“Oh,” she replied, surprise and panic stealing any further conversation. Somehow being taken to another country against her will seemed even more despair-inducing than her current situation. How the heck was she supposed to get away from Volkan if she couldn’t get any sense of her surroundings? Couldn’t go out in public? Then it hit her. Maybe that was his plan. Keep her confused and guessing, vulnerable in countries she had no experience with. Turkey was worse than Britain. She wouldn’t be able to speak the language, couldn’t communicate if she did manage to escape.

“May I go to the bedroom?” she asked Volkan, the words burning like smouldering ash on her tongue. She despised asking him for anything.

He nodded. “Yes, you’ve had a long day. Get some rest.”

I hate you more than I’ve ever hated anyone! She screamed at him from the safety of her head before turning and heading for the bedroom, closing the door behind her.

She sank onto the bed, her head in her hands and shoulders slumped.

Turkey.

Of course, she knew of the region as it was of significant archaeological interest. She’d hoped to visit one day. Now, she didn’t have a choice. She would go there with her so-called fiancé to face whatever fresh hell he had in store for her.

She lay back on the bed, curling onto her side and allowing the tears to fall. They dripped down her cheeks and rolled off her nose and chin.

What was she going to do?

Chapter Fifteen

“Wipe your tears, Yasmin. They aren’t needed and I won’t tolerate them.”

Yasmin gasped and sat up. She hadn’t heard Volkan enter the bedroom. Hadn’t felt his presence at the end of the bed. He looked imposing and grim. He wasn’t happy with her.

“Need I remind you that your cooperation is necessary for our happy future together?” He spoke to her like he was speaking to a child, as though a bit of stern discipline could make her smarten up. The depth of his delusions astonished her.

“I don’t want to have a happy future with you.” She wiped the tears from her cheeks. He was right about one thing, there was no use in tears. They wouldn’t get her out of her current situation.

Volkan sighed heavily and reached for her, dragging her off the bed and forcing her to stand in front of him. “Need I remind you what happens if you don’t do as I say?”

“You don’t need to remind me of anything,” she shot back. “But I won’t go along with this disgusting charade, so go ahead and drug me. Enjoy your drugged out shell of a girlfriend.”