Page 19 of Captured Obsession

I feel her reluctance to proceed, and my hand tightens around hers, all but dragging her into the building. Despite its outer appearance, the mansion is functional and used for a very specific purpose.

Her body locks up, and her eyes dart back-and-forth to the open spaces on either side of the curved staircase. It would appear she has primal instincts after all.

“And what does that have to do with me?” she asks, and although she tries to mask it, I can hear the fear in her tone, spot it in the way her shoulders bunch and her hands curl into fists.

I grip her a fraction tighter, irritated that I care about something like that at all. Instilling fear is often what has my own adrenaline pumping. I live for the scent of it. But with Sienna, it's a mixed form of pleasure, one that I'm growing uncomfortable with.

Andrei stands outside the shiny elevator that stands out drastically against the rest of the home’s older, worn-down features. The elevator doors open, and Andrei waits until we've stepped inside before filling the last of the space and hitting the button to descend.

“Nikolai?” she asks, her tone clipped with the assumption that I've betrayed her. I said I would keep her safe. I did not, however, promise that she wouldn’t experience cruel intentions while in my custody.

When the elevator stops and the door opens, Andrei steps out first. His gaze drops to Sienna only momentarily as I practically drag her out.

We all have our part to play.

She wriggles against my hold as I say to Andrei in Russian, “Is everything ready?”

“Yes, sir.” He excuses himself, walking over to where the camera’s set up.

Sienna's eyes grow wide as she takes in the bold blue of the glass tank in front of us. Her gaze then darts around the dungeon-like space.

“Nikolai?” she says again, and this time her voice comes out small and weak. My jaw tics at the fact that I’m disturbed by her fear.

Checking to make sure Andrei is not within earshot, I then purposely curve my lip into a cruel smile. “You said you're used to men treating you a particular way,mishka, so I thought I would challenge you with that.”

“I d-don't want to be here.” The tremble in her voice tugs at my chest, surprising me that I’d have such a visceral response. But I know she can do this. Even though she doesn't have much of a choice, I know little dolls like her wait for a chance to break free from their cages.

Her attention snags on the metal cage hanging from the ceiling right before she lowers her gaze to the tank, and the gray and white of the beast within the water. “You have a fucking shark down here!” she yells. “You can’t be serious. I’m not going anywhere near that.”

I pin her with a hard stare. “I didn't think you’d be so weak-hearted. Don't worry; it's not like I'm throwing you in without the cage. You should be comforted bythat since this is one of my boss’s favorite places to take care of troublesome people.”

Her eyes grow wide with understanding as my words sink in. The Wolf has particular tastes for entertainment. He's also found a market where he can sell footage of said entertainment. Though this will only be used for his personal enjoyment. The thought of it grates on my nerves.

“Who do you choose to be,mishka, the prey or the predator?”

“You're a fucking psychopath.”

“Yes,” I reply emotionlessly.

What goes unsaid is that I’m the lesser of two evils right now, and it's in her best interest to play nice by taking control of the situation. Otherwise, she’ll be forced into it. Only she can make that choice.

9

SIENNA

Afucking shark. Are you fucking kidding me?

My heart races. I knew I was pushing him today, and right now, I feel like a complete idiot. The shark is fucking huge, easily the same width as the car we drove here in. Its beady eyes make contact with mine, and a terrifying pinch of adrenaline pumps through my body.

“Who do you choose to be,mishka, the prey or the predator?”

That's a fucking easy question for somebody who has no intention of diving in with that thing. I look from the cage to Nikolai, meeting that unwavering challenge in his gaze.

Am I going to fucking die here?

I try to shove the fear low into my stomach and mask my expression in the same way that I always have in social circles and in public events, but this is a vastlydifferent scenario. This isn't for somebody else's judgment. This is only me. I roll my shoulders back, trying my hardest to gain composure, already furious with myself that I let him rattle me.

This has nothing to do with being prey or predator. It’s about whether I will allow him to get under my skin like this.