Page 114 of Joey

“Intact again?”

“There is an operation.” He shrugs. “To replace the hymen. Tomorrow we leave for Russia, and you will have it as soon as we arrive.”

“L-leave for Russia?” I try to appear calm, but my heart beats so hard, I’m sure he can hear it.

“Hmm. It is too dangerous to stay here.”

“Where is here?” I ask.

“You don’t have to worry about where you are, only where you are going. Just know that nobody will hear you scream.”

“Why would I scream?” I say with a shrug. “I’m just trading one prison for another, right? My brothers never let me go anywhere. They sent me to Italy, for god’s sake. They’ll be happy to see the back of me and the feeling is mutual.”

I lie back on the bed, my mind racing with escape scenarios.

“And Maximo?”

“He was just a little fun. Nothing serious. Someone to pass the time because I was bored.” The words burn me to say them, and they seem to anger Viktor rather than appease him.

He grabs hold of my face, squeezing my cheeks roughly. “I do not want to marry a slut. Are you a slut?”

“N-no! Maximo was the only one. It was only a couple of times, I swear. I’m not a slut.”

He snorts and kicks Monique’s lifeless body. “She was a slut. Could not wait to suck my cock and offer all of her dirty used holes to me.”

I tremble at the venom in his voice. There goes my idea of offering to suck his cock and biting it off.

“She thought that helping me get you, the thing that was rightfully mine anyway…” He laughs maniacally as he paces the floor.

Thing?I need to get out of this fucking room and away from him.

“Then I would forget that she was a filthy little cock whore and marry her instead. When it is you, Guiseppina.Youare the only one I ever wanted.”

I turn sideways on the bed, my feet hanging off the edge as I prop myself up on my elbows. “I had no idea I belonged to you, Viktor. If I had…” I let my words trail off and flutter my eyelashes.

Shaking his head, he snorts like he doesn’t believe me.

“I’ve never really fit in. I think it might be kind of nice to belong to someone.” I keep my tone soft and sweet and pray that he buys it. “Will we live in Russia?”

“Yes.”

“My sister-in-law tells me there are many beautiful places to see in Russia,” I say with a sigh. “Will you take me to Moscow?”

He edges closer but not quite close enough. “Maybe. If you are good.”

“I’ll be good.” I give him the most genuine-looking smile I can muster. “I’ve spent my life learning how to be a good wife to a strong man.” I’m lying through my teeth now, and I have no idea if he’s buying any of it. But then he takes another step toward me.

I smile up at him, pulling my knees up to my stomach as he draws nearer, as though I’m making room for him to get closer to me. He runs a hand over my bare leg, and I swallow back the urge to vomit. Leaning down, he kisses me. He tastes of cigarettes and vodka, and I want to retch into his mouth. When he pushes his tongue inside, it feels so disgustingly big and slimy that tears prick at my eyes. But I must focus.

Toni said go for the nuts, right?

With every ounce of strength in my body, I aim both of my heels at his groin. He wasn’t expecting it. Underestimating me as most men do. He doesn’t just double over, he drops to his knees with a sickening bellow.

I jump off the bed and bunny hop across the room faster than I’ve ever moved in my life. If I can just find a weapon, I’ll stand a chance. I open the door and jump out into the hallway, completely shocked to find that I’m in a regular-looking apartment. I grab the door handle, and sweet mother of Jesus, there’s a keypad lock on it. Of course there is. He was keeping me prisoner in there.

He curses loudly in Russian and clambers around the room. Holy shit. Blood rushes in my ears. My fingers tremble as I scramble to close the door behind me. I hear his fingernails scratch against it a fraction of a second after I yank it closed.

I suck in deep, bone-shaking breaths. I’m out. Now I just need to get these damn zip ties off and get out of here. Viktor pounds against the door, making me flinch. “I will break this down, Guiseppina, and I will make you suffer far more than your little slut friend.” Viktor is a big guy, and I figure he can get through that piece of wood in a minute—two if I’m lucky. I need to move fast.