Camila grimaced. “I’ll pay for him too, though the stronzo doesn’t deserve it,” she said, calling Matteo an asshole.
The Black Russian shook his head. “No. You can only have one of your relatives, while the other must remain. So, choose between them.”
“Andriena,” Camila said without hesitation.
Matteo yelled out, “No! You can’t leave me here!”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Yuri,” the Black Russian said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “but unfortunately your auntie has made her decision.”
“No!” Matteo yelled, going for the door.
The Black Russian stepped in his way. Matteo threw a punch at him. Dodging it, the Black Russian struck him in the back. Matteo yelled out and whipped around, throwing a kick at him, Andriena’s nephew a martial artist. The Black Russian grabbed his leg and swept the other one out from under him, sending Matteo crashing to the floor. Matteo yelled out as he hit it, his body jolting from the blow.
“Are you going to stop this nonsense?” the Black Russian asked, looking down at Matteo. “Because, although you’re good, I’m better.”
Matteo pushed to his feet, his expression pained, yet defiant. “I won’t stop trying to escape, so you might as well let me go.”
“I will never let you go. I own you—body and soul.”
“No, you don’t!” Matteo went for him again, but instantly dropped to the floor, Nikita tasering him. He shouted in pain, the two wires sticking out of his chest making him jerk about uncontrollably.
Andriena went to help him, but got yanked back by her sister. “Don’t touch him! You could get electrocuted,” Camila snapped.
“I wish.” The Black Russian yanked the wires out of Matteo with his gloved hand, then placed a boot on his chest. Matteo pushed it off, getting a heel in the stomach for his trouble. He curled up into a ball, his groans upsetting Andriena.
“Just let him go,” she pleaded. “I’ll pay you whatever you want.”
The Black Russian raised an eyebrow. “You’re willing to do that for a man who helped sell you?”
“He’s still my brother’s son. I have to protect him. So, please let him go with me.”
“No, you Donatelli must pay for killing Sasha’s brother.”
Andriena gasped. “My famiglia killed Sasha’s brother?”
“I don’t like people who repeat what I say, so watch your tongue if you want to keep it.”
Andriena clamped her mouth shut.
“And I’m rather surprised you’re still alive,” he added, “considering Sasha vowed to kill all Donatelli in retaliation. I guess he’s softer when it comes to women, not to mention he has a weakness for raven-haired beauties.”
Still reeling over what he’d said, Andriena remained silent, now understanding why Sasha hated her family with such venom.
The Black Russian continued, “I imprisoned Sasha with you to see whether he would kill you or not. I was hoping he did, but I guess it worked out that he didn’t, because I might get something better out of it.”
“You’re a monster,” she yelled, instantly regretting it.
“Say that without cowering behind your sister.”
Andriena remained where she was, knowing she couldn’t, the memories of what he’d done to her still fresh, his touch a permanent stain upon her soul.
He grimaced at her, his expression disdainful. “That’s precisely why I don’t want you anymore, Andriena. You’re too timid. When I bought you I thought I was getting a Donatelli vixen, not a timid little mouse scared of her own shadow. If you didn’t look like a Donatelli I would never have guessed you were one. Now... your sister,” his cold blue gaze moved to Camila, “she would’ve been a much better purchase.” He snapped his teeth at her.
Camila tensed. “I’m not for sale and my uncle shouldn’t have sold Andriena either.”
“Nonetheless, he did, and after what your family did to Sasha’s brother—”
“My famiglia didn’t shoot him.”
“But one of their guards did!”
Both Camila and Andriena jolted, his booming voice louder than a crack of thunder.
He narrowed his eyes at them, looking like he wanted to snap their necks. “Yuri was sweet and loving, both beautiful inside and out, yet your family shot him down like a mongrel.” He bent down and yanked Matteo to his feet. “And I demand your nephew as payment for Yuri.”
He snatched a syringe out of Nikita’s hand and stuck it into Matteo’s arm. Matteo’s body went limp, his eyes closing. The Black Russian pulled the needle out and swept Matteo up into his arms. Andriena covered her mouth, her nephew looking dead.
“Don’t look so upset,” the Black Russian said. “He’s just unconscious.” He walked over to the bed and laid Matteo down on the mattress, chaining him up again. Once finished, he turned back to Andriena. “I knew Camila would choose you; she wouldn’t stop talking about getting you back.”
“Then why did you give her the option?”
“I wanted to see your nephew’s response to it. He never fails to entertain me. Anyway, kiss each other goodbye. You’ll be reunited after Jagger pays me for your release.” He indicated to the door. “Ladies first: Andriena back to your cell and Camila back to your beautiful boyfriend.”
“You already know Jagger’s going to pay you,” Camila replied, “so there’s no need to keep Andriena locked up.”
“No matter how much you beg and whine, I won’t change my mind. If anything, I might ask Jagger for more, and for something he’s unwilling to give, so leave before I encumber him with a heavier burden.”
Camila grimaced, looking like she wanted to argue further, but instead tugged Andriena to the door. As they stepped through it, Camila yanked her into a hug. “Not only is Jagger working to free you, but the D’Angelo Don is too. You’ll be out by tomorrow, Andriena. They’ll make sure of that.”
“Grazie.” Andriena gripped onto her sister tight, feeling hope for the first time since being sold. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
“Watching you two get emotional is turning my stomach,” the Black Russian said, “so part ways.”
Andriena let go of her sister. “Please give us one more moment.”
“No.”
“But I want my sister to buy Sasha’s freedom,” she said, knowing she had to help him. Despite what he’d done earlier, her family had done a hundred times worse to him, the murder of his brother unforgivable. And although she knew she could never make things right, she could at least do something.
“You’re not getting my Sasha,” the Black Russian replied. “He’s precious to me.”
“He can’t be that precious if you had him beaten to a pulp!” she snapped, again allowing her temper to get the better of her, her mouth always running off before her brain had time to think.
The Black Russian leered at her. “Now, that’s more like what I expect from a Donatelli,” he said, looking like he wanted to fuck her on the spot, her temper obviously turning him on. “You actually made my cock twitch.”
Camila stepped in front of her.
His leer turned to amusement. “Don’t worry your pretty head, Camila, I’m too busy for sex, and if I did want some, I’ll take your nephew over your sister any day.” His gaze shifted back to Andriena. “And I don’t understand why you want me to set Sasha free. Didn’t you hear me say that Sasha vowed to slaughter your family for murdering his brother?”
“He didn’t kill me,” she replied softly.
“You don’t listen, do you? I already said he’s softer on women than men, and if he’s freed, he’d hunt down your male relatives.”
“He told me he only wanted to kill the people responsible, and they’re probably already dead. The D’Angelos and their allies slaughtered a number of our males.”
“Sasha’s like me—he constantly changes his mind.”
“I’ll make him understand that he can’t blame my whole famiglia for what one man did, and it was
most likely a soldato who executed his brother. They aren’t blood, they’re hired help.”
“Who follow orders.”
“Not always, and if they did, the orders would’ve come from my late father. Also, most of our soldati were killed in the raids, so again, there probably won’t be anyone alive who should be held accountable.”
“Looks like I might’ve underestimated your intelligence, Andriena. You’re not a bad debater.”
She breathed out, knowing he hadn’t, because she was unintelligent. She had to work twice as hard to understand things and even harder to remember what people had said, very little sticking in her mind.
“You didn’t underestimate me,” she finally replied. “But this isn’t about me; it’s about Sasha’s freedom. I’ll pay Jagger back whatever you ask for.”
The Black Russian smiled. “You’ve convinced me to consider it.”
“Grazie,” Andriena replied, relieved at his response.
“I don’t need your thanks or your presence.” He flicked his hand at the guards. “Return the sisters to their respective quarters.” He spun on his heel and disappeared down the passageway.
Camila grabbed Andriena one more time, giving her a final hug, then left with her guard. Andriena headed in the opposite direction with Nikita, in disbelief that she would soon be a free woman.
4
ANDRIENA
Andriena entered the cell, finding Sasha asleep on the bed. Eager to tell him that the Black Russian was considering freeing him, she went to prod his shoulder, but stopped, what he’d done earlier making her take a step back. Although she felt an obligation to free him, he was still an asshole, and a volatile one at that.
“Wake up, Sasha,” she said, taking a few more steps back, wary of him again.
Sasha stirred in his sleep, but didn’t wake.
“Sasha.”
Again, he remained asleep.
She moved forward and prodded his shoulder, then shot back to her spot, not wanting to be near him when he opened his eyes. He turned onto his back, making her gasp. His cock was hard again, but this time part of it was sticking out of his briefs.
He opened his uninjured eye. “I was hoping you wouldn’t come back,” he bit out gruffly.
She willed herself not to react to his rude tone. She just had to remind herself that his animosity was due to her family name, not her personally, although she wasn’t sure that was entirely true, his insulting words still hurting her.
“I’m leaving tomorrow,” she said. “My sister’s boyfriend is striking a deal with the Black Russian to free me.”
“He’s wasting his time,” he replied, pushing his cock back into his briefs.
Her gaze moved to what he was doing. “Why would you say that?”
“Because I know the Black Russian too well, and stop looking at my cock.”
Her gaze snapped up to his. “I was not!” she blurted, embarrassed he’d caught her staring again. But how could she not? She liked cock. And not just a little bit—a lot. And he had such a nice-looking one. She’d also never seen a circumcised penis, the ones in her porno collection not counting.
He didn’t reply, though she could clearly see he didn’t believe her.
“I wasn’t looking at it,” she reiterated unconvincingly, still annoyed she’d gotten caught. If she saw something she liked, she looked at it, whether it was inappropriate or not, her common sense usually turning up late to the party. “And tomorrow can’t come soon enough, because not only will I be free from this hellhole, I won’t have to put up with your rudeness anymore.”
“I wasn’t the one rudely staring at my cock and no matter how much I want you gone, you won’t be leaving tomorrow. The Black Russian’s playing mind games with you.”
“You’re wrong. My release is practically a done deal. I also asked him for your freedom and he said he’ll consider it.”
“He won’t set me free.”
“He will if I pay him.”
Sasha’s eyebrows shot up. “You want to buy me?”
“Don’t look at me like that; it’s not how you think it is. My famiglia owe you for what happened to your brother. We can at least help free you.”
His expression turned cold. “It’s obviously why your uncle was able to sell you. You’re gullible.”
“Why are you being nasty again?” she snapped, not having expected his derision. Instead, she’d expected his gratitude. “I’m willing to pay a lot of money for you.”
Sadness fell over his features. “You can pay the world for me, yet it won’t bring back my brother. And a lot of money for you won’t be the same for the Black Russian. He throws around millions like pocket money. I’ve even seen him burn a stack of hundred dollar bills in front of a poor person for a joke. He won’t let us go. All he’s doing is playing a game and right now you’ve fallen for it. This is how he gets his kicks. He’ll give you hope, then smash it down, breaking your spirit until you wish he’d killed you instead.”
“But my sister’s here.”
“Her presence means nothing.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Believe what you wish, but I prefer to live in reality.” He rolled over, facing away from her.
“But Sasha—”
“Be quiet.”
“I will not be quiet until you accept this could really be happening. The Black Russian really likes my sister’s boyfriend. He’ll give him anything he wants.”
“For a heavy price.”
“Oh, Jagger can buy our freedom easily. His famiglia are rich like mine, and I’ll pay him back for whatever he spends on you.”
Sasha rolled over to face her again. “Jagger won’t be paying with money. It’ll be with his body. The Black Russian has always lusted after him. He wants to fuck your sister’s boyfriend and will use whatever means to achieve it. He’s probably using you as a bargaining chip.”
Andriena shook her head. “You’re wrong. Jagger wouldn’t prostitute himself for me.”
“True, he’s probably doing it to save his family and your sister. You’re most likely just an afterthought to make your sister shut up, because if she’s anything like you, she’ll be driving him nuts.”
Andriena glared at him. “You’re just saying all of this to upset me.”
“No, I’m saying it because it’s true, but unfortunately you only believe what you wish. Were you sheltered until your uncle took advantage and sold you?”
She didn’t reply, since she had been sheltered, first by her auntie, then her sisters. Her mother had given her up due to severe postpartum depression, allowing one of her aunties to raise her. Her auntie had protected her from the family business, bringing her up as though she was a normal child, not the daughter of one of the most notorious Dons in Italy. Tragically, her auntie passed away when she was fourteen, which meant she had no choice but to return to the family fold. But her sisters had rallied around her, doing their best to protect her from the harsh world she’d been thrown into, a world full of crime and perversity.
“I guess that’s why you’re so naive,” Sasha said. “You trust people far too readily. And as for Jagger and your sister saving you—they won’t. They were captured, along with the D’Angelo Don, me, and several other people. We’re all the Black Russian’s prisoners, just some are being treated better than others.”
“I don’t trust people as readily as you think, especially after what my uncle did to me, but I do trust my sister with my life and she said I was getting out tomorrow.”
“Again, believe what you wish, just don’t scream and wail when you find out I’m right.” He rolled back over, facing away from Andriena.
“Why do you have to be such a stronzo all the time?” she snapped, having had enough of being patronized. All she’d done was try to be nice to him, yet every single time he treated her like she was a simple-minded fool. She might not be bright, but she’d said nothing that deserved his condescending attitude.
He looked over his shoulder. “I
know stronzo means asshole, blue eyes, and you should be more careful with what you say to me. After all, no one will come to your rescue if I decide to shut you up permanently.”
“Stop threatening me!” she yelled, not understanding how things had deteriorated so fast. The man was impossible, turning every positive to a negative. It made her want to throttle him.
“I’ll stop threatening you once you stop talking incessantly.”
“No!” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I have a right to speak my mind just as much as you do. And I don’t get why you have to be so mean when all I’ve done is help you.”
He sneered at her. “I’m in a particularly mean mood, because while you were out, I was told today’s the tenth anniversary of when I was sold into slavery. So, excuse me for my ill-mannered language, cyka.”
Her eyes widened. “Did you just call me a bitch?”
“Da, I also called you one earlier, but I guess your birdbrain has already forgotten about it.”
She clenched her hands, wanting to do more than throttle him now. “You’re the rudest, most infuriating man I’ve ever met!”
“Then don’t talk to me. Problem solved.” He flicked his hand dismissively. “Now, go play in your fantasy world, because I’ve had enough of listening to your whiny voice.”
“You bastardo!” Furious, she shot forward, shoving him off the bed, cursing him in Italian. She was sick of people stepping all over her. Ever since her accident, she’d been pushed around like a dumb bimbo, constantly patronized and belittled. But she wasn’t going to stand for it anymore.
Not one second longer!
Sasha jumped to his feet, his murderous expression making her back up fast, all her bravado gone in the blink of an eye. Her mind screamed at her to run, but she couldn’t, because there was nowhere to bloody run!
She held out a hand. “Don’t—”
Before she could get another word out, he leapt over the bed, making her shriek. She hit out at him as he went for her. He grabbed her arms and swung her around, pushing her onto the bed. He climbed onto her torso, his weight bearing down on her, causing her panic to rise even more.
Sasha & Andriena #1 (Lovers & Sinners) Page 4
