Chapter 12

Once seated at their table, he ordered a bottle of white wine. The staff was all over him, ensuring he was pleased with his table and the wine.

It was a seafood restaurant, and they could get a table overlooking the waterfront. It was a beautiful night, with the stars above shining brightly. He ordered the steak and lobster platter for both of them.

“What about your men that are waiting in the car?”

“What about them?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It doesn’t feel right that we are eating here, and they are sitting out there. Wouldn’t they like something to eat also?”

“Would it ease your mind if I had some food sent to them?”

“It would make me feel better knowing that they’re eating something. I’m sure they would appreciate it. Or you could have them come inside to enjoy a meal.”

“As you can see, the place is full, but I will send something out on your behalf.”

He waved the waiter over and placed an order, instructing him to have it delivered to the car where his men were waiting. He looked over at her when the waiter left.

“Are you pleased now?”

She smiled back at him. “Yes, thank you for doing that.”

He took a drink of his wine, looking back at her. “They are going to think I have gone mad. Never have I done such a thing before.”

“It was the right thing to do,” she said, smiling back at him.

When the food was brought to their table, she stared at it; her mouth began to water. “Oh, this looks so delicious. I love lobster but have only had it once because my stepfather brought it home and didn’t want it.”

“It is very good here, and the filet mignon is so tender it will melt in your mouth,” he said, enjoying seeing her happy.

~Damn,~ he thought to himself, he was getting soft around her, doing things he wouldn’t normally do. He couldn’t stop looking at her as she ate. She was like a child experiencing something new for the first time.

Once the meal was done, he ordered chocolate mousse for them.

“Oh wow, this is fantastic,” she said, savoring the taste.

“Since you like it so much, I will make sure my cook makes it for you whenever you crave it.”

“If you keep feeding me like this, I’m going to get fat.”

He smiled, shaking his head. “I don’t believe that is possible, and I wouldn’t want that to happen, though it wouldn’t hurt for you to put on a few pounds. Would you like anything else, or are you ready to go?”

“This was delicious, and I couldn’t eat another bite. Thank you for bringing me here. I enjoyed myself.”

“It is the least I could do for how I treated you earlier.”

Once he paid for the meal, he escorted her out of the restaurant and into the car, opening the door for her to enter.

She had just stepped inside when she heard some men shouting from the alley. Dmitry stuck his head in and told her to stay inside the car before shutting the door.

She looked out the window and saw him and his two men walk into the alley. Something about the situation got her curious, so she opened the door and stepped out, slowly walking in the direction they had gone.

Dmitry held the gun to the man’s forehead, who was kneeling on the ground, begging for his life to be spared. “You steal from me; you pay the price.”

He stopped when he heard Danica call out to him; he turned his head to look at her. His eyes filled with fury, but he turned back to look at the man. “She just saved your life.”

He turned again to look at her, but she was gone. “Find the girl,” he shouted to one of his men.

A couple of seconds earlier: As she stuck her head around the corner and saw that he was about to shoot the man, she yelled out, “Dmitry, stop.”

When he looked back at her, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. Looking into his eyes, she saw such darkness and evil, and with the way he glared at her, she knew she was in big trouble.

When he turned back to the man, she was so sure he was going to go ahead and shoot him, so when no one was looking, she took off running down another alley.

She was running as fast as she could in heels; her vision was blurred from the tears in her eyes. She had goosebumps all over her body, and her heart was beating so hard she could hardly breathe.

Every corner she took only led to another alley. She was lost and afraid for her life when she saw two men standing in a doorway, and as she ran past them, she could hear them shouting obscenities at her.

In the distance, she could hear her name being called. Stopping, she removed her shoes to run faster but made the mistake of leaving them behind.

A few seconds later, she tripped over something and landed on a body. She let out a scream and got up when the person opened his eyes and tried to grab her.

Along the way, she saw people shooting up, others making out, and drunks staggering around. Her feet were sore, and she must have stepped on some broken glass somewhere along the way.

Falling to the ground, she couldn’t walk anymore; her dress was ripped and dirty, and her foot was bleeding. She looked up in fear when she heard Dmitry’s voice getting closer, and he appeared before her.

“Please don’t hurt me,” she cried out as she hurried backward on her ass and hands.

He got close and squatted down, gripping her chin tightly. “You stupid, stupid woman. Do you know the danger you put yourself in by running away? These alleys are full of junkies and rapists who wouldn’t think twice about fucking and then killing you. Never interfere when I’m doing business.”

He held up her shoes, which she left behind, making it easier for him to find her. “Now put these on, and let’s get out of here.”

With trembling hands, she took them and started crying. “I can’t.”

“Why not?” he asked, but looking down at her feet, he could see the reason for himself.

He picked up the one that was bleeding and saw tiny pieces of glass sticking out. He shook his head and cursed in Russian.

He picked her up in his arms and started carrying her back the way he had come. Dennis and Craig caught up to him and followed them back to the car.

“What are you going to do to me?” she asked, her arms around his neck, her shoes dangling from her hand.

“I do not know yet, but first, we must get a doctor to tend to your foot.”

“Did you kill that man?”

“No,” he said in a firm tone. “You prevented me from doing my job. Never interfere again, or you will be sorry.”

He looked at her. “How often do I have to tell you to do something for you to listen?”

“I’m sorry.”

He shook his head angrily at her.

“You always say you’re sorry, yet you turn around and disobey my orders.”

He was so angry with her that he wanted to strangle her, but then when he heard her sniffling and she leaned her head on his shoulder, it felt like little butterflies were moving inside his heart.

But he had to be strong and let her know what she did was wrong.

What could he do to her without physically hurting her?

This was something he would have to think about on the way home.

He got her into the car and, taking out his phone, he called the doctor that he had on call.

One who always came to his home to treat his men when they got hurt.

He lifted her foot to take another look at it.

“Are you in a lot of pain?”

“Just a little,” she replied quietly.

“Do not worry, it will be taken care of.”

When they finally got home, he carried her into one of the rooms, which was always locked.

She looked around and saw a small bed off to the side, a long table, and many medical supplies on the counter.

She was placed on the table just as Bepa walked in.

“What happened to the girl?” she asked with no feelings.

“She fell and cut her foot. The doctor will be here any moment. I want you to go to my bedroom and bring down one of her nightgowns, some warm water, a facecloth, and towels.”

Bepa left the room, and not too long after, she returned with what he had asked for, and the doctor was with her.

She went in a huff when Dmitry told her to leave.

The doctor cleaned up her foot, removed the tiny bits of glass, and wrapped it up.

He looked over at Dmitry.

“She will be all right but must stay off her foot for a day or two.”

She cleaned herself up with the wet cloth and towel he had given her, and when he handed her the nightgown, she looked at him, confused.

“Why do you want me to put this on here, not in your bedroom?”

He leaned against the wall, staring at her for a few minutes before speaking.

“Put it on now,” he barked at her.

He saw the hurt in her eyes when he spoke so cruelly, but he had to be strong.

He watched as she removed her dress, put the nightgown over her head, and pulled it down.

He went over and—picking her up—carried her over to the small bed and laid her down.

“Dmitry, why are you putting me here and not taking me upstairs with you?”

“I told you that you needed to be punished for disobeying me. For now, you will stay alone in this room. I will have one of the maids bring you your food and help you with whatever you need.”

She sat up and looked at him wide-eyed.

“No, you can’t leave me here. I want to go upstairs with you, please. I promise I’ll behave from now on; don’t leave me here.”

She could tell from looking at the expression on his face that he was not going to give in.

“How long do I have to stay in this room?”

“Until I say so,” he said, turning his back on her.

He opened the door and walked out, shutting and locking it behind him.

He did feel bad when he heard her calling out his name, and then she started to cry.

Rubbing the back of his head, he had to block out the sound of her sobs as he walked away.

He left her locked in that room for the next three days to teach her a lesson.

But he had to admit it was not easy being without her in his bed.

He looked at himself in the mirror and wondered what was going on with him.

He missed having her beside him at night and waking up to her in the morning—not to mention how much he was missing the sex.

For the three days and nights she stayed in that room, he never once went to see her but ensured her meals were taken to her.

The only one inside the home who was happy about her being locked up was Bepa, who was now walking around with a smile.

“Will you be going out again tonight?” she asked, pouring him another cup of coffee.

His eyes narrowed when he looked at her.

“You’re enjoying having that poor girl locked up, aren’t you?”

“It’s where she belongs and where she should stay. You can always go to her when you want sex, so there’s no need for her to stay in your bed.”

“She’s a human being, not an animal that needs to be locked up. Tonight, she shall be back upstairs with me. Remember—you misbehave one more time, and you are gone.”

Her smile quickly disappeared.

“You are a fool for letting your feelings get in the way. She will destroy you, making you weak and vulnerable to enemies.”

“Bepa, get out of my sight. I cannot stand to look or listen to you for another minute.”

When she was gone, he called for the maid who took Danica’s meals and took care of her.

“Sir, you wanted to see me?”

“Yes, I did. Tell me how Miss Burke is doing?”

“I’ve done what you asked. I’ve taken her meals to her. I’ve helped her wash up and taken care of her foot, which has healed.”

“You did well, but tell me, what is her mental state?”

“She is very sad, sir. I think she is lonely and afraid, and I can hear her crying when I leave the room. I don’t mean to step out of line, but she is a very nice woman. She is so sweet; she never yells at me or orders me around and always thanks me for helping her. Please let me know if I can do anything else for her.”

He felt sad in his heart hearing how lonely and sad Danica was.

It was time to end her punishment.

“That won’t be necessary. I will be taking her out of there today. Thank you for taking good care of her, and you will get an extra bonus in your check this week. You can leave now.”

Getting up from the breakfast table, he laid his napkin down and made his way to the locked room.