Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
KATYA
L uca limps over to me and grabs my arms, shoving me toward his car. I like knowing I’m the reason he’s limping. That I did that to him.
It means Luca isn’t invincible. He has the power to get hurt, and I have to find another way to hurt him. It’s the only way I can make it through this alive.
“Let her go!” Anton shouts, struggling against Luca’s guard. “Luca, you fucking bastard! I’ll kill you for this.”
“Not if I kill you first.”
I gasp as Luca pushes me into his car. The moment the door shuts on me, Luca turns back to Anton with his gun drawn. He’s going to kill him, and my sacrifice will have been pointless. No one will know Luca took me. I’ll be gone forever.
No one’s in the car with me. All the doors are locked. But I notice one thing—the keys were left in the ignition to keep the car running. Probably to make for a faster getaway.
Luca wasn’t expecting me to offer myself up, I realize. His plan was probably to shoot Anton and then get back into the car and drive away like nothing happened.
Except he changed his plans when I offered myself up to him.
I lunge into the front seat and slam my foot onto the gas pedal. The car surges forward, and Luca spins around to face me, leaving Anton alive for the moment. One of his guards runs after the car, shooting at it.
Shooting at me .
I could drive away and get myself to safety, but I need to save Anton. It’s irrational how I feel about him. He probably doesn’t deserve it. But he’s my husband, and I’m going to do what I need to do to save him.
I back the car up, turn it around, and drive it straight toward Luca.
He dives out of the way. The guard holding Anton down gets up and starts shooting at me next. A bullet lands in the front windshield and cracks it, but it doesn’t break. I’m alive still. I’m going to keep fighting until I can’t any longer.
I back up and try driving the car at them again, but the front wheel gets caught on something, stalling the car. One of the guards manages to grab the front door handle and swings it open.
I scream as he tries to grab me.
Anton jumps to his feet, which would have been impressive, given how hurt he is, in any other situation, but right now, all I can focus on is getting us out of this alive.
He whips out his gun and starts firing at the guards. A bullet lands in the guard who’s trying to grab me. He stumbles forward and falls into my lap.
My scream is earth-shattering. Pushing him off me, I slam on the gas pedal, and the car surges forward and runs into the building in front of me. Glass shatters around me, the impact makes the airbag explode in my face. I never knew an airbag could hurt so much.
I try reversing the car, but it’s stuck.
Everything next happens so fast.
The other guard runs toward a second car and jumps in. Luca fires his gun at Anton, so Anton has no choice but to duck behind another car to avoid getting hit.
I keep trying to reverse the car, but it’s completely stuck. I’m stuck.
The passenger door opens, and Luca’s devious face stares back at me. “You’re coming with me.” Grabbing me, he hauls my body across the seats toward him.
“Let me go!”
“You gave yourself to me, remember?”
“Only so you wouldn’t kill Anton. You already broke that promise.”
“I tend to break a lot of my promises.” He hauls me out of the car and uses my body as a shield so Anton can’t fire at him. “Try to kill me now!”
Anton hesitates. “Let her go.”
“Boss, come on,” the other guard says from the second car. “We have to leave. Now. The gunfire will draw a lot of attention. Come on.”
Luca’s grip on me tightens. “You’re never going to find your wife again, Anton. I hope you enjoy the suffering it causes you. You were always a masochist.”
He gets into the car, still using me as shield by pulling me onto his lap. I almost vomit knowing I’m so close to his body.
Luca shuts the door, and his guard drives away.
And the last thing I see is Anton standing on the sidewalk, looking more hurt and confused than I’ve ever seen him.
ANTON
Katya is taken from me again.
I stand here, with my fucking abdomen killing me, and watch Luca steal my wife away. I was too weak to save her. That’s what hurts the most of all.
We’re so close to Dimitri’s apartment. I could go back in there and ask for his help, but honestly, I fucking hate the guy. Knowing he only married me to Katya to try and figure out a way to kill me hurts like a motherfucker.
It doesn’t escape me that I tried to do something similar with Luca. Work with him until I could find a way to kill him.
Seems both Dimitri and I have failed in that regard.
I could ask Nik for help. We go way back, and I know he’s a changed man who wants peace. But that’s exactly why he won’t want to help. Going after Luca, who’s head of the Italian Mafia, would mean war. Destruction. Death. He can’t risk Ava’s life.
Maxim might help, but he also wouldn’t want to risk Luna’s life.
I’m on my own in this. I’ve done it to myself, I know that. I’ve made Nik, Maxim, and Dimitri hate me.
The only person who can truly save Katya is me.
And I’m not going to stop until I do exactly that.
KATYA
Luca holds me on his lap.
“Let me go,” I hiss.
His hands only tighten around my waist as he smirks against my cheek. I can literally feel it. “Now, why would I do that? You belong to me now, remember?”
“You broke your promise. I was only going to give myself to you if you spared Anton’s life, but you just tried to kill him anyway.”
“Well, where’s the fun in doing what I promised?” His hand moves down to my thigh and squeezes. “You’re such a beautiful woman, Katya. One of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”
“You don’t have to charm me. You kidnapped me.”
“Did I? You gave yourself over to me.”
I glare at him. “I don’t see it like that.”
“Well, agree to disagree.”
My body reacts on instinct, and the next thing I know, my hands are raking down his face, digging into his skin. The shout that escapes Luca is satisfying. It’s the one thing that will keep me going; I know it.
Luca shoves me off him. “You little bitch.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t fight back? I’ll always fight you.” I don’t have time to panic. I don’t have time to think about how his guard held me down last time. I only have time to think about my escape.
Because I will fucking escape.
“You don’t know when to act nice, do you? How does Anton even stand you?”
“He loves the fire in me.”
“I’m sure he does.” Luca grabs my throat and forces me onto the seat. “Now, when we get back home, I’m going to rip your virginity right out of you. How does that sound?”
“Try it, old man.”
“You’re full of bravado now, but you’re not going to be once I’m done with you.”
His words chill me to the bone, but I don’t show it. I’ve learned enough from Anton to know that showing fear won’t get you anywhere in life. The only way to survive is to keep fighting.
Luca lets me go and sits back in his seat, dabbing at the scratch on his face with a handkerchief. Who even still uses handkerchiefs anyway?
I don’t say anything because I don’t want to piss Luca off more than I already have. I need to be smart about this.
He has one guard with us, meaning I’m outnumbered, and they both have guns on them, meaning I’m screwed.
But Luca is arrogant. He thinks he has the right to me. Maybe I can use that to my advantage.
The guard takes us back to Luca’s apartment building. I remember it well. We arrive at the penthouse, which is just as beautiful and gaudy as I remember.
“Sit down,” Luca mutters, shoving me onto the bright blue floral couch. It’s an ugly sight, but it fits Luca. Ugly and gaudy while believing he’s actually a thing of beauty.
Looking around the room, my eyes settle on a letter opener on the coffee table. I quickly look away. That might be my only chance to get the upper hand on Luca.
His guard settles into a spot against the wall, not staring at either Luca or me, just gazing at wall across from him. He knows his job—be present but not seen. Don’t interact.
I won’t get any help from him.
The problem is, he’s in the room with Luca and me. If I try to attack Luca, his guard will surely shoot me.
But if it means death or torture at the hands of Luca, I would choose death. I don’t want to suffer. I don’t want to die either, but at least that option seems more peaceful.
At least Anton is alive . That’s the one saving grace. He could still save me yet.
But I doubt he’s going to get here in time to save me from Luca putting his hands on me.
I have to save myself right now.
“You look so beautiful in my home,” he says, undoing his cufflinks. I imagine he thinks it makes him look sexy, but it only makes me want to puke.
He slips his jacket off and tosses it over the arm of the couch. “How about we have some fun, yes?”
“Don’t you want to woo me first?”
He scoffs. “Why the fuck would I do that? I’m going to fuck you, Katya. Take your virginity that Anton was too stupid to take for himself. I am curious.” He leans over me, placing his hands on either side of the couch by my head. “Why didn’t he fuck you? Is he not capable?”
I want to snap and tell Luca that I know Anton is more than capable. I’ve had his penis in my mouth. I know Anton could have put it in me anytime he wanted but he chose not to. Despite the violence he has committed in the past, he never once tried to take me against my will.
It’s the only reason I’ve allowed myself to get closer to him.
But I can’t tell Luca any of this. Maybe if I play along, things will be easier for me.
“You’re right,” I say, placing my hands on his chest. Luca’s smile is indulgent. “Anton wasn’t capable. But maybe you will be. I want a man to show me a good time.”
“You want that, huh?”
“I really do.”
“If you ask, baby, I’ll give you that.”
I almost lose my nerve at Luca’s words. Anton calls me baby. I like the form of endearment, but hearing it come out of Luca’s mouth only reminds me of the situation I’m in.
“Then give it to me,” I challenge.
Luca bends down to kiss me, and while he’s distracted, I raise my knee up and hit him straight between the legs. He drops like a log.
I scramble for the letter opener and manage to grab it as Luca tackles me to the ground.
“That’s no fun,” he seethes. “Tricking me like that.”
I bring the letter opener up and press it against his neck. “Be careful. One wrong move, and I’ll slit your throat.”
Luca goes very still.
His guard starts to walk over to us, but Luca holds up a hand.
“If your guard tries to kill me, I’ll stab this into your throat first.”
Luca nods just slightly. “I’ll play by your rules. But you should know, Katya, that you can’t hold this knife to my throat forever.”
“It doesn’t have to be forever. It just has to be long enough for Anton to get here and end your life.”
“Anton hasn’t been able to kill me yet. Who says he’ll be able to now?”
“He has the backing of my brother, Nikolai Petrov, and Maxim Baranov behind him. He will take you down.”
“That’s only if he works with them. I know Anton, and I know those men all distrust him.”
“That may be true. But my brother would walk into hell to save my life. He would put aside his differences with Anton to help.”
“Fine,” he grits out. “But will Anton even go to them for help? He tends to do things on his own.”
Anton better not be stupid or stubborn. All he has to do is go to my brother for help, and Dimitri will do it if it means saving me. If there’s any time they can work together, it’s now.
“Stop talking,” I growl, digging the knife deeper into his throat.
He goes quiet. One hard push, and he’ll be dead. I could easily kill Luca like this, but his guard will just shoot me.
If I have the chance to make it out of this alive, I’m going to do my best.
Now, I just have to wait for Anton to keep his promise to me.
ANTON
Luca kept his home address hidden from me so, I have to resort to going to all the other properties he owns. And the bastard owns a lot of them.
I have my men, Theo and John, looking at a few while I scour the rest.
But everything turns up empty. A few hours pass, and I know I’m running out of time.
The longer Katya is away from me and in the clutches of Luca, the more chances she has of getting hurt. The more chances she has of getting violated and becoming a shell of the woman I care about.
I could go to Dimitri; I know this. He would want to help his sister.
I just can’t seem to work myself up to it. To beg before him would break me. I need to find Katya on my own.
“Boss,” Theo says once he calls me. “I’ve done some more digging and found an apartment listed under an LLC. It’s a corporation owned by Luca. He might be there.”
“I’ll go check.” I hang up and start my car, driving in the direction of the apartment. Katya better be there.
I never thought I would feel this way about someone, but I fucking do.
I can’t lose her, and the thought of losing her breaks my cold, dead heart.
KATYA
Luca and I have a staring contest. Not a literal one, of course. Neither of us refuses to take our eyes off the other one. If I look away from Luca, he could get the upper hand.
So, I keep my hand steady with the letter opener pressed to his neck.
“You won’t win this,” he says.
I dig the knife harder against his throat. “Why don’t you stop talking?”
He ignores me. “My man will just kill you if you kill me. Isn’t that right, Emmett?”
The guard, Emmett, nods. “That’s right. You won’t stand a chance against me, little girl.”
When will Anton get here? It’s been hours since Luca and I ended up in this position of life or death.
I’m not sure how much longer I can hold on for.
“Good thing you’re not going to kill me,” I say. “Because you’ll both be dead once Anton gets here.”
Luca chuckles. “You don’t know anything, do you, Katya? He doesn’t know where I live. I’ve kept it secret. Hidden very well. If he does find it, then that’s a one in a million chance. Do you like those odds?”
My hand shakes just slightly.
But it’s enough for Luca to act. He grabs my wrist and shoves me back, but I still have the letter opener. I jam it into his face, leaving a nasty cut. Luca cries out before he backhands me across the face.
I fall to the floor, all the air leaving my body. Luca scrambles on top of me and wraps his hands around my throat. Instantly, I can’t breathe.
“You’re more pain than you’re worth. I’ll rape your body once I’ve killed you just for the fun of it.”
All the air is leaving my body. I scramble and claw at his hands, but it’s useless. He’s too strong, and I’m … not.
The realization that I’m just some weak girl tears at my heart. Anton made me believe I was strong through our little games. But I’m not strong.
I’m just a damsel in distress waiting around for my husband to save me.
Luca’s grip tightens. I probably have less than a minute left.
I could just close my eyes and let the darkness overtake me. It would be easy. I wouldn’t have to feel any more pain. I wouldn’t be used in anyone’s game. I’d be free in a twisted sort of way.
Then I think of Evie and Dimitri. My family. My best friend and brother who have always been there for me. Evie has never let me down, and even though my brother has hurt me, he’s never stopped fighting for me.
I can’t stop fighting for them.
I think of Anton, too. The husband I have conflicted feelings about, but one I know is out there, searching for me right now. Who won’t give up until he finds me.
I can’t give up either.
I re-grab the letter opener and stab it into Luca’s eye. His scream would give me chills if I didn’t hate him so much. I rip the knife from his eye, and blood gushes from his wound.
Emmett runs for me, raising his gun, but I dive behind the couch right as he fires. There’s no way I can fight him off, especially with a gun. But I don’t have to fight.
I just have to escape.
Emmett’s footsteps are loud as he comes running around the couch, but I throw my knife at him, making him flinch.
It’s enough for me to run for the door. I get it open and hustle as fast as I can out of the penthouse, Emmett right behind me.
I slam into the elevator and push on the button, but it’s too slow. I’ll never make it in time.
Emmett rounds the corner as I slam my body into the stairwell door and run down the stairs. My high heels are slowing me down, so I quickly kick them off and hold them close to my body. They are stiletto heels after all—I can use it as a weapon.
Emmet doesn’t stop chasing me down the stairs.
I’m so close to the bottom when he grabs me around my waist.
“Got you.”
I bring my high heel down onto his hand as hard as I can, and he yelps, letting me go. I rush through the stairwell door and make it onto the second floor. I’m not on the ground floor yet. Freedom is still out of my reach, but I won’t give up. I can’t. It’s not even an option.
I reach the elevator and slam my fingers into the button. “Come on, come on.”
Emmett springs at me, and I throw one of my heels right at his face. He ducks, missing it completely. Damn it.
The elevator door opens, and I hurl my entire body inside. The door starts to close.
Emmett’s hand wedges between the door as he forces it open.
I don’t hesitate to slam my other high heel straight into his neck. He stumbles back, and it allows the elevator doors to close.
I slump against the wall as the elevator reaches the lobby. The second I’m out, I run outside. I’m not out of the clear yet. I’m still too close to Luca’s apartment. He could easily send more men after me.
I run with everything inside me down the sidewalk. People turn to look at me like I’m a madwoman. Let them look. I’m a woman who fought hard for my freedom. I’ve never been more proud of myself until this moment.
Eventually, I can’t run anymore, and I stumble to a halt. My legs give out, making me sit down on the ground. More people stare at me with concern, but no one offers their help.
I suck in ragged breaths and tell myself I’m all right. I survived. Now, I just need to make it back to Anton.
I don’t have to wait long.
“Katya?”
His smooth voice fills my ears. When I look up, I see him standing right before me.
“Anton?”
Without hesitating, I launch myself at him and throw my arms around his shoulders. He hugs me back just as tightly.
“What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“I was searching all of Luca’s known properties. This was next on the list. I just showed up, and then I saw you.”
“I escaped.”
His eyes widen before they rake over me. “No shit. Luca?”
“Is still alive, I’m sure. But I escaped. We need to get out of here now. Before he comes back. Please, Anton. Don’t fight him. I just need to leave. I can’t risk you getting hurt again. Not so soon after.”
He eyes the apartment building for a long moment before nodding. “Ok. I’ll take you home.”
I take one step forward before I fall against him.
“Woah.” He catches me. “Katya? Are you hurt?”
“No. Just tired. I had to fight so hard to escape.”
He scoops me into his arms and carries me to his car.
“Your wound.” I nod toward his stomach.
“It’s not a problem. I’ve been through a lot worse. Dealt with a lot more pain.”
Anton is careful with me as he sets me in the car. Watching him be attentive toward me is the sweetest thing. I never would’ve expected someone like him to be able to show that sort of kindness.
We drive home, and the minute I’m through the front door, I feel instantly safer.
“How did you escape?” he asks.
“By stabbing Luca in the eye and stabbing his guard in the neck with one of my high heels.”
He wraps his arms around my waist. “I have to say, I’m impressed, Mrs. Volkov.”
“Mrs. Volkov? God, you make me sound like your mother.”
“Trust me. I don’t think of you as my mother.” He presses his head against mine. “I was really worried there for a minute.”
The vulnerability in his voice startles me. “I was really worried, too.”
Without even thinking about it, I press my lips to his and let myself sink into the kiss.
Anton kisses me back like he’s a dying man. It’s the most passionate, frantic kiss we’ve ever had.
I know at this moment that I don’t want to wait any longer to be with Anton. I could’ve died today. He could’ve died today.
I don’t want there to be anymore barriers between us.
Pulling back from the kiss, I look him straight in the eye. “Make me yours.”