Sonia
When traffic comes to a dead stop, Leonid walks out onto the highway to the car in front of us where another man stares into the distance. Apparently, there’s some kind of accident and no one’s going anywhere.
That should give me hope that I’ll get rescued in time but after what Kit just said, probably not. I could kick myself for thinking what we had was more than just sex. I’m so damn naïve when it comes to men. I really thought he cared. One lone tear rolls down my cheeks and angrily, I wipe it away.
Then Leonid, sitting back down in the driver’s seat, sneers and says, “Stupid cunt.”
I wonder, can I make a run for it? Surely in America, I can’t be taken out of the country against my will.
“Stay put.” Reading my mind, my fiancé-from-hell grasps my wrist and pain shoots up my arm.
I pull my arm out of his grip, staring back into his icy gaze. What do I care what he’ll do to my body? My soul is shattered.
“Kit Tufek is twice the man you are.”
His jaw ticks and suddenly, a hard fist slams into my upper cheek bone. At first, I’m so shocked I feel nothing. This is followed by searing agony. When my stomach revolts, I open the car door, and puke.
My father approaches, no doubt his car stuck in traffic not far behind. “Control your temper, Leonid. Beat her somewhere less obvious.”
While I wiggle a tooth with my tongue, Leonid whispers in my ear, “When you’re my wife, every night I’ll split you wide with my huge cock until you beg me to stop.”
He’s such a pig that despite the beating I’ll get, I can’t stop myself from responding. “If you ever touch me again, I’ll find a kitchen knife and stab it so deep into your eye socket that what little brains you have, spill out onto your pillow.”
I’ve never spoken so boldly but instead of being afraid, his cock puffs up in his pants. Surely, he’s the devil incarnate.
My father motions Leonid out. “Give us a moment.”
The he slides in beside me, and hands me his handkerchief. “What did you take off my computer.”
“Nothing. I told you. I had to use the bathroom.” I wipe my face, dab the cloth at my lip, my tongue tasting iron.
“What then?” He leans in, studying my face.
“You were shouting so I stayed put. I wanted to wait to talk until you weren’t so angry.” I stare straight ahead at the dashboard, gaze firm.
His voice is hard. “Smart. And?”
“Nothing.” I venture a glance at his face. Big mistake. Shit.
Now, the human lie detector’s eyebrows raise.
Committed, I lie with false bravado. “I headed for the leather couch because I didn’t know how long you’d be.”
A snake about to strike, he watches my every move. “An email was opened.”
“It wasn’t me. I swear, father. Perhaps your assistant –”
“Your fingerprints were on my mouse!” This, he screams into my face.
Holy fuck, I’m so screwed. I had no idea he was so paranoid.
The only out is to admit to some wrong doing, but not all. “Yes, Papa. I saw an email where my name was in the subject so I opened the attachments.”
“Go on.” There’s murder in his eyes and if I had doubts about his true feelings toward me, they’re gone, now.
“I’m sorry, father. I saw nothing other than that.”
“Is that it?”
“Yes. That’s all. I swear it.”
I swallow hard, hoping he doesn’t see through my untruths. If I tell him what else I stole, I’ll surely die in the upcoming flight, my body thrown into the ocean from thousands of feet up in the air. I’ll be eaten by sharks, my bones picked clean.
His shoulders drop slightly, his breathing evens out, and his jaw muscles relax. Then he opens his computer and turns it around. “You think I got where I am by being stupid? I know you called the FBI, heard you promise to give them information. How was this done?”
My heart pounds in my ears. “I’m sorry, Papa. I just didn’t want to marry Leonid. I, I, I gave a disc to Kit Tufek, last night. I don’t have it.”
“What’s on it?”
“There is an email about Petya.”
“Nothing else?”
“I tried to get more but you had no other incriminating emails and I knew you’d be back soon. You never leave your office for long.” I leave out the long list of computer IP addresses. As a very young girl I learned, if caught, confess to some, not all.
This gives me some comfort as he starts screaming, “You defy me like this? You ungrateful whore!”
His arrow hits straight into my heart. “I don’t care what you say, I will not marry Leonid.”
“It’s all arranged. We’ll hear no more about it or I’ll drop you off in the slums of Moscow, naked. Do you understand me?”
“Yes father.” I nod but that particular threat no longer has any bite. There’s a locker in the city with a set of clothes, a fake passport, and enough money to leave the country. Fuck him, fuck Leonid, and fuck Kit Tufek.
Lowering my gaze to my wringing hands, I wonder how long it’ll take for the USB to get into the hands of the FBI. Surely, Kit will take it to them? Then again, why would he risk my father’s wrath for a good fuck.
When traffic moves again, I vow never to be so stupid as to fall in love again.