Page 77 of Love Me in the Dark

The passenger door opened, and my breath caught. The dark-haired devil from earlier slid smoothly into the car, clutching some thick books that he tossed into the footwell.

His cologne filled the car, and I involuntarily filled my lungs. Our eyes locked, and the same feelings of attraction rushed through me.

"Don't worry,Puhcho. We'll get you out of here."

"Little bear?" I asked dumbly about the Bulgarian endearment.

His lip twitched upwards, but he turned back to the front as the guy in the driver’s seat snorted. He cuffed the driver around the head.

"Fucking hell," the driver muttered as he stomped on the accelerator and peeled away from the warehouse.

"Where are you taking me?"

He swore in Bulgarian and leaned over the back seat towards me. I shrank back from his hand, and he frowned. He yanked out the seatbelt, pulled it around me, and clicked it in. A warm sensation expanded in my chest, but I pushed it away.

"Answer me," I demanded with more bravery than I felt.

His pale eyes pinned me as the guy in the driver’s seat chuckled.

"Did you want to be sold to those old fucks?" he asked.

I flinched. "No. But what do you want with me?"

The intense look on his face made me squirm as inappropriate heat shot through me.

"My name is Viktor, and this is Nik."

The driver raised a hand as he manoeuvred the car through the dark streets.

“Angelina,” I said before I could think better of it.

Viktor's phone rang, and he cursed again. He answered it, and a rapid burst of Bulgarian followed. It was something about a man named Dobri taking money, a fire, incompetent people, and the loss of products. I couldn't keep up and slumped back into the soft seats, a feeling of utter exhaustion settling over me. I pulled the blanket closer around me and tried to avoid Viktor's gaze in the rearview mirror.

I jolted awake and couldn’t believe that I'd fallen asleep in a car with men who had essentially kidnapped me. It was dark outside, and the outline of a house loomed in front of us as we bumped up the drive. My pulse shot up, and it thumped in my ears. I darted my gaze around.

Viktor's head turned as I tried the door. "We are here."

"Where?"

"Home for now."

I glanced at the house. It was partly covered in ivy, and the darkness surrounding it made me think it wasn't near anyother houses—a perfect place for no one to hear my screams. I swallowed, gripping my blanket.

I jumped as Viktor opened my door. I had been lost in horrible thoughts and didn't realise he had got out of the car. Instead of stepping back, he leaned over me and undid my belt. I squeaked as he scooped me up under the knees and pulled me into his chest, lifting me out of the car. My hands flew to his shoulder to stabilise me, and I stared wide-eyed at him. He stared intently back, and something like butterflies swirled in my stomach.

This was wrong, wrong, wrong. My body wanted to snuggle into his arms, but this man had kidnapped me. I remained stiff instead as he carried me inside. Nik turned on the lights, and I squinted. Inside, the furniture was sparse, and what was there was covered in drapes. It reminded me of the English period dramas we studied at school.

"You said this was your house."

"It's one of my houses. One where they won’t find you."

"Who?"

"The men from the auction."

"You were a man at the auction," I accused.

Nik snorted. "She’s got you there, boss."