Stolen by a Sinner (Sinners #3)(9)

The pain from the whipping.

The attack on the mansion.

Panic rockets through me, my skin turning ice cold. My breathing speeds up, my eyes wildly darting around me.

My body protests when I try to sit up again, a deep ache in my stomach stopping me. Noticing the IV inserted into the back of my hand, my eyes widen even more.

God. Where am I?

Just as I remember I was shot, a man appears in the doorway. His black cargo pants and shirt are the same as the ones Tymon’s guards wear. With no expression on his face, he mutters, “You’re up.”

Nervously, my tongue darts out to wet my dry lips. “Where am I?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.” He disappears again.

Oh, God.

This time I clench my teeth against the pain, and I manage to sit up. Sliding my legs from the bed, I sag against the side of the mattress when I try to stand. I’m wearing only a white nightgown that reaches to my feet.

Come on, Lara. You have to move faster.

With my heart pounding in my chest and zero strength in my legs, I don’t even make it halfway to the door before dropping to the carpet, the IV stand toppling beside me.

No. Get up!

The pain becomes so intense it feels like something is trying to claw its way out of my stomach.

You’re okay.

You can do this.

You’re okay.

You’ve survived worse.

My head snaps up when I hear murmuring voices, then another man appears in the doorway. Unlike the guard, who’s dressed all in black, this man is wearing an expensive charcoal-colored, three-piece suit.

It takes a couple of seconds before I recognize him.

The rude man from the restaurant.

I can’t remember his name.

“Finally,” he mutters, already looking annoyed with me. “Unless you plan on crawling out of here, I suggest you get back in the bed.”

Apprehension tightens my muscles, increasing the pain. “Will you even let me crawl out of here?”

His eyes narrow on me, then slowly, he tilts his head. “No.”

Dear God.

“Why?” I wet my lips again, frustration swirling in my chest because I’m not even strong enough to crawl out of here. “Why am I here?” I shake my head as my fear darkens into a powerless feeling. “How did I get here?”

The man glances down the hallway, then talks to someone I can’t see, authority lacing his words. “Get the woman back in the bed. Secure her.”

“Yes, boss.”

Boss?

Crap.

Oh. Crap!

The guard comes back into the room, then I’m hauled up into the air and placed back on the bed, nauseating waves of pain rippling through me.

Sweat beads on my skin, an exhausted tremor shuddering through my body. I have no strength to stop the guard from clamping a shackle around my ankle. The chain rattles as it settles, hanging down the side of the bed. I didn’t even notice it was lying beneath the bed.

What is going on?

Panic steals the last warmth from my body, leaving me a shivering mess.

“Why are you doing this?” I ask weakly, my fear drenching my words.

The boss stares at me, and just as it starts to feel like he’s trying to cut me in half with his piercing gaze, he says, “You work for Mazur.”

A slight frown forms on my forehead. “Yes?”

He waves a hand over the length of me. “You got shot during the attack. I saved you, and in return, you’ll answer all my questions.”

My frown deepens, and hesitantly I ask, “Did you attack the mansion?”

He nods before taking a seat on the high-back chair, making the thing look like a throne. The guard leaves the room, pulling the door shut behind him.

One less man to deal with.

My eyes settle back on the boss, the fact that he is responsible for the attack on the mansion making me absolutely terrified of him.

“I got shot because of you,” I breathe, quickly realizing this man is Tymon’s enemy, and by default, it means he’ll view me as his enemy as well.

My heart thumps rapidly in my chest, my mouth growing dryer than the desert.

Panicking, I ramble, “I’m just a maid. I know nothing about Mr. Mazur’s business dealings. I–”

He cuts me off, his tone brutally harsh, “It’s quite the coincidence that you bumped into me at Aqua the same day I was planning to attack.”

What?

My lips part, my frown deepening.

Aqua?

Then I remember, and my eyes widen. Quickly, I exclaim, “I don’t know who you are.”

His lion-like eyes lock with mine, and instantly I feel like prey that’s a second away from being torn apart.

God. Help me.

The corner of his mouth twitches, making my heartbeat hammer crazily against my ribs. More sweat coats my skin, prickles of fear rippling through me.

“I’m Gabriel Demir.” I’ve never heard the name before. “Head of the Turkish mafia.”

Pins and needles turn me into a block of ice. My lips part, then my heart sinks to the deepest pits of hell.

I won’t get out of this alive.

Slowly, I inhale a shocked breath, the gasp clearly audible.

His eyes narrow again as he takes in my shocked reaction. “Why were you at Aqua? Were you sent to spy on me?”