Page 102 of Ballistic

A frigid cold crawled over my skin, the faint breath of despair winding down my spine. I was sinking again. Spiraling into the depths of something that promised no return. A darkness filled with skeletons, through whose bones I’d soon have to pick.

My cellphone lay on the nightstand beside me.

Help me, Dax.

Couldn’t reach it, even if I’d wanted to call him. Not with my hands cuffed to the bed. I’d toyed with fate one too many times for Dmitry’s taste, testing my limits. Holding my breath underwater far longer than I should’ve. Every cut to my arm closer to severing my ties to the world. Funny thing was, I hadn’t actually planned to kill myself. Kind of like those pills Dax kept on the shelf—a reminder of how much power we actually had over our demons.

Unfortunately, Dmitry had taken matters into his own hands, and once again, I found myself imprisoned.

The door clicked, and the light slicing through the bedroom shone on a lavish painting on the wall, which captured the dark innocence of a young girl picking flowers in a field, while the eyes of a wolf glowed through the forest trees in the distance.

How fitting.

I stared down at the dark silhouette taking up the doorway and swore I could see his gray eyes glow as they studied me.

He wordlessly entered my room, and the bed dipped as he took a seat beside me. The scent of his cigar smacked the back of my throat with a rich, woodsy aroma. The same scent I imagined death must’ve tasted like for his enemies. “You should’ve left when you had the chance.”

“I knew you weren’t finished with me. That you’d come for me, if I ran.”

His hand slid up the side of my silk nightgown, teasing the hem just above my panties. “I imagined his hands on you as I poured the acid.”

“It meant nothing, Dmitry. You know that.”

“I wasn’t referring to my brother’s.”

His words brought to mind the afternoon in the bathroom, when I’d watched in the mirror’s reflection as Dax’s hands erased the memory of my captors. What I wouldn’t have given to have them pulling me in, settling my mind, the way his gentle strokes had always distracted me.

“They meant nothing, as well.” Saying anything else would put Dax on his kill list.

Warm breath trailed over my shoulder where he dragged his nose across my skin, inhaling me. “You smell like lies, Nicoleta.”

“My name is Eden.”

“No. Eden was the child who stole from me. Nicoleta is the woman I intend to take in exchange.”

“I fulfilled my part of the deal, Dmitry. I gave you Tesarik, as you asked.”

“And I’ve kept my hands off you. I’ve waited for you. I dare say I fell in love with a child the day you stole from me, but that would make me worse than my bastard brother. You fascinate me, Nicoleta. Here, I’ve helped you at every turn, never once turned you away.” A sharp sting hit the back of my skull, as he yanked my head back and set his mouth to my ear. “All for a promise. The promise that you belonged to me in the end.”

My throat bobbed with a swallow, as he held my neck taut enough for a blade to slice across it. “I’m grateful for what you’ve done.”

“Your gratitude isn’t good enough. I want all of you.”

There’d always been something terrifying about Dmitry’s eyes. Something hidden within those gray irises that set my teeth on edge, and as I stared into them right then, I finally understood what I’d found so disturbing. They were empty—as empty and cold as his brother’s had been.

“You have me now, Dmitry. I’m yours.” Because I no longer cared what he did to me. Everything I wanted, everything I cared about, had been stripped away.

“No, I can see it when you look at me.” He relented his grip and pushed off the bed, his footsteps counting off his paces. “There’s betrayal in your eyes.”

“I did what I had to do.”

“As did I.”

I snapped my head back, taking in a sharp breath at the second silhouette standing in the doorway. “No. No, please.” Kicking against the mattress sent my back flying into the headboard behind me. “Please, Dmitry. I’m yours. Whatever you want, I’ll do it.”

“I’ve been assured that you’ll be well taken care of. We can’t have anymore of these … little accidents you keep having in the bathtub. With the blade. I can’t take the risk that you’ll do harm to yourself.”

Doctor Emberle stepped into the room and adjusted his glasses. “I’ve taken the liberty of making sure your room is comfortable. Secure. You have nothing to worry about, Eden. You’ll be watched carefully.”