My Russian Nightmare by Danielle Sibarium Read Free Book Online Page B

won’t be able to stop myself from looking up at his handsome face. Whoa. Handsome? When the hell did he become attractive?
    “I didn’t hurt your brother. I swear.”
    “I don’t believe you.” I shake my head and back away from him. So much for my plan to play nice and win his trust.
    “He knew this was going to happen, Kiera. He provoked them.”
    “Them? You’re one of them!” I shriek. “If you’re his friend, why didn’t you defend him? Why didn’t you stop it?”
    “Don’t you think I would have?” He raises his voice, and it sounds pained. Either there is truth to what he’s saying, or he is one hell of an actor. “This is the last thing I wanted to happen. He’s like a brother to me. And you…” He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “I would’ve laid down my life to stop this from happening to you.”
    “You’re crazy.” I’m full-out crying. “You don’t even know me. And Sammy would never give you my things. Not without telling me. And I never heard him talk about you. He never even mentioned you.”
    He pulls me into his arms. “I swear I’m not lying.”
    I push against his hard, chiseled chest, solid and strong. I struggle to break free from his hold, but it’s no use. He’s not budging an inch.
    “Let me go!”
    “Not until you stop fighting. I don’t want to tie you back up, so you need to calm down.”
    Another threat. Somehow his actions and words don’t pair up, no matter how bad I want them to.
    I end my struggle. It isn’t getting me anywhere. I need to reserve my strength and create an opportunity.
    He holds my head between his hands again and stares into my eyes. He’s not moving, not speaking. It’s like he’s searching for something. I have no idea what he thinks he’s going to find.
    “Please, we have to talk calmly and figure things out.”
    “Like what? What is there to talk about?”
    He releases his hold on me. Both the physical hold and the emotional hold his eyes used to disarm me. He runs a hand through his hair and sighs. “I need you to trust me.”
    “Trust is earned.”
    “I know. And I’ve given you no reason not to trust me.”
    Is he kidding?
    “Except kidnapping me. Tying me up. Holding me against my will!”
    He nods, realizing the hole I blasted through his argument.
    “Yes. But that’s it.”
    “That’s it! That’s it? Are you serious?”
    “Yes! I am.” The volume of his voice makes me jump. “I didn’t hurt you. It could’ve been a lot worse and you know it. And since we’ve been alone, I’ve been nothing but kind to you.”
    “Nothing but kind? Letting that bitch torture me? That’s being kind? And using the threat of my brother to make sure I comply? Is that being kind, too?”
    He releases a long breath, turns, and takes a few steps away from me. “This is getting us nowhere.”
    The instant he creates space is the instant I want to pull him back to me. I can’t just leave it alone. I should let him go and get far away from me, but I can’t. My heart pounds heavier against my chest. I need to lure him back.
    What is wrong with me?
    “You want my trust?”
    He turns, and I have his attention.
    “Then I need you to prove you’re worthy of it.”
    “I’m listening.”
    “If any of what you said is true, get me the hell out of here.”
    He closes his eyes tight and shakes his head. “I want to, but it’s not that simple.”
    “Because you’re full of shit.”
    “Because if I get you out right now, they’ll kill Sammy. Can you live with that? Knowing you’ll be the direct cause of his death?” 
    I don’t answer. I drop my eyes, knowing he has a point.
    “I didn’t think so. And believe me, they will kill him. Without a second thought. They’ll make sure it’s as painful as possible to teach you a lesson.” I don’t respond to him. There’s nothing to say. “And then they’ll hunt us down. And make no mistake, they’ll find us, because we’re being watched right now. They aren’t