Page 103 of The Chaos She Brings

“I’m handing myself over. Where can I meet you?” I force the words out, while internally I’m screaming at myself to go back. To jump back into bed and curl myself around Kai and never let go.

She doesn’t even sound surprised when she tells me the address to go to. I pull over to plug it into maps and see that it’s some kind of warehouse on the outskirts of the city.

It takes me an hour to get there, during which time I listen to my playlist which I find on Kai’s Spotify, since it’s his phone I’ve stolen. It’s mostly Taylor Swift which meant I had a good sing-along session as I tried to distract myself from the knowledge that I am walking into my inevitable end to my life as I know it.

I’ve had a good run, I think. Made some amazing friends, had a good job, and fell in love. What more could I want?

This is fine. It’s for the best.

Sure, I’ll probably be raped, and likely beaten, but at least everyone I love will be safe.

I only go in the wrong lane twice, and both times I remember to switch back before I hit someone. So… a win’s a win.

By the time I slow the car to a stop outside of the warehouse I’m a nervous wreck, because none of my distractions have actually worked and I’ve been completely kidding myself to think otherwise.

Oh. God. I should not be doing this.

But it’s too late now. Anastasia steps out of another car, moving toward me with purpose, and beside her is a man who radiates intimidation.

Now, bathed in the glow of the headlights, I can’t believe I didn’t notice the resemblance before. That red hair that matches what mine would be had I not dyed it darker, the same pale, freckled skin. She’s leaner than me, her body more defined, and her eyes are hazel instead of green. But still… there’s no mistaking it.She’s my mother.

The man at her side is the kind of terrifying that settles deep in your bones. Not like Enzo, whose sharp edges hide something softer underneath. No, this man is all sharp edges. Ruthless. Cold. His nearly black hair is cropped close, his equally dark eyes locked onto me like I’m something to beevaluated. Measured.Owned.

Dressed in a black suit, black shirt, black tie, it’s like he chose the uniform of a villain on purpose. And with every step he takes, his expression darkens, as if he’s already decided I’m a problem that needs to be handled.

I remain frozen in place, waiting for them to reach me.

“Tessa, I’m glad you made this decision,” Anastasia says. She doesn’t deserve the title of mother. There’s a hint of something in her eyes—regret?—but it’s gone before I can analyse it.

“Wasn’t really much of a choice,” I snark, folding my arms in defiance.

The man—who I’m assuming is Nikolai—smirks. “You’re going to be fun to break in.” He flashes his teeth in a wolfish grin. One that has my heart stuttering in my chest—fear clawing its way through my insides.

Anastasia shifts uncomfortably then Nikolai commands, “Give her the keys, Tessa.”

I hand them over and she snatches them from myhand. She gets in behind the wheel, casting one last glance at me before pulling away and heading off into the night, leaving me alone. With him.

“Arms up,” he barks, his voice leaving no room for argument.

I hesitate for a moment, and he grasps my arms roughly, pulling them up so they’re spread out from my body. He begins feeling me.

“What are you doing?” I gasp, frozen from shock.

He looks up from where his hands are running down my legs. “Checking you for weapons.” He runs his hand up and gives my ass a squeeze.

“I’m not hiding a gun up my ass, just putting it out there.”

He smirks as he continues his perusal, taking his time to check every bit of surface on my body until he’s satisfied. I left the phone in the car, knowing he wouldn’t let me keep it anyway.

He leans in close and whispers, “Perhaps I should fuck yourass,” he over pronounces the word, mocking my accent, “just to check there’s really no weapons up there.”

I swallow thickly, my heart hammering in my chest and he chuckles, the sound dark and dangerous.

“Come.” He drags me over to the waiting car, shoving me in the back seat and slamming the door closed.

He slides in behind the wheel, smiling wickedly to himself. Turning his head back to look at me he says, “We’re going to have so much fun,wife.”

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