You're whatever I say, Anya.

Anya’s Pov.

I paced my room, frustration bubbling in me. I felt like a trapped animal, caged and powerless.

Part of me wanted to scream, but I had to stay in control. Viktor was testing me, waiting to see how I’d break. Dios mío, why do I feel this place may be more dangerous than I think?

Everyone moved in secret, and spoke in confusing terms, the men's faces I'd seen were weird and cold. I still don't know what their profession was, to have bought me.

And to do what exactly, he just kept me here for days now, what if he bought me to be his sex toy…or more to break me.

But he hasn't done anything like that, except that stupid skip my heart does anytime he is near. I hated him and I won't make him see me cower.

The door suddenly opened, breaking my thoughts. Viktor walked in, his usual cold, unreadable expression in place.

I stopped mid-step, my heart racing. The air between us seemed to shift, charged with something I couldn’t put my finger on.

I felt the prickle of fear, but I forced myself to meet his gaze with defiance.

“What do you want?” I spat, my voice colder than I felt.

He shut the door, his eyes narrowing. “You’ve already made it clear that you’re not thrilled to be here,” he said, his tone equally sharp. “But don’t even think about using Nikolai to escape.”

Oh! So the huge guy told him. Nikolai was the only one who had been nice to me. He bought me food on time and even offered to play scrabbles with me.

I crossed my arms, meeting his gaze with a stubborn set to my jaw. “Maybe I’m just talking to someone who actually treats me like a human.”

Viktor’s jaw tightened, and he took a step closer, his eyes locked on mine. “You’re smarter than that, Anya. Nikolai may seem like an easy mark, but he’s loyal. He’ll never betray me.”

I forced a mocking smile. “Are you afraid I’ll change that?”

He scoffed, but I noticed a flicker of something in his eyes—something vulnerable, maybe even uncertain. “You don’t know what you’re playing with. Manipulating him won’t end well for you.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t have to manipulate him if you didn’t lock me up like this,” I shot back, my voice rising. “I’m not some possession you can keep under control, Viktor.”

A slow, dark smile spread across his lips, sending a shiver down my spine. He leaned in, his face inches from mine. “You are whatever I say you are, Anya.”

The words stung, but I refused to back down. My heart raced as I stared into his eyes, daring him to say more.

The spark between us was almost electric, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing my fear. I clenched my fists, grounding myself.

“I won’t be controlled by you,” I whispered, my voice fierce even though I was shaking inside. “I’ll find a way out, Viktor.”

His hand reached out, his fingers brushing against my cheek. The touch was soft, almost gentle, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

I hated how my body reacted to him, this man who held me captive. It was infuriating. But I couldn’t ignore the way my skin tingle under his touch, even though my mind screamed to pull away.

His voice was low, barely a whisper. “Be careful what you wish for.”

We stared at each other, neither of us willing to break eye contact. I could feel his breath, warm against my skin, his presence so close that it was dizzying.

I hated how much he affected me, how his touch lingered on my skin long after he pulled his hand away.

Finally, he stepped back, his expression hardening. “Stay out of trouble, Anya,” he warned before turning to leave.

As the door closed behind him, I released a shaky breath. My heart was pounding, and my cheeks felt hot.

How could I let him get under my skin like that? Eres una tonta, Anya. You’re a fool. I couldn’t afford to let my guard down around him, not for a second.

By evening, everywhere had gone quiet. I was alone, bored to death, I've no phone or means of communication and oh! How I miss Celine.

I couldn't help but wonder where she was, if she was also bought. Who are these people?? In what cult are they and why haven't the force been alerted?

I needed to do something, anything to distract myself.

Carefully, I slipped out of my room, glancing down the hall to make sure no one was watching.

If I was going to be trapped here, I might as well learn more about this place. Maybe there was a way out that I hadn’t seen yet.

The mansion was massive, with hallways that seemed to twist and turn endlessly. It was as if it was decorated this way for some secret mission.

I wandered through the rooms, trying to map out each one in my mind. There were locked doors, heavy and dreadful, but there were also open spaces filled with expensive furniture and art I didn’t recognize.

This place was a fortress, carefully designed to keep people out—or keep people in.

As I reached a quiet hallway, I heard muffled voices from one of the rooms. Curious, I crept closer, pressing myself against the wall and peeking through a small crack in the door.

I couldn’t see much, but I recognized Viktor’s voice, low and commanding.

He was speaking in Russian and his tone was sharp. I could only hear phrases but I felt the authority he held.

Viktor and some of the guys in the mansion and another man who looked scared. The tone was unmistakable. It was the sound of anger, of threats.

My instincts screamed at me to walk away, but I couldn’t pull myself from the doorway.

Then, in one swift movement, Viktor pulled out a gun. My heart stopped. I saw the flash of metal as he pointed it at the man, his face cold and without a hint of mercy.

Before I could blink, he pulled the trigger. A shot rang out, echoing through the room, and the man fell, crumpling to the floor.

My whole body went cold. I stumbled back, pressing my hands to my mouth to keep from screaming.

Dios mío, God, what had I just witnessed? I couldn’t breathe. I turned and hurried down the hall, begging the marble floor not to expose me.

I ran into my room, to the bathroom, the bile rose in my throat, and I barely made it to the sink before I threw up.

I clutched the edge of the sink, my knuckles white as I tried to steady myself.

My thoughts were a whirlwind. I pieced together every clue I’d ignored, every sign I hadn’t wanted to see.

The guards, the locked-down mansion, the cold looking men, the auction. It wasn’t normal. Nothing about him was. And now, after seeing him kill that man, I knew.

He’s the mafia. He’s dangerous, he just bought me and I'm trapped. Just as I was getting myself together.

The door sprung open. I saw Viktor standing there, looking at me with such an intense dark eye.

My heart was beating very fast, I was scared it could burst open. He took some menacing steps at me and I moved backward, my hands shaking.

“Wh–what do you want?” I asked, trying to steady my shaking voice.