Chapter 24
CHARLOTTE
Five months later…
S hoving the last of my clothes in the backpack, I grab the stack of cash Drago gave me and put it in, zipping it closed. This is finally it.
Putting it on my back, I jog down the stairs. Even that now makes my breath heavy.
My hand instinctively goes to my little bump as I reach the door and I come to a stop.
Quickly retreating back to the kitchen, I hide a small flip knife in the back pocket of my jeans.
This is the first opportunity, albeit, short notice, that I’ve had to make a final attempt to run.
Once I got back from Italy, everything changed.
It’s not just me I’m protecting now, it’s the baby growing in my tummy.
It sucks leaving my father here to rot, but this little beam of light is my priority.
And if it hasn’t dropped in Vlad's head yet that he isn’t the father, it will soon, especially when I give birth.
This baby will, I’m sure. look just like their daddy.
I have to leave, and Drago agrees.
Today was the first time Vlad has given me space to breathe since I found out I was pregnant. He got called to an emergency and that gave me the window I need.
Even if it hurts my heart abandoning my father. I shake my head, I can’t dwell on that, I have to push forward. I can’t save my father, but I can save my future.
Opening the door slowly, I step out into the gray air.
“Going somewhere?” Maxim asks, sitting on the bench on my porch.
“Just for a walk, being cooped up in here all day is driving me crazy.” I say, keeping my tone sweet.
He huffs and stands.
“Against bosses rules. Back inside.” He points at the door.
“I-I don’t feel well, I just need air.” I make my voice shake.
He shakes his head and steps forward, I see the wariness in his eyes.
“Vlad won’t mind. Ask him for me.” I rub my growing belly with my free left hand and smile.
“For fuck’s sake, Charlotte,” he grumbles and pulls out his phone.
Perfect day for a new recruit to be on the door. It’s as if Drago planned just that.
Of course he did.
And he told me clearly, “get out of the house by any means possible.”
As he frowns looking at his phone, I seize the opportunity to retrieve my blade and flick it open. Lunging forward, I plunge the blade directly into the artery in his throat. I’ve been practicing my knife skills more recently, getting ready for this.
His phone tumbles onto the deck, and he reaches out, so I bury it deeper and twist, making him fall to his knees with a grunt.
His face pales and he gasps for air, grabbing his neck as blood spills out.
He falls on his front with a thud, crimson now pooling near my feet.
Bending down, I maneuver him so I can unholster his pistol and I run for the gates.
I can almost taste freedom.
Where do I go next?
I don’t know. But as far away from here as possible. I have the coordinates for a meeting spot Drago has set up.
Who I’m meeting is a mystery. I don’t care. This risk of staying here far outweighs the dangers outside this compound.
This fucking hellhole.
The gravel crunches under my boots as I sprint as fast as my legs will take me.
I know this place well enough to know where the guards could be.
As I get closer to the black iron gates, I hide in a bush, assessing the situation.
One guard in the booth.
Ducking between the hedges, I find my way to the stairs and climb, flicking off the safety of my pistol as I near the top.
Keeping myself below the window. I take a breath, grabbing onto the seal, I pull myself up with my left hand and aim with my right.
He’s busy tapping away on his phone and I grin, pulling the trigger straight into the side of his head.
My heart races as I slide open the window and jump in, searching for the button to open the gates.
“Sorry, Dan.” I whisper.
I don’t really feel remorse for these monsters anymore.
Hitting the green button, the gates slowly open. Excitement runs through me as I descend out of the window.
I let the adrenaline flood me as I sprint through the open gates.
I’m so close. So fucking close.
Whatever part of the universe took Vlad out on a job today with the majority of his men was clearly looking out for me and my baby.
A new life; I can almost taste it.
Just me and my baby.
The faint sounds of engines rumbling makes me come to a halt. I edge backwards up against the wall and duck behind the oak tree.
Four blacked out vehicles slowly drive by; I keep my guard up, holding my breath as the last car passes and enters the compound.
I don’t have long before they see the bodies.
Or notice the gates were left wide open.
Pushing myself up to stand, I hold onto the tree and wait for the dizziness to pass in a few seconds.
As my vision returns, I gasp when the sound of heavy clapping appears behind me.
Fuck.
I Squeeze the gun tighter in my hand.
Maybe I get to kill two birds with one stone.
Spinning to face him, I aim at my husband, that disgusting smirk on his lips as he continues to clap.
“Quite the performance there, Princess.”
His eyes darken as he stops, holding up his arms in surrender.
But that smirk remains.
“You think you have the power out here?” He tilts his head.
“Maybe I do. I’m the one with a gun aimed at your chest.” I shrug, not breaking eye contact.
He takes a step forward and I release a bullet that scrapes his jeans.
“Don’t come any closer or I will kill you, Vlad,” I shout.
“Silly girl. There’s nowhere for you to run. We have you cornered now. So power is back to me. You kill me, I’ll have my brother rip that disgusting baby out of your stomach, and have you watch as he ends its life before it even begins. Then he will let you bleed out over the floor like a fucking pig.”
“You think I can’t take on your men?” I spit.
“Not in your condition, no. Shouldn’t have been such a whore, cheating on your husband and getting yourself knocked up.” The hatred in his tone has my heart racing.
He fucking knows. Of course he does.
I wonder if he knows who?
He chuckles.
“When I find out who he is, don’t worry, I’ll skin him alive, and then you can make a mannequin for your kid of their father.”
I feel sick.
Shaking my head, my finger twitches on the trigger.
“You shoot me, you’ll be the worst mother in history. Kill me, you kill your baby.”
“What’s the alternative? You kill me anyway? I think I’d prefer to just take you down to hell with me.”
He swipes his thumb across his lip.
“Because you’re so useful to my organization, I’ll offer you a deal. Or, well, your child, a deal. It’s not their fault they have the unfortunate luck of you being their mother.”
Resting my hand on my bump, I lift my chin. His words won’t break me.
“You come back to the house, you have your kid, and they will be overseen by Drago and remain safe. You, however, will not only be my prisoner, but also my assassin. For fucking ever. You step one foot out of line, a bullet from that gun goes between your kids eyes.”
I suck in a breath hearing the crunch of leaves behind me.
I feel the barrel of a gun connect to the back of my head. Fuck.
“Emil will escort you back to the house, Princess,” Vlad says softly and steps forward.
Gripping my chin harshly, my gun hits against his chest and the click of Emil’s safety makes my blood drain.
“Well? Death or duty, Charlotte?”
Reluctantly, I spit out “Duty.”
“That fire in your eyes. I can’t wait to take it from you,” he whispers, stroking my cheek, and bile rises up my throat.
He peels my fingers from my weapon and my arm goes limp as the gun is removed from my skull.
“I won’t be long. Me and your father have some unfinished business. His welcome here has been overstayed, don’t you think? Your child has taken his space.”
Tears well in my eyes.
“Please don’t.” I beg, and his evil laughter penetrates through me.
“I can and I will. I’ll make it quick. And tell him the good news. And how you sacrificed him.”
Emil roughly grabs my hands and shoves them behind my back. I don’t fight back.
These men are dangerous and their threats real.
“I’ll see you soon.” He leans in and presses a kiss to my forehead, I resist the urge to slam it into his nose.
What the hell do I do now?