Caged (Dark Empire #2)

Fifteen.

Ashlee

I couldn't stop the quiver in my hands no matter how hard I tried. “Where are you taking me?” My words were partly slurred.

“Somewhere to talk, pet.”

“Why can't we talk here?”

“Because where's the fun in that? I have no interest in hurting you, krasotka.”

“Yet you shot me at my wedding,” I mumbled.

“You were not my target. You merely got in the way.”

“Right.” I rolled my eyes. “An innocent bystander.”

“Exactly.” He smirked like an arrogant prick. “Try and sober up a little for me.”

I stared out the window as we sped through the deserted streets, the city's shadows flickering past. The alcohol's haze was rapidly lifting, replaced by a surge of adrenaline that sharpened my senses despite the lingering dizziness. My pulse quickened. Dmitry, unfazed, didn't bother to hide our route, likely thinking I was too drunk to notice. But I was alert, every detail etching itself into my mind. We entered a grim industrial estate, and my heart pounded as we finally halted in front of a shadowy warehouse, its looming presence hinting at secrets within.

“Come, krasotka, let’s talk.”

He got out and walked around to my side, opening my door for me when I failed to move. “I have no intention of harming you, but if you make me ask things twice, I will.”

I swallowed a lump in my throat and got out, his large body looming above me. I didn’t believe that he wasn't going to hurt me, but I didn’t want to try my luck either.

Dmitry led me into the warehouse, the space packed with large containers. I followed him through them until we stopped in a space in the middle. “Mrs Prezello.” He leaned against a box with a smirk. “Do you really know what sort of man you've married?”

“A better one than you,” I muttered.

I couldn't fathom why he left me unrestrained. Did he really not care if I tried to escape? The thought of bolting crossed my mind, but then I saw the cold steel of his gun gleaming under the dim light. My heart raced with a mix of fear and curiosity—he was daring me to make a move.

He gave a low, dark chuckle. “So he would have you believe. What makes you think he’s better than me?”

“You and your dad violated him as a child,” I hissed.

“And do you know why we caught him? He stormed into our territory like a madman, gunning down our men without a second thought. He shot my brother, a fifteen-year-old boy, an innocent bystander enjoying our party. One of our guys finally tackled him. My father kept him alive because Stefan Prezello owed us big money. He saw a chance to leverage Stefan,” he sneered.

My eyes narrowed.

“I take it he didn’t share the entire story with you?”

“But what you did to him...” I whispered, my voice trembling.

“I won’t deny what my father did.”

“And you,” I hissed.

He chuckled darkly. “No one says no to my father. Besides, I was young and had... urges. Your husband was surprisingly skilled, even at that age. I’m no gay, believe me, but it got me off.”

“You’re fucking disgusting,” I spat.

His laughter was cold and cruel. “He put himself in that situation, pet. We had to get Stefan's attention, so my father sent the videos. Hurting him wasn’t working, so we changed tactics. Breaking a young Prezello was just a bonus. He's lucky to be alive. We didn’t expect him to hold out long enough to be rescued.”

I shook my head in disgust.

“He lied to you, krasotka. He never told you he started it that night, did he? Never mentioned he shot first. The Prezellos ignited this war.”

“What’s your aim here? I'm married to him. My allegiance is with him,” I muttered, my mind reeling. Did Ethan really lie to me?

“Oh, please, he has you trapped. I want to offer you a deal. Get your husband somewhere vulnerable, and let me know. I’ll finish him off.”

My lips parted in shock. “You want me to kill him?” I could never do that.

“No, I want you to get him somewhere so I can kill him. Take him out to dinner on a date or something. Just get him away from that bulldog who's always with him.”

“What makes you think I'll do that?”

“I’m merely asking.” He shrugged. “If you don't, then we continue this conflict the long way. But do this and you'll be free.”

“Yeah, right,” I muttered. “Like you'd let me walk.”

“I swear that I will. I have no interest in you. Do this and I'll let you go free, and I'll even pay you a handsome penny for your troubles.”

My eyes narrowed with suspicion.

I couldn’t do this. I loved him.

But he does have you caged.

And he's apparently lied to you.

“What’s your deal with Ethan? He has two brothers, let alone Stefan.”

"Stefan’s practically untouchable. I'm not stupid. Ethan is an easier target because the family are protective of him. That’s always the way with the youngest child. My father was the same with Alexis. Ethan is reckless and sloppy. He shot my brother for no reason and I haven’t forgotten that.”

“Like you’ve never done the same,” I huffed.

“You’re wrong. I always shoot with a purpose, never recklessly. He was dangerous that night because he didn’t give a fuck about the cost of life. He didn’t care that my brother was fifteen and innocent. He just wanted death.”

“He was a child himself,” I argued.

“I never forgot and I have always remembered seeing him break under my fathers torture. He acts tough but he isn’t. Taking him out will distract the family enough for us to attack the rest of them.”

I shook my head, struggling to process what he was telling me.

“I’m offering you freedom from this mess. Just think about it, krasotka. I'm offering you a way out.”

His phone started ringing before I could get my head around his offer.

“Ah, about time, Mr Prezello.”

“Dmitry, where's my wife?” Ethan's voice sounded through loudspeaker.

“Your wife is still in one piece.”

“Let her go. She's done nothing wrong.”

“Ah, that’s not strictly true, is it?”

“She didn’t know about Hooligan’s being in your territory.”

My eyebrows rose.

“So, you and your wife don’t talk? You let her out clubbing without knowing where?”

“Dmitry, just give her back.” Ethan's voice was strained with anger.

“Ah, maybe you didn’t know. Did she leave without telling you? This sounds like a happy marriage.” Dmitry raised an eyebrow at me.

My cheeks flooded red. He knew he'd hit the nail on the head.

“She’s not your target. Just let her go.”

“Right you are. I will let her go, but all in good time. We're having quite a nice talk.”

“Dmitry!” Ethan snapped.

“You may collect her from Hooligan’s in half an hour. I'll leave her where I found her.”

“No funny business?”

“Don’t start anything and we won't either. I have no desire to fight tonight.”

“Fine, you have a deal, but if I find one hair harmed on my wife's head, I'll fucking rage war.”

Dmitry laughed darkly. “She’s unharmed, aren't you, krasotka?”

“I'm fine, Ethan,” I said, my voice bland.

“Good, and it better stay that way.” Ethan hung up leaving Dmitry grinning at me.

“So, still think he’s a victim?”

“You abused him,” I muttered.

“Which was his own fault for marching into our territory out for our blood. Anyway, if you want to take me up on my offer, send me a text or call me. Here's my number.” He strode towards me, plucking a card from his jacket pocket. “I mean it, pet. You will have your freedom if you allow me to get rid of your husband.”

I swallowed a lump in my throat as I took the card. I wouldn't do it. I couldn't betray the man I loved.

“I do love him, Dmitry. I couldn’t betray him like that.”

“We'll see. A few weeks into your marriage and things already appear to be off-balance. You have my card should you change your mind.”

“I won't.”

I love him.

The man who lied to you. The man who's taking away your freedom.

“Come on, let’s get you back.”

The drive was eerily silent, Dmitry allowing me to drown in my own thoughts. There was so much to unravel. What Dmitry was suggesting was unthinkable, yet his words resonated with a harsh truth. Ethan had been suffocating me. And what if Dmitry was right about the past? Why had Ethan hidden the truth from me all this time? I didn't know what to think.

“I hope to hear from you, krasotka,” Dmitry grinned as he pulled up outside of the club.

It was the middle of the night and the place was just closing, the last few stragglers leaving. There was no sign of Ethan, and Hannah and Grace were gone.

After tucking the card he gave me down my bra, I got out, backing away from the car. I felt better now that there were other people around, but this all seemed too easy.

Plus those other people didn’t stop him from taking me before.

Dmitry gave a dismissive wave before speeding off, leaving me stranded on the curb. Just as I processed his departure, strong hands clamped down on my arms from behind, and I let out a startled yelp, heart pounding in sudden fear.

“Ash, sorry. Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

I glanced up at Ethan. “I'm fine, he didn’t touch me at all,” I muttered.

“Good, then let’s get out of here.”

He pulled me down the road to a waiting car, ushering me inside quickly.

“Are you okay, Red?” Mags asked from the driver's seat.

“Yeah, he just wanted to talk.”

“About what?” Ethan turned to gaze at me with a frown.

“About what sort of man I married. Nothing exciting I'm afraid.” The card felt heavy in my bra. I didn’t know what to do.

No, I did. I loved him. How could I ever betray my men like that?

“Did you come alone?” I mumbled.

“Mario was up the road with Hannah and Grace. I've messaged him to say that you're back. He's taking the girls home now.”

“So I can’t even see my friends to say bye. Great.” I rolled my eyes, feeling the weight of the card again.

“Ashlee, do you have any idea what the fuck could have happened to you?” Ethan snapped.

“How were we meant to know that this was their territory?” I countered back.

“You should have spoken to me instead of just leaving!” He bellowed loud enough to make me flinch. I'd never heard him this angry.

“Ethan, calm yourself down,” Mags said.

“I needed to go out. I need to see my friends once in a while. I haven't been anywhere other than work since we got back from Italy for fuck's sake. I feel trapped.”

“You should have spoken to me,” he muttered. “I could have arranged a night for you all at Raptors. I'm disappointed in you, Ashlee, I thought you were better than that. I thought I could trust you by now. You endangered yourself and your two friends, all because you didn’t talk to me. How would you have felt if something had happened to Hannah or Grace? ”

“I just wanted a night out,” I whispered. “I don’t feel like I have my freedom.”

“I see.”

Mags released a sigh as we fell into a tense silence. His disappointment was worse than his anger, but I couldn’t help that I felt trapped.

“I'll come around tomorrow,” Mags said once we reached the house.

I got out without saying anything. I was upset and angry.

Ethan opened the door, pushing past me to go to the kitchen. “Ashlee, go to bed.”

His command boiled my blood. “This is the fucking problem. I'm meant to be your wife, not your puppet.”

“Can we not do this now?” He hissed. "It’s late.”

“Whatever. Can I ask you something? Why did you lie to me?”

He turned around and glared. “I’ve never lied to you.”

“Dmitry told me what happened the night that they caught you. About how you went marching through their territory with your gun, and how you shot Alexis.”

“Yeah, I was a stupid teenager who did a stupid thing. They got me. Does that make what they did right?”

“No, obviously not, but you didn’t tell me the full story!” I shouted. “How can I believe you when you don’t tell me all the details like that?”

“I’ve never lied to you, Ashlee. Never. I didn’t tell you that because I didn’t want you to see how much of a stupid teenager I was. Everything else I said was the truth.”

I swallowed a lump in my throat.

“What you did this evening was reckless. You left without talking to me and you put your friends in danger. What if one of them had gotten hurt? What if you had gotten hurt?”

“We didn’t know!”

“Because you didn’t talk to me!” He bellowed back.

“Because I thought you'd say no. You would never have let me out.”

“Do you really believe that?” He shook his head. “I’ve never been this disappointed in you before. Just go to bed, it’s late.”

I frowned. “This marriage clearly isn't working,” I muttered. “I can't do this. I can't keep feeling this trapped and hopeless. I can’t keep being told what to do like this!” I turned around to leave and then felt the card poke into my skin. I pulled it out, staring at Dmitry's number.

Even now I couldn’t betray him.

“He asked me to get you out and to call him when you were more vulnerable. He was going to come and kill you, and then give me my freedom. I told him I loved you and couldn’t do it. Even now I would never do it, even when he had offered me a way out. He offered me the one thing I want - Freedom.” I turned around and flung the card at him. “Tonight wasn't my fault, Ethan, but this obviously isn't working between us.”

I stormed from the room to grab Luna, and then I took her into the guest room. I couldn’t deal with him tonight. I dragged a chair towards the door, jamming it closed so that he couldn’t get in. Then I stripped off my dress, and curled up before crying myself to sleep.