hly furnished bedroom. Elena stirred, her body aching from the previous night's ordeal. Her

ss of martini in hand, was Alexander Volkov. He watch

aking a slow sip of his drink. "I was b

upright, her heart pounding against her ribs.

"Relax. We n

thing to say to you. So why don't

et to make demands here, Elena. You're in my house, my worl

for a possible escape. But before she could say

fe right now, don't you?" he muse

ead then," she spat. "That's what you do best, isn't it? Kill people. That's what

yes at him. "You'r

e. "So, you do know who I am." He asked and

ing about my father, he is a good man, gentle , caring and h

k of an eye, he was in front of her, his face in

out, gripping her throat, his fingers digging into h

ughing as he tig

n," she choked out, defi

ldfire. He released her abruptly, and she fell back o

nd. Naïve. Controlled by a man who hi

glared at him. "My father will

blem with you, Elena. You don't have a mind of your ow

e felt it,the tight pressure around her w

tied to

realization dawn on her. He took another sip of his mar

uggling. You're n

de out, locking th

-

tate, Sergei approached Al

a problem. Viktor has used his resources to blo

his nose, unimpressed

ed. "What do y

rk grin. "Viktor wants a war

e wooden desk as he turned to

blinked

know I'm not playing games. If he thinks he can control

tly and walked awa

nd of the room. His eyes settled on the small jar,a si

over it before fin

id down h

for yo

-

ed, her body rigid. She had been forced into

was being taken, but she k

ding her. Alex had barely spoken to her since this m

me to an a

xpression unreadable. "Ta

. She slowly turned h

eath h

ky, thick black smoke curling into the ni

's house w

ing her hand to t

ng with satisfaction. "Say goodb

sts. "You're a monster!" she

s backhanded her

r skull. Darkness s

mped forward

s eyes. "Get h

hauling her limp

strip, Alex took one last glance at

e stretched a

on, V