything,” I lie.

He shoves me into the car and slams the door closed.

While he is walking around to the driver’s side I try to tug the handle, but he has the security lock on.

Dammit.

I hope he didn’t hear that.

Rigor climbs in and glares at me.

I sit frozen in place, not daring to move a muscle. My heart is so loud in my head I can’t hear or focus on anything else. I close my eyes to try to block him out. His intense gaze that sends shivers through me.

The car starts.

I focus out the window, trying to memorize everything that passes in case someone asks when they rescue me—

Swallowing hard, I try to subdue the panic.

Someone will rescue me?

Won’t they?