Dirty Collateral

OLDEN

g I noticed wa

y faucet, the distant sirens that used to lull me to sleep. This was the kind of silence that pres

The bed beneath me was too soft, the sheets too smooth

oor, the needle in my neck, Viktor's voice

ted u

mist

to register the massive four-poster bed, the silk sheets tangled arou

ly cost more than my car. My fingers shook as I gripped the porcelain, my torn

licked ope

changed when Viktor entered a room-got heavier,

" he said, his voice

the toilet.

r. When I finally looked up, he was holding o

it from

e glass shattering against the marble floor. For a

iktor

yanking my head back. My scalp burned, tears spr

th warm against my cheek. "I don't mind breaking you. But

y teeth.

his eyes. Then he released m

ing his cuffs like he hadn't just threat

icked shut

-

tate-was a fucking n

m-faced men who all shared his ice-chip eyes. My bare feet sank into carpets so thick I n

win

tight over what I assumed was glass, but the halls were lined wi

emanded, my voice h

t slow his p

lls

with his back. When he turned, his expr

live now. Where you eat. Where you sleep." His gloved han

d. "I'd r

curved. "

-

a-a massive table that could seat twenty, set with enough

ad of the table. I

ithout looking u

N

between us, fr

owness. When he finally looked at me, his gr

't ask

rcurrent of violence-made my kne

to h

his chair and across the room. His hand closed around my throat, not tight e

ured, his thumb brushing my frantic p

his grip. "What do

s all teeth.

turning to his seat lik

e have much

ime, I

-

tato dish that melted on my tongue, vegetables so fresh t

m of his wine glass. "Your fa

with deliberate c

ng on the table. "He didn't just gamble away ca

n my spine. "What

razor-sharp. "The kind

rned to ash

You'll stay here until your father resurfaces. If he doesn't..." His gaze t

in the polished silverware-a pale, hollow

ill believed sh

-

il the house

ut the balcony-when I finally

ng biting into my palms. Below me, manicured gardens stretched

rds in

y leg over the railing. The drop was maybe

somew

behind me, so close

ssed, his white dress shirt glowing in the moonl

rip on the raili

f the doorframe. "You

han stayi

g around my bicep. His touch burned through the thin silk of

d, trying to pry

ghed nothing. When my feet hit the balcony, he didn't release me-just sp

rmured, his lips brushing my ear. "Th

t his chest. "I

ine. "Oh, kotik," he said, his hand sliding up