Ruthless Reign: A Dark Mafia Forbidden Romance (Tarnished Reign Book 1)

Chapter 35

I waketo sunshine filtering into the room and the smell of Roman all around me. A smile forms on my lips as I turn to reach for him, but he”s not there—just an empty spot, cool to the touch.

Oh. I had hoped we’d have one final morning together.

I push aside the sinking feeling as memories from yesterday come flooding back: Roman kissing me, on top of me, inside of me, and all the dirty things he said and did.

The bite between my legs confirms last night wasn’t a fever dream; it was as real as it gets, and I don’t regret any of it. How could I, when he made me feel alive as if only just discovering desire.

My first time with Roman is etched in my soul—a memory I’ll cherish forever. But now, it’s time to face the music.

Last night, I sent a quick text to my parents, letting them know there was an incident and I was spending the night somewhere safe. I turned off my phone before they could reply.

Anatoly must know by now, and I’m sure he”s upset that I didn’t call him myself. As much as I”d like to put off that conversation forever, I can’t. But my story needs to be airtight, and for that, I need to speak with Roman to make sure we are on the same page.

The thought of powering up my phone and sifting through all messages already has me stressed. Coffee first, then I can tackle the rest.

I stretch my arms overhead and hop out of bed, fully naked. Putting on last night’s dress is unappealing, so I rummage around in Roman’s closet for something to wear. In the first drawer I open, I find a simple white T-shirt. I slip it over my head, breathing in his clean, masculine scent.

We’re less than a week away from the wedding.

Before leaving for the opera last night, I checked my account balance. I’ve done well, but I’m still a hundred thousand dollars short, which means I can’t afford any more distractions.

I haven’t allowed myself to dwell on what will happen if I can’t come up with enough money to pay back our debts before the wedding. I could use the money I’ve made so far to take Sofiya and leave Moscow. Run away to New York or Paris, or somewhere no one knows us. But that means living in hiding for the rest of my life since I have no doubt Anatoly would pursue us to the ends of the earth. Not because he loves me, but because he wouldn’t be able to handle the blow to his giant ego.

And my sister… Would she hate me for ripping her from the life she loves? Would she believe me that Anatoly is a monster, even though I’ve hidden that side of him from her?

Running away would also mean breaking Kira’s heart. How could I even explain it to her? Who am I kidding? There’s truly no winning in this situation, which is why I can’t afford to fail.

On the flip side, I haven”t allowed myself to think about what happens if I succeed. What I’d want my life to look like. Hopefully, after paying Anatoly back, I’ll have enough money left to continue investing and growing my income. Maybe I could even return to school for business administration or finance—a foundation for building my career.

The idea is so exhilarating that a shiver of anticipation runs through my body. Freedom. What a foreign concept—being able to do exactly what I want, whenever I want, with whomever I want.

In a perfect world, would Roman be part of my life? The answer is clear in my heart—yes, a thousand times yes—but there’s no point in entertaining that possibility. Syndicate business will always come first for him. He’s made that clear himself.

Indulging in a ”what-if” fantasy will only break my heart.

No matter how this ends, I must stay away from Roman.

It might be hard, but it will be necessary

After using the bathroom—blushing the whole time while staring at the sink ledge—I head towards the main living area, hoping to find Roman waiting for me with a steaming cup of coffee and a bare chest because I didn’t spend enough time ogling him last night.

I take a deep breath and pull my shoulders back. There’s no point in lingering in here, not when we could be enjoying our final morning together. Maybe we can hold off the real world for a little longer and make use of that giant claw-foot tub in his bathroom.

When I step into the kitchen, I’m not greeted by the sound of clinking dishes or the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Just silence.

Did he go out to grab us breakfast? Probably not, considering the attack on his life, but it’s possible he’s working out. You certainly don’t get his ripped physique without time spent in the gym.

I wander through the rooms of his penthouse, first coming across an impressive home theater and a cozy library. When I finally reach the gym, the door is open, letting in a soft morning light, but once again, it’s empty.

A weight presses down on my chest. What did I expect? That he’d wake me up with breakfast in bed and poetry? I’m being silly. I told him this could only be a one-time thing—of course he left without saying goodbye. He probably thought it was easier this way, and frankly, he’s right.

It still hurts, though.

I trudge back to the living room, knowing I can’t put off the inevitable any longer. I need to turn on my phone and deal with the outside world.

My clutch is on the side table, where I left it last night. Sinking down onto the sofa, I open the shiny leather purse only to find it nearly empty. There’s no phone inside, only a single handwritten letter.

Good morning, milaya,

I’m sorry to disappear so early. Trust me, if I had a choice, I’d be buried between your thighs all day, but duty calls.

Now, I need you to take a deep breath because you’re not going to be happy with what I’m about to tell you.

You’re locked inside the penthouse. There are guards outside the door and in front of all the entrances to the building. I also took your phone.

You’re probably cursing my name right now, but I promise all of this is to keep you safe.

We don’t know who attacked us last night. I was likely the target, but I don’t know that for sure. Until I get some answers, staying with me is the best option.

Hate me all you want, but know that I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you each and every time.

I’ll be back home as soon as I can. The kitchen is stocked with food, so help yourself. Wander around, snoop through my drawers, and find something in my closet to wear. I bet you’ll look damn hot in my clothes.

Roman xo

What?! He locked me in his penthouse?

I try to throw the note across the room, but when it only flutters to the floor, I stomp on it with my foot. Then I pick it up and rip it into a million different pieces.

I appreciate that Roman wants to keep me safe, but it would”ve been nice for him to have checked with me first. Now, I can”t contact anyone and they can”t contact me, and I have no idea when he’s coming back.

Will my family worry? Will Anatoly be angry?

It’s possible they’ll think I was abducted or something bad happened to me, but that’s no better.

Worry gnaws at me. At the very least, I have to find a way to contact Sofiya. But without a phone, I’m shit out of luck. Even if I find a computer, it’s likely secured with a password.

But the worst part is that my phone has all the trading apps, all my financial information, and everything I need to manage my investments. What if Roman discovers it? I’ve gone to great lengths to secure my phone with encrypted passwords and multi-factor authentication, but there”s always the chance that a computer whiz on his team could find a way in. Beyond that, if I can’t monitor my investments, buying and selling at the exact right moment, I’m screwed.

Everything I worked so hard for is crumbling around me.

Fuck him, thinking he can play God with my life!

He has no idea what he’s done, but he will find out soon enough when I take my revenge.