I blink, realizing I zoned out. “Oh.” I take a large gulp of it, even though there’s no alcohol in it. “Sorry. I’m just tired. I should get to bed.”
But the moment I stand up, a wooziness overtakes me and I slump back into my seat. My head doesn’t feel right, like it’s foggy. I can barely make out Simone next to me.
“It’s ok, Irina,” she says. “I’ve got you.” Except, her tone is not reassuring.
It only sounds menacing.
Chapter Thirteen
Irina
Iwake up in a basement. A dirty one by the look of the mold on the ceiling and the dust everywhere. With a gasp, I sit up, my heartrate spiking. Where am I exactly? And why am I here?
That’s when I remember the hotel and Simone and my head fuzzy after she told me to drink. But my drink didn’t have alcohol in it. Unless… she drugged me. My father sheltered me from the world but he told me enough to make me fear it. He gave me warnings of girls who got drugged when they tried to party. How it was their fault for being so naïve and stupid to begin with.
I guess I never expected to be on the receiving end.
The sound of a door opening makes me get to my feet. With a glance down at my body, I look ok, like nothing is out of place.The sound of footsteps on stairs sends goosebumps over my skin.
Simone reaches the bottom of the stairs, entering the room. “Hello there.”
“What is this? Where am I?”
“You’re here to get out of the way.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Nik can’t be married to you if you’re gone.”
It takes me a moment to realize what she’s saying. “So you kidnapped me to make it so Nikolai was available again?”
“Yes.” She doesn’t even try to hide it. “Nik and I were meant to be together.”
“But you were already broken up.”
“He was just confused. But when you’re gone, he’ll be free to be with me again.”
“You’re going to kill me?” I whisper.
“No. He is.”
Another set of footsteps ring throughout the air and a man steps into the basement. He’s no older than his thirties with average features. Slightly pudgy but nothing too extreme.
“This is George. He’s going to do the deed. I don’t want to ruin my manicure. See to it that it’s done, George.” She turns to the stairs.
“Wait,” I call out. The glare she gives me when she turns back around is like a gut punch. “Why didn’t you have me killed when I was drugged? Why wait until I was awake?”
“Because this is more fun. I wanted you to know that you won’t get my man. You don’t deserve a peaceful death for taking Nik from me.”
“You’re crazy,” I whisper.
“Don’t call me crazy. I’m just doing what any woman would do to get her man back.” With that, she leaves the basement.
It’s just me and George.
He has a knife in his hand, I notice. A knife he’s going to use to kill me.
There’s a breath between us for a moment before he runs for me. The basement is big enough for me to dodge out of his way but he keeps coming at me and he’s much bigger and faster. I still feel a little out of it from whatever Simone put in my drink.