Twisted Minds
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Cassandra Rock
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đ„12.8M
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111
Chapter 1
Elaina
Are you happy? Itâs a simple question, but it digs deep. I used to believe I was, living my small-town life in Ohio, just me and my mom against the world. But happiness, Iâve come to understand, is a delicate thing. It can shatter in a heartbeat, like a fragile glass hitting a hard floor.
Growing up without a dad wasnât out of the ordinary. Lots of kids turn out just fine with one parent. And my mom, sheâs a powerhouse. As the owner of Duvalâs Cakes, sheâs the kind of woman who can create a whirlwind of flour and sugar and turn it into something magical. I spent my summer after high school graduation helping her out, learning the trade, and finding comfort in the rhythm of our little shop.
Today was supposed to be special. My eighteenth birthday. The big one-eight. The day I officially became an adult. But I hadnât given it much thought, too wrapped up in the everyday tasks of icing cakes and serving customers. That is until the lights in the shop flickered and died, plunging my world into darkness.
âMom?â My voice wavered, a blend of confusion and a tiny spike of fear. The backroom door creaked, and there they were, my mom and Kira, my ride-or-die best friend, their faces glowing in the soft candlelight. They sang âHappy Birthday,â and I couldnât help but laugh, the tension melting away.
âMake a wish, Elaina,â Kira urged, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
I closed my eyes, the flickering candles casting dancing shadows behind my lids. I didnât need to wish for anything. I had everything I wanted right here. My mom, Kira, the shop. I blew out the candles, and when I opened my eyes, I was met with their smiling faces.
âShall we cut the cake?â I suggested, eager to taste the sweetness my mom had crafted just for me.
We settled at a small table by the window, the shop quiet and private with the âClosedâ sign hanging on the door. The cake was perfect, as always, and the gifts they gave me were thoughtfulâa charm bracelet from Kira and a limited edition of my favorite book, The Great Gatsby, from Mom.
Kiraâs next words sent a jolt of excitement through me. âIâm trying to get us tickets to that Pitbull concert in New York,â she said, her face a mix of hope and disappointment.
My heart raced at the thought, but my momâs voice cut through the excitement like a knife. âNo. Youâre not leaving Ohio, Elaina.â
I stared at her, stunned. âWhat? Mom, Iâm eighteen now. I can make my own decisions.â
Her eyes met mine, and there was something there I couldnât quite place. Fear? Desperation? âIâm telling you, youâre not leaving this state. Ever.â
The words hung heavy in the air, a sentence I couldnât escape. I had dreams, plans to leave Ohio, to explore and live. But my momâs declaration felt like chains wrapping around my ankles, dragging me down.
Kira slipped away, sensing the tension, leaving me to face my mom alone. âWhy, Mom? Why canât I go?â
She wouldnât look at me, her gaze fixed on some distant point. âItâs for your own good, Elaina. Trust me.â
But how could I trust her when she was clipping my wings, keeping me caged in this small town? I needed answers, and I needed them now.
The next day, I sat on my bed, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and anger. My mom had always been protective, but this was different. This was suffocating. I had to confront her, to break free from whatever was holding her back from letting me live my life.
I found her in the foyer, her back to me, her posture rigid. âMom? Iâm going to Kiraâs party tonight. We need to talk aboutââ
My words died in my throat as I saw the three men standing with her. Strangers in our home, their presence setting off alarm bells in my head. My mom turned, her face pale, her eyes wide with something that looked a lot like fear.
âElaina, go upstairs,â she said, her voice trembling.
But the man who seemed to be in charge, with his thick accent and cold eyes, stopped me. âNo, let her stay. She should hear this.â
Hear what? My heart pounded in my chest as he stepped closer, my mom moving to block him. âVadim...â she warned, but he brushed her aside.
âYou have no idea, do you, Elaina?â His smile was predatory, and I instinctively stepped back. âIâm your father.â
The room spun, and I searched my momâs face for some sign that this was a lie. But there was only resignation, a silent confirmation of my worst fears.
âMom! Heâs lying...â But the words were hollow, even to my own ears.
Vadimâs laugh was dark, amused. âLetâs catch up, my dear.â
I wanted to scream, to run, but his grip on my wrist was ironclad. âGet out of my house!â I shouted, but he only tightened his hold.
âWhy are you here?â I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
His answer sent chills down my spine. âYour mother knew I was coming. This was always the plan. Youâre mine now.â
Mine? The word echoed in my head, a claim I couldnât accept. But as Vadim spoke in Russian, his men moved in, and I realized this was no joke. This was my life unraveling before my eyes.
âI donât want to go,â I said, struggling against the manâs grip. âI reject your offer.â
But my words were nothing against Vadimâs will. âYou need to listen to him,â my mom said, her voice breaking.
Betrayal, sharp and bitter, filled my mouth. She had known, all along, that this day would come. And she had said nothing.
Vadimâs grin sends a chill down my spine as he leans in close. âYou donât even know who youâre dealing with, do you?â
I stare him down, my defiance the only shield I have. âYouâre not my dad,â I snap back.
His hand clamps down on my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. âI am Vadim Vasiliev, the head of the Russian Mafia. And you, Elaina, are my only child.â
Everything goes black, not from shock or fear, but from the sharp sting of a needle in my side. As I slip into unconsciousness, I realize my life as I knew it is over. And thereâs nothing I can do to stop it.
The needleâs sting is sharp, a cruel end to Vadimâs announcement. My body feels heavy, my thoughts are a jumbled mess as the drug takes over. I try to fight it, to stay awake, but itâs like trying to stop a tidal wave with my bare hands.
My momâs face appears, her features twisted in pain. âElaina, please forgive me,â she cries, reaching out as if to touch me, but Vadimâs man holds her back. Her apology is a whisper lost in the growing darkness.
I want to yell, to scream at her for her betrayal, but my voice is a mere breath, a futile sound in the vast silence thatâs swallowing me whole. Vadimâs face hovers above mine, his eyes cold and calculating. âWelcome to your new life, Elaina,â he says, and then everything goes black.
When I wake up, Iâm in a different world. The softness of a plush seat beneath me, the hum of an engineâit takes a moment for my brain to catch up. Iâm in a car, a fancy one, and outside the window, the world is a blur of lights and shadows.
Vadim sits across from me, watching with an unreadable expression. âWhere are we going?â My voice is hoarse, the words tasting of fear and confusion.
âTo your new home,â he replies smoothly. âYou have much to learn, Elaina. About who you are, about your heritage.â
I donât want any of it. I want my old life, my mom, the cake shop. But as the cityâs skyline comes into view, I know thereâs no going back. Vadim has plans for me, and heâs not the kind of man you say no to.
The car slows, pulling up to a towering building that screams power and wealth. Vadimâs men escort me inside, through marble halls and up to a penthouse thatâs more a palace than an apartment. âThis is yours,â Vadim says, gesturing to the opulence around us.
I feel like a doll in a dollhouse, everything perfectly arranged for a life I didnât choose. âWhy are you doing this?â I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Vadimâs gaze is sharp, his voice a low rumble. âBecause you are my daughter, Elaina. And itâs time you took your place by my side.â
I shiver, not from the cold, but from the realization that this man, this stranger, holds my fate in his hands. And as night falls over the city, I canât shake the feeling that Iâm a pawn in a game I donât understand, a game thatâs only just beginning.
The night is long, filled with restless sleep and dreams of shadows. When morning comes, it brings no comfort, only the heavy weight of reality. Iâm alone in a gilded cage, the daughter of a man whoâs a monster in a suit.
Vadimâs words echo in my mind, a mantra of a future I canât escape. âYouâre mine now.â And as I look out over the city, a city thatâs now my prison, I know that my fight is only just beginning.
But what can I do against the Russian Mafia? Against Vadim Vasiliev? Fear twists in my gut, but beneath it, a spark of defiance flickers to life. I might be his daughter, but Iâm not his possession. Iâll find a way out of this, somehow.
And as the sun rises higher, casting golden light across the city, I make a vow. Vadim might think he owns me, but Iâll prove him wrong. Iâll reclaim my life, even if itâs the last thing I do.
The door to the penthouse opens, and Vadim walks in, a smile on his lips that doesnât reach his eyes. âGood morning, Elaina. Are you ready to begin?â
I meet his gaze, my own eyes hard with determination. âIâm ready for anything.â
But as Vadimâs smile widens, I canât shake the feeling that Iâve just stepped into a battle Iâm not ready for. And as he lays out his plans for me, plans that involve power, danger, and a world I never knew existed, I realize that my journey is about to take a dark turn.
