Claimed

ALEXIA GREEN. 

We are in his car as he drives up to the haunted looking mansion that resembles an old palace that probably occupied fifteenth century. vampires a while back. 

Volkov doesn’t look at me as he gets out of the 

car, walks around it and comes to open the door 

for me. 

Then like the fake gentleman he’s been 

pretending to be, he holds out his hand for me and I completely ignore it. 

As soon as my heels make contact with the ground which happens to be snow, I know deep in my bones that I hate Moscow and probably 

Russia too. 

Russia is cold and unpredictable. 

Russia has looming storm clouds that warn of something tragic happening. 

Russia has a man who I’m supposed to seduce when I can’t even seduce a ninety–year–old man. One, because that’s too gross and two, I’m not exactly the seducing type. 

Together with the man beside me whose height makes me feel smaller and miniscule, we walk 

Chapter II 

straight to the entrance of whatever the hell is going on in there. 

Tonight like every night, Volkov is wearing hist signature scowl. The one that says I have too much trauma to smile. 

Let’s not forget the very expensive, dark as his 

heart suit that matches his dark hair and the shirt 

that’s not buttoned to the collar. 

“We get in there, you don’t stare. You blend in, you find your target and you carry out the mission without drawing too much attention.” 

His hand lands on my back as he takes the fur coat off of me handing it to the doorman who ushers as inside. 

The house is too grand to be described in words. 

The curtains look like they’ve been imported from someplace fancy like Taiwan or Persia. The chandelier might just be made of real diamonds. Real freaking diamonds. 

“Demetri owns all of this?” 

Please say no. Please say no. 

“Yes.” 

Volkov answers the question not in the least bit surprised by anything. 

“What kind of business is he into if he owns all of 

this?” 

Clepter H 

“His profession won’t matter when you come face to face with him. All you need to do is distract him for a few minutes ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Distract him while you do what?” 

While I take care of business” 

I’m panicking. The more I see everything in this house, the more I’m scared of this Demetri guy, 

What if he is like a fat politician type of guy who gropes my butt now and then in the name of ‘knowing each other better? 

I have worked in fancy restaurants as a waitress, ! know how these types of men think. 

The butler, the doorman, whoever this slender man is with the Romanesque nose that looked like it was sculpted by Picasso himself but in a bad way, stands outside the tall oak doors his eyes on 

Volkov. 

“Mr. Vitello, we are honored to have you as our guest.” 

Volkov’s hand caresses my back. The one that’s naked and bare to him because this lilac dress he got me showcases my entire back and covers the upper side of my butt. 

My nerves are a mess. But what drives me crazy? The feel of a hand that huge tracing the line of my back. 

It’s gonna be a long, long night and all I can hope for is that Millie sleeps through it all safe and sound back at the new mansion. 

While the butler pushes the huge doors open and my breath is caught up in my throat, the man beside me leans closer to me, 

“I’d be a dick if I didn’t tell you this but that 

fucking dress you are wearing looks so good on you, I’m almost tempted to gorge out all the eyes. that will set their sights on you tonight.” 

That’s his version of a compliment. 

And in his world maybe that’s his way of saying sorry for dragging you all the way to Russia to use you on a probably deranged man! 

I angle my face to the side only to really look at this man and realize that the Good Lord might have given him the face of a glorious mafia killer but the attitude and temper of a three–year–old after being denied candy. 

“You are still a dick anyway for making me do 

this.” 

Demetri isn’t old or fat. He doesn’t even look like 

a politician. 

He looks even scarier than when Volkov tries to 

choke me. 

Demetri looks and sounds like his name. Impeccably tall, hard facial features an example being the jaw that looks like it goes to a gym itself and a bigger muscle build than Volkov, he is the perfect example of what a soldier and a mercenary looks like. 

Ooh and he is sporting a buzz cut. A buzz cut that looks as terrifying as the non–existent smile on 

his face. 

“I don’t think I can do this.” 

“It’s too late to back down. You are here, you are 

doing it.” 

“Why can’t I seduce a guy like him?“, I ask, my eyes lingering on the man who’s laughing with other strange men by the corner. 

I recognize his brown hair from television. He’s running for senator in Chicago. His name is… 

“Dante Keaton is off… 

I don’t want you near 

him, I don’t want you talking to him. You ready?” 

“No.” 

“Good. Go.” 

Christian is gone by the time I turn around to stop this madness. 

In a throng of businesspeople who I know nothing of, the only right thing to do is obey. 

Seduce Demetri and call it a night. 

Chapter 11. 

Easy peasy right? 

“Demetri?” 

That’s the best I can come up with. 

My palms are sweaty, my throat feels parched as Demetri excuses himself from the man he is talking to and turns his focus on me. 

He sizes me up, he doesn’t even blink as his eyes lock with mine. 

“Nice party by the way. It’s really umm…chic. I’m Kimberly Ramos. You probably don’t remember 

me but…” 

“Whose whore, are you?” 

If I wasn’t too pissed off at his statement. I’d pay attention to his thick Russian accent but he just 

called me a whore. 

“Excuse me? I think you have me mistaken with 

someone else.” 

“No women are invited here. And if there are, they came because their men brought them out for company. You do not know me otherwise you would not have talked to Demetri. 

So we remain with two choices, no? You are someone’s arm candy for the night but you think you can also get Demetri in your bed tonight if you are lucky or two, you are here for something else, something that concerns me.” 

6/10 

Setting 

Busted. 

I’m like a deer caught in headlights. 

Demetri and his terrible English have me 

nowhere left to run and the man who brought me 

here…I turn around, I look for Volkov but he is 

missing. 

Oh no. No. No. 

“No one is coming to save you, woman. Demetri has you cornered, any attempts to run will only quicken your death.” 

“My name is not Kimberly Ramos. I lied. I was kinda forced into this. You are right I don’t know who you are otherwise I wouldn’t have spoken to you or entered your mansion for that matter and for that I apologize. 

I’m not a serial killer, I’m not here to kill you or anything. I’ve never even touched a gun in my life so if you can please forget we met, forget this happened, I’ll disappear and-“, my words die 

down my throat when Demetri throws a glare my 

way. 

“You are coming with me.” 

中申率 

“This isn’t necessary. I have no weapon on me 

and I’m not a hired assassin.” 

“Move.“

One of Demetri’s guys pushes my back with the nozzle of a rifle. 

The other guy to my right clicks his tongue, 

Demetri walks in front of me as we all trek down the red carpeted hallway. 

I’m sweating buckets trying to assure myself! won’t die in Russia. My knees buckle but I try to remain positive. 

Christian Volkov is somewhere in this mansion. 

He’ll notice I’m gone. He’ll look for me. 

But this is the same Christian who brought me here. To sell me to Russians? Oh God, 

My mini panic attack halts when at the end of the hallway, a gorgeous brunette appears wearing only mini shorts and a long baggy shirt that barely looks like hers. 

Her hair is long and voluminous and so chestnut brown she looks like she jumped out of a fairytale. 

Her face is bare of makeup but she looks like a Victoria Secret’s model. 

“Dee. I was so worried.” 

Shit. 

Dee? 

This woman hugs Demetri and jumps in his lap 

Chapter II 

gging her legs around his torso like he is not some terrifying ruffian who’s about to kill me for 

Trespassing. 

And Dee? I mean Demetri? Ue kisses her tenderly before he groans. 

“You shouldn’t be out here, malyshka.” 

I’m no Russian interpreter but I definitely feel like malyshka translates to baby or somet 

endearment of the sort. 

“We’ve already established you are not going to boss me around anymore especially and most especially when they are both here. You invited them? They are going to kill you.” 

Invited who? 

“They are not taking you, what’s mine from me.” 

I cough out the pang of jealousy and confusion from my throat. 

Demetri’s woman acknowledges my presence and something about her eyes looks familiar. 

Like I know her. But from where? 

I don’t get to indulge my curiosity any longer because a few seconds later, the sounds of gunshots loud like thunder ring from down the 

hall. 

I’m already on the floor screaming as I watch Demetri take a gun from his waist, hold on to his 

girlfriend tight and scurry down the hall. 

His men follow him shouting stuff into their walkies. 

And I? 

I lay on the floor flat, my hands above my head, my prayers going to God that He saves me and that my life doesn’t end like this. Meaningless. 

God doesn’t save me. 

He sends my savior in the form of the devil 

himself. 

“I expected you to be dead by now, Little Nurse. Get up, our time’s up.”