Chapter 17 - Into the Lion's Den
Clara woke to the blinding pain of a headache and the harsh smell of rusted metal and seawater.
She groaned, trying to lift her hand to her aching head, but she couldn't move.
Her wrists were bound tightly behind her back, tied to the rusted pipes of a heavy steel chair.
She blinked rapidly, her eyes adjusting to the dim light of an abandoned shipping container.
“Sleeping Beauty awakens,” a mocking voice echoed in the cavernous space.
Alexei Volkov stepped out of the shadows.
He removed his suit jacket, rolling up his pristine white sleeves.
“Where am I?” Clara demanded, forcing her voice to stay steady.
She refused to let this man see her cry. She was Julian Vance’s fiancée; she would not cower.
“Far away from your knight in shining armor,” Alexei smiled, dragging a wooden crate over to sit directly in front of her.
“Why are you doing this?” Clara asked. “Your father was a monster. Julian only did what he had to do.”
Alexei laughed, a harsh, grating sound.
“My father was a fool. I don't care that he is dead. I care that Julian Vance embarrassed my family name and took our territory.”
He leaned in, his gray eyes flashing with malice.
“Julian took my empire. So, I am going to take his heart. I am going to make him listen on the phone while I break you.”
Clara lifted her chin defiantly.
“You don't know Julian at all,” she stated coldly. “He won't just listen. He will find you, and he will kill you.”
Alexei sneered, backhanding her across the face.
Clara’s head snapped to the side, the taste of copper filling her mouth.
She took a deep breath, ignoring the stinging pain.
While Alexei was monologuing, Clara had been feeling the rusted pipe behind her.
There was a sharp, jagged edge of broken metal jutting out near her wrists.
She slowly, silently began to saw the thick rope against the jagged edge.
“We will see how brave you are when I make the call,” Alexei said, pulling a satellite phone from his pocket.
May you like
Clara kept her eyes locked on his, her hands working furiously behind her back.
She just needed to buy Julian enough time.
