laid it out and talked it through to herself. She was going to wait until Sergei was getting ready in the early hours of the morning, then sneak into the garage and into the back of the black SUV he drove daily. He didn’t usually check on her before he left, so he wouldn’t start now. Sergei always gave her time to get ready and would eat breakfast alone if she didn’t come down fast enough because he said he was too busy to wait.
Money was Lana’s biggest problem. He hadn’t packed any of her personal documents to take with her. How he got her into the country without verifying her information and going through a screening process puzzled her. Lana had no access to her monies, but once she broke free she’d find internet access somewhere and get her money transferred to her from her bank accounts. How she’d collect it Lana didn’t know, but she’d find a way. Worst case scenario, Lana would go to the US embassy and claim her IDs had been stolen. There was no way she would tell anyone the truth. She actually cared too much to do that to Sergei, but she couldn’t stay.
Lana thought back to last night’s dinner and to the fact that she had almost kissed him.
“So, are you ever going to let me go?” I asked as I stared at Sergei eating his steak. Even the way the man chewed was sexy. His jaw was so perfectly chiseled and covered in a five o’clock shadow.
His mood was playful tonight. If this had been a normal date, I would lose my heart to him easily. Sergei’s eyes glowed with mischief as he said, “I don’t know. I kind of like having dinner with you every night.”
I looked at him and said, “Well you didn’t have to kidnap me to ask me out.”
“Would you have said yes if I had asked you out?” I saw the sincerity in his eyes, and I needed to stop the bonding between us.
“No, but at least you would have saved yourself all this trouble.” I wasn’t sure if I was lying or not because I did want him, but he was like Santini. Although, it seemed I may have been wrong about that.
“Honey, I didn’t want to kidnap you to date you. I kidnapped you because you wouldn’t quit harassing me. The fact that you’re beautiful, and we have some stimulating conversations, adds to the enjoyment. Although when you toss the whole kidnapping thing into every conversation it gets less and less appealing,” Sergei remarked as he took a drink of his wine.
“I’m sorry, but that’s the only reason you have me here. What else am I to say? I’m vacationing with a mobster.”
Sergei stood up and threw his napkin down on his plate. “I already told you I’m not like that. We did what we had to do to survive a world we were forced into. Good night.”
“Sergei, wait!” I stood up, and he halted. When he turned to look at me, I saw a pain in his eyes that I didn’t want to see. “I just don’t understand you. I’m scared.”
He walked up to me with a slow measured pace. “Lana, I wouldn’t hurt you. You may consider me a bad man, but I don’t. I promise I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you,” he whispered, inches from my face.
“I’ve heard that before,” I whispered as I leaned in and closed my eyes. I didn’t mean to try and kiss him, but the need to taste that strong mouth was overwhelming.
Before I could feel his lips on mine, he stepped back and growled, “Don’t ever compare me to that filth again.” He stormed out of the room with a look of pure disgust and hatred. I felt my heart start to crack. I ran to my room and cried, not because of his words, but because I nearly caved to him—to my captor.
Just before the sun rose, Lana had gotten dressed with some of her clothes layered, since she couldn’t carry any luggage with her. Then she used the path she had laid out and made it to the garage easily. She was almost concerned that it was too easy, but since Lana hadn’t given Sergei any reason to think she’d run, he wouldn’t be looking for her to flee. She slipped into