Chapter 37
Luka
Sophie sleeps peacefully next to me while I chew on Ivan’s words. He’s right. I want to set her free, but I don’t know how to do that and keep her safe. I want to be with her, but I’m still her captor and I can’t even offer her freedom.
What do I offer her, other than release? Other than the sweet but superficial pleasure as her body climaxes.
I rub a hand over my face, my eyes drooping with exhaustion. Releasing her would be too dangerous. But maybe I could offer her some normalcy. I can hardly take her out in public, but maybe we could go somewhere private. Just to break her routine. To give her some comfort.
Maybe I can take her to my place.
My mouth dries as I second guess the idea.
If I took her back to my place, the secret would be out. She’d look at me through rose-colored glasses again, and it’s the last thing I’d want. She shouldn’t see me as a hero because I sure as hell don’t feel like one.
But she deserves to feel some joy. And there’s no better way to do that than to show her who I’m hiding at my place.
In the early morning hours, a plan forms in my head, and I drift off to sleep.
The day passes in a blur, my commitments multiplying by the hour.
With the trouble that the Russians stirred up for us, our business is currently an organizational nightmare.
Finding space for the drop offs, as well as keeping our merchandise, finding new distributers for the coke we’ve lost, it’s all a fucking mess.
But by the time the evening rolls in, I decide I’m done with it. Business will still be here tomorrow.
Letting out a relieved breath, I exit my car in front of the club. The crowd inside is smaller today, surely because of the closed back room. I nod to the waitress and make my way to the dungeon.
Sophie and Ivan are at the small desk, playing chess.
Ivan’s eyes dart up at me instantly, while Sophie takes a second to turn her head around.
A pang of something blooms in my stomach.
Ivan is my closest friend. I trust him with my life.
I trust him with her life. But to see them having fun together, it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
The bitterness evaporates as Sophie’s expression turns softer and vastly happier when she notices me.
Her lips pull up into the smallest of smiles and her eyes crinkle at the sides, a barely perceptible spark glowing within them.
My muscles relax and my skin warms, as if covered in sunshine on a warm spring day.
We stare at each other like two dumbstruck fools before Ivan clears his throat.
His eyes are narrowed, and it’s obvious he notices the moment between us, whatever the hell it was. “I didn’t expect you back tonight,” he says.
“Well, I’m here. You’re free to go.” I slip my hands into my pockets, feigning nonchalance while my heart leaps in my chest. It’s a feeling completely unknown to me. To be honest, I’m not sure if it’s a fully comfortable feeling. But I still crave it.
Ivan dips his head and lifts from his chair, grabbing his jacket off the armchair near the wall. “Have a good night, Sophie. ?efe,” he greets me, shaking his head subtly.
I pat his shoulder on his way out. He doesn’t approve of whatever Sophie and I have. But he still has my back. There’s no doubt in my mind he won’t be telling Leon.
“Hi.” Sophie’s quiet voice yanks me out of my thoughts.
My hands itch with the need to have her close, to wrap around her frame, but I stay rooted to the spot.
We’re not really like that. I’m here to give her release.
The last thing I want is to blur the lines for her, making the whole thing even more difficult.
Never mind, the lines have been completely erased for me.
I’m not even sure where they used to lie anymore.
“Hi,” I eventually respond. “Would you like to go somewhere? With me?”
Her eyes widen, her mouth opening to form an adorable little ‘oh’.
“I just thought…” I continue. “You’re probably tired of this place. I can’t take you somewhere public, unfortunately. But I thought we could have a quiet night at my place.” Why are my hands clammy?
“Fortunately, I’m not really a fan of the public.”
Her joke unclenches my nervous hands, eliciting a chuckle. “So you’re up for it?”
“For a chance to leave this place and analyze the place you call home? I’m up for it.” She’s sitting straighter now, almost like she’s excited.
“Let’s go, then.”
She jumps up from the chair, my hoodie huge on her.
My heart cracks at the sight, but another thought pops into my head.
“Would you mind changing? Into the dress you had at the Mayor’s Ball, maybe?
” Her head snaps back so I add, “I just want us to go unnoticed. I don’t want anyone to catch wind you left this place. For your safety.”
She watches me for a second, processing my words, before she nods.
Another relieved breath escapes me. The door closes behind her as she retreats to the bathroom.
I scroll my phone for a good vegan spot near my place and order half the menu from the one with the best reviews.
She exits just a couple of minutes later, once again knocking the breath out of me.
I’ve seen her in far less clothes than this modest dress, but the way it accentuates her form makes spit pool in my mouth. The length of her neck, the muscles of her arms, the curve of her hips.
She fidgets under my stare, so I clear my throat before saying, “You look incredible.”
Her face blushes the faintest shade of pink and I’m instantly addicted to it. I want to make her blush every single day. Just like I want to make her smile. And laugh. And come.
“Thank you,” she murmurs, breaking eye contact. She might not be used to receiving compliments, but it’s something I plan to change.
“You ready? You can take your hoodie, too, and change into it in the car? I just don’t want you sticking out while we exit the club.”
“Sure.” On a light jog, she runs to the bathroom, coming back with my hoodie.
I look around searching for a bag but come up short, so I throw the hoodie over my head and place a hand on her hip. Her body shivers under my touch and I try to pretend I’m less affected.
We make our way upstairs in silence, the deep bass of the music penetrating my ears. The crowd is bigger now, and I’m grateful for an easier chance for us to fit in, but it also means there are more prying eyes tracking every shy but enticing movement Sophie makes.
A drunk guy in his late thirties bumps into us.
His tie is loose around his neck and his suit screams polyester.
But the worst thing about him, by far, is the way he licks his lips while staring at Sophie.
Blood boils in my veins and my grip on Sophie’s hip tightens.
Her breath hitches and I urge her on toward the car.
The air is cool as we step outside, the ground still wet from the rain that fell in the morning.
I lead her to my car, helping her into the passenger seat.
When she gets in, I make sure she has her seatbelt on before saying, “Stay still. I’ll be right back.
” She opens her mouth to protest, but I’m already closing the door and clicking the lock.
A nagging voice in my head whispers she could easily get out of the car, but somewhere deep in my chest, I know she will stay.
My teeth grind as my boots stomp through the parking lot, back into the club. It takes me only a second to find the douche that was checking Sophie out, his sleazy face engraved in my mind. He’s already sprawled over some other chick, but I hoist him up by his collar, turning him around.
His face is more surprised than shocked, but in a second it becomes contorted by my fist pummeling into it. His eyes roll to the back of his head, his nose bleeding instantly. The surrounding crowd falls back.
Not wanting to make a bigger scene with innocent people around, I drag him by his collar to the bouncers out front. “Take care of him,” I tell them. “Dead or alive, I better not see him in this club ever again.”
Jimmy, the taller of the two, nods in response and grabs the douche’s arm, twisting it uncomfortably against his back.
I wipe my knuckles on my pants and get back outside. My rage is nowhere near sated, but getting back to Sophie is more important.
This was a risky move. My security guys were already eyeing me when they saw me leave with a woman, something that they hadn’t seen in a long time.
Luckily, their status isn’t high enough to have guarded Sophie or even know what she looks like.
Despite that, if they tell Ivan I left with a woman, he’d be onto me in half a second.
I push the thought away. Sophie’s scent seeps into my nose as soon as I enter the car, grounding me. Who would have thought that a random shampoo a random waitress bought for Sophie would become my favorite scent in the world?
“Is everything all right?” she asks.
I huff a laugh. “Yeah.”
Nothing is all right.
I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Between betraying my family and the memory of my dead father or betraying this girl that has come to mean so much to me.
But yeah, the thing she’s asking me about, the reason I had to get back inside, it’s handled.
I remember I promised her the hoodie back, so I tug it off me and she puts it on.
The giant sweatshirt swallows most of her body.
We drive in silence along the dark, mostly abandoned roads. My mind is in turmoil, but her mere presence settles me.
She’s the one to break the silence. “Can I tell you a story?”
I want you to tell me all your stories. “Yeah.”