I walk into the giant closet with small, cautious steps.
There's a fancy sconce above my head lighting wall to wall shelving and hanging rods.
My eyes trail along cashmere and silk absolutely dumbstruck. The room's bigger than my bedroom and packed full of clothes. I was imaging he meant one outfit, not an entire wardrobe.
One side of the closet is designated men's clothes while the other half's filled with women's dresses, shirts, and skirts all expensive looking.
"Whoa..." I take a step in further up to the rack of women's garments hanging from wooden hangers.
I reach for a creamy lightweight sweater the color of the sky. The material is a dream against my skin and it's in my size. I slide the garment aside to find a satin dress, shiny and black.
I keep flipping until I've looked through all the clothing. I lean back to find a line of heels and flats at my feet, also my size.
My heart races, vibrating against my empty stomach.
At first I assumed I had walked into something by accident last night.
I figured I'd witnessed a murder that I shouldnt've seen and Vladimir's assassin took me as a hostage because of it.
It's a logical explanation.
Vladimir had a lot of enemies. I've often wondered when his bad decisions would catch up to him.
But as my eyes graze over every designer dress and shoe, it's abundantly clear that what I thought to be true is not the case. At least not entirely.
This goes way deeper than last night.
Me walking into Vladimir's suite at that exact moment was no accident. I didn't stumble in and interrupt.
No.
The assassin was waiting for me.
He wanted me to walk in on him, that's why he was sitting in a chair waiting instead of fleeing the scene before I got there.
"He planned to kidnap me all along..." I whisper, releasing my thoughts to the empty closet. My voice sounds strange, raspy and dry from dehydration. "But... why me?"
It's the reasoning I can't come to terms with. I'm a nobody. What possible use could he have for me?
"Kidnap you?" A deep voice sounds from the doorway.
I jump, startled, and spin around frightened by the unexpected intrusion. I grab at my chest as it heaves up and down for air.
How long has he been standing there? Has he been watching me? I didn't hear him walk in behind me nor did I mean for him to hear me talking to myself.
My cheeks flush with embarrassment as his eyes burn their way down my body lingering on the curve of my hips a moment longer than is comfortable as he steps into the closet fully.
I gulp down my nerves, squaring my shoulders in preparation for any touch or piece of me he may steal as I take a step back putting space between us.
"You're hardly a child." He scolds me before turning towards the half of the closet with men's clothing and grabbing a belt.
Taken back by his words, I watch him in silence as he laces the lengthy piece of dark leather through the rungs of his dress pants before buckling it at the front.
It's not what I expected him to say, and it does nothing to straighten out my chaotic thoughts. He also didn't deny the fact he's taken me against my will, only that I'm hardly a child.
Whatever that means.
When he finishes his task he turns his body back towards me. The way he eyes me, not leaving an inch unseen, is disarming. I hate the way he looks at me. I feel naked and cold under his heated stare. But it's more than that. He looks at me as if he is trying to figure me out, as if I'm a book in a foreign language and he has to use what he sees on the outside to discerne the story that lies within. I've never had this type of attention.
Suddenly he takes a step toward me and I flinch. My hands fumble behind me as I try to find something, anything to grasp onto as I stumble back. I'm met with only the rounded edges of hangers and designer fabric, halting my escape.
He takes another step and then another until he's eaten up all the available space between us and we are practically chest to chest.
Unable to evade him, trapped in this corner, I turn my head away feeling meek under his hulking body and stare at the scratchy carpet at my feet. I get lost in the woven pattern imaging the floor opening up and swallowing me whole.
He lifts his hand to grab my jaw and force my face back towards him. With strong fingers he pinches my chin between his thumb and index finger keeping my head in place.
I keep my eyes down, focused on the straps of his holster slightly shaking beneath his forceful touch. Despite how hard I try not to see him, I can't help but catch his movements in my peripheral vision. At first, I fear he's going to kiss me with the way he's taking me in but he merely skims his eyes along my brows, eyes, and lips as he studies me.
"This isn't about you Alina." He says. His voice is deep but soft. It doesn't carry the bite it usually has. "There're plans at work that are bigger than you'll ever understand."
I feel my lips dip into a frown and eyebrows tether together in their middle. Plans? What kind of plans? I want to know what I'm being forced to take part in.
Unable to resist the pull, I lift my gaze in interest, allowing myself to meet his eyes with my own and keep them there. As always they are menacingly dark. I can hardly make out their vibrant color with the way his brows hood his gaze.
His voice is stoic, contrasting his churlish demeanor.
"You're simply collateral damage in a war you can't escape."
He releases my chin and takes a step away. My head flings back from the release and I have to steady my body with my hands at my sides to keep from falling against the wall behind me.
War?
Collateral damage?
I watch as he walks out of the closest leaving me reeling. He throws a "get dressed" over his shoulder before disappearing back out into the hotel suite.
A bitter taste fills my mouth as I come to terms with the fact that I have been pulled into a dark world of corruption and murder, deeper than I have ever been before.
I wish for nothing more than to brush my teeth and wash away the lingering acid on my tongue.
It would help to ease the constant sickening roll of my stomach every time I swallow down the reality of my situation.
But I know I can't control what my captor does to me or forces me to do from here-on-out, so instead I decide to put my energy and focus on what I can control in this moment.
I turn back towards the rack of clothing.
I have no idea what to wear but since he's giving me a choice I'm going to choose items that are most comfortable.
I pull out the beautiful sky blue sweater and a pair of cream colored slacks. I'm usually in something sheer and skimpy for Vladimir's sake, this is the nicest outfit I've ever worn that doesn't have my ass hanging out or the silhouette of my nipples peaking through.
I hurry to slip off the T-shirt and pull on the outfit I chose, in fear he may walk in on me again and find me naked and vulnerable. He has kept his word to not hurt me but that doesn't necessarily mean he won't touch me if he so desires.
I go braless as it seems he forgot to purchase any form of undergarments and keep on the panties from yesterday.
I fold the thin cotton T-shirt I was wearing and place it on a small circular stool near the door before exiting.
I find the man waiting for me, he's fully dressed and sitting at the table near where I'm standing in the doorway.
The way he's positioned reminds me of the night before when I found him sitting in a chair in the middle of Vladimir's suite waiting for me.
His body was poised and authoritative. Hands in his lap, gun in his hand.
His hands are empty now but it doesn't change how seeing him like this makes me feel.
I grasp onto the doorway with my fingertips bracing myself as I slam my eyes closed in an attempt to shut out those horrible memories.
It takes a few seconds for the disturbing images to fade from my mind.
For the sight of the blood and the smell of iron to dissipate from my recollection.
When I feel it's safe to open my eyes again without the possibility of vomiting I crack them open slowly. The man has moved and is standing now, waiting for me with his hands tucked into his pockets silently brooding.
I take a deep breath and lift my chin resolved to being his puppet until I find a way out of this never ending nightmare.
I step up to him.
"Im ready."