[Erin]My gag reflexes weren’t helping the entire journey inside that sewer. All the food we were before coming here was making its way directly into the back of my throat, and I had been doing my best to swallow it back in order to prevent myself from throwing it up. I could tell that Micah was feeling the same way I did. Flavio, on the other hand, appeared to be very accustomed to being in this kind of setting, and he made no effort to show it on his face that the smell didn't bother him in the least.In contrast to the first wave of stench that we were blasted with when we entered the sewer, the offensive odor gradually lost some of its power as we continued to go through it.Nikolai’s men must be throwing off their wits out by now, thinking why we didn’t come out from that bridge. Probably they were already scouring the entire city of Venice, and this realization has caused me some concern. What if, as soon as we emerged from the dead end, they were already there, waiting for us?
[Third Person’s Point of View—Nikolai]“What do you mean, they haven't been found!” Nikolai's booming voice reverberated around the squared-off room in his conference room. Everyone at the long table was startled by his outburst and looked at him in bewilderment, wondering what terrible news he could possibly be hearing to provoke such a intense reaction.He was in an important meeting with his business. They have to fly all the way from Russia to Italy for this matter because he was not in a good mood on this particular day following the incident that happened between him and Erin in the islet. It was indeed unforgettable, especially the passionate moment they shared. The heat that was building up between them as he buried himself further and more inside of her. To experience for the first time with a woman the exploding sensation of her warm depths, something Nikolai has never felt before with any other woman. Those beautiful groans that she was making. Her lips were the source of t
[Erin]My ears were initially jarred awake by the sound of water dripping, and it was this ricocheting noise that brought me fully into the present moment. The subsequent pounding in my head felt like someone was hitting a mallet, splitting my skull into half and my nostrils stung when I took deep breaths. I am also feeling a bit lightheaded and it seems as though I am on an unsteady platform.Where am I?Hard as it may seem, I was forced to peel my eyes open. My vision blurred at first and it seems that the world is spinning and my sight couldn’t focus on something. I tried to raise my hand to rub my head. However, it was bound to something, and it made me realize what had occurred before this. We were enjoying ourselves at the grand canal. Micah and I—oh gosh!“Micah?” My voice croaked as I forced my voice to speak, worried if she were near beside me or if we had been separated. I blinked my eyes several times, shaking my head before my sight finally cleared out from distortion and
[Erin]I am beyond astounded to see Flavio standing straight in front of me without any scratches or anything else that would suggest that he had been taken against his will through compulsion. In point of fact, he was grinning broadly and boastfully as he towered over me while I was strapped to my chair in the center of this awful basement with no idea what on earth was going on.My conscience just won't let go of the fact that I had in some way drawn an innocent man into a situation, and I was just agonizing over the possibility that something dreadful must have happened to him. Or that he departed because he was afraid for his life and that we did not adequately compensate him for his service before he left. I was so conflicted and perplexed by what was taking place, and I had no idea what to do, yet here he is now. Standing ever so fine in front of me.After seeing him, I have no doubt that Micah is as dumbfounded as I am.“Flavio, what is the meaning of this? What are you doing h
[Third Person’s Point of View—Nikolai]“Do you have a picture of her that we may look at?” Akim was questioned by the CCTV technician as he looked at him from an angle while his fingers deftly punched over the rolls of keyboards that were placed on the desk.Large monitors are mounted on the wall, showing all the nooks and crannies around the city. Akim sighs as pulled his phone, scrolled through his snaps, and came about the first photo he took at the auction when Nikolai purchased Erin.“Here,” he said as he handed it to the technician and plugged a cord into his phone. He then copied the photo into the computer to scan her features and began the search through the footage. The computer screen went haywire, and Erin's face appeared in the middle of it. Akim stared at her with wide eyes filled with terror as she was being auctioned off like a herd of cattle. Not knowing what the future holds for her.Nikolai changed a bit since she arrived in his life, and Akim is quite a bit confu
[Erin]We need to get out of here.We need to find a way to escape this place and save ourselves. Or at least, I’ll have to free Micah.I very doubt that Nikolai would make the effort to track us down, and whatever of the dispute that he may or may not have had with Flavio, we should not be dragged into the midst of it. For goodness’ sake, we didn’t even know that they were old acquaintances.“Micah,” I whispered, afraid that if I call her aloud, Flavio would hear us. It has been a while since he left us astounded, and I have never imagined that this beautiful day would become this catastrophic.“Erin,” she replied in a hushed tone, seemingly sharing my inhibitions about getting heard.“We need to get out of here,” I said, cocking my head to the side and hopes that she could see me even though I couldn’t.“What? How?” Micah half-yelled, half-whispered in befuddlement in response to my statement. I completely understand her dubiety and I can’t hold for having this kind of feelings, kno
[Erin]There was a sour taste at the very back of my mouth that I was unable to get rid of no matter what I tried. Every breath I took in my fearful mind was as loud as a blood-curdling scream that caught in my chest as I watched with absolute suspense as Flavio took a step back and retracted the gun away from my head.This wasn’t the first time that someone held a gunpoint in my head and the mortification I felt was ever the same. However, there’s one thing that makes all the difference, Nikolai spared me and I saw a glimpse of mercy in his eyes. On the other hand, Flavio’s gaze remained savage. “I was right, Bella Erin. The king would come, and he did,” he said, leering at me from head to toe, licking the bottom of his lips and flashing his menacing grin.A shiver ran down my spine, yet I refused to show him any gratification from the fear that he had infused in me. No, even if it cost my life.Additionally, the news he said about Nikolai coming over for us washed me up with a tra
[Erin]Flavio snapped angrily, wiped my spit off of his face, and then waved his hand in the air as if he were ordering everyone else to leave the basement. Additionally, he was the one who moved towards the door without looking back to see if his men followed him behind.My cheek was throbbing with a numbing pain and aching like hell, and I could feel the corner of my lips busted from the blow. Yet, I ignored it and focus on what was happening. I have no idea what he just commanded, but the giant man that was holding my arms began to drag me out and I turn my attention to Micah, wondering why no one was sparing her a glance. She had her eyes pinned on me. Her chinky gaze widened and a look of absolute horror appeared in her eyes realizing that she'll be left here alone. Suddenly the pain on my cheek faded, and dread began consuming me as registered to my mind that we are about to get separated. “What about Micah?” I yelled out in a panic while simultaneously pinning my feet to the