Chapter 27
CHARLOTTE
Song- Indigo, Sam Barber, Avery Anna
S he has his blue eyes.
Much like he was for a brief period, she is my bundle of light in this hell.
“Mommy, can you read me one of your stories?”
She throws herself into my arms and snuggles against me. I stroke her black curls out of her face.
“What kind of story would you like, baby?” I whisper onto the top of her head.
This is our thing, sometimes we read books, most of the time Isabella wants stories I make up on the spot.
“The love one. The Queen and a Prince. Finish where you left off yesterday.”
I nod slowly.
There’s one story I want to find the words to write properly. The story of us. But the ending isn’t my reality now; this is the what if.
What if I wasn’t who I was?
What if it wasn’t just one night?
What if he was the love of my life and we lived happily ever after?
That will never be my life, but I can dream, I can write about it.
I can tell my daughter stories to make her believe in love, that outside these four walls there is better.
I take a deep breath, feeling my chest expand with the cool air.
“The Queen cried herself to sleep, locked in the small room while the wicked man left her there for days on end. He knew of her betrayal and he would never let her leave.”
Isabella gasps, and I stroke her shoulder.
“She was starting to think there was no way out of there. Years went by, and no one could save her, not even herself. Her only light in the world was her little princess.”
I press a kiss to the top of my baby girl’s head.
“But Mommy, isn’t the Prince going to save her from the bad man that locks her up?”
I fight back my tears. How do I find the words to tell my four-year-old that there isn’t always someone to save you?
That the love of your life may never return for you.
“No, baby. Because sometimes, the Queen has to save herself and her little princess first.” I press a kiss into her dark curls again.
“But this is your story, Mommy. Make the Prince come and save her, please?”
I shake my head and smile sweetly at her beautiful, little face.
“Nope. You want to know why?” I whisper.
She nods excitedly.
“Because after the Queen takes down the bad man, she can find her Prince. Queens don’t always need a prince to save them. They are strong on their own.”
Stroking her soft cheek, I just about manage to keep it together.
And sometimes the Prince doesn’t know the Queen is in so much danger. He doesn’t even know her real name.
“But will she? Will she find the one she loves again?”
“Yes. She will search for the rest of eternity for her soulmate. I promise. It’s my story, remember?”
I swallow the lump in my throat. I will find him.
I just hope it’s before it’s too late.
“But, you’ll have to wait for another day to see what happens. It’s time for you to go to sleep, baby,” I whisper, picking her up in my arms and taking her over to her bright pink bed.
I smile, a quiet contentment settling over me, as I tuck her in, listening to her soft breaths.
She’s healthy, she’s happy, and she has no clue what goes on past her own little world here.
Drago and I protect her, and I take the brunt of all the pain.
And I’d do it every day for the rest of my life to ensure Vlad never touches her.
“Night, night, my gorgeous girl.”
I press my finger on the tip of her nose, and she giggles, melting my heart.
As I stand, she grabs my wrist and I flinch, wincing in pain from the fresh cuts from the chains under my sleeves. Despite the stinging pain, a smile stretches across my face. I will be her shield.
“Mommy, do you think the Queen and the Princess will escape? Maybe live on their own one day?”
She looks so deep into my soul. She’s a clever little thing. No matter how much I shelter her, she will know there is a world beyond these walls.
It’s what she gets taught every day.
“Yes. The Queen will make it happen. I promise.” I squeeze her hand, and she sniffles.
“Good.”
She cuddles her unicorn teddy and closes her eyes, and tears stream down my cheeks.
“I love you,” I whisper and walk to the door, taking one last look at her before heading to my room.
Tonight is an escape for me. Vlad and Emil are away on business for the night. It means I can sleep in peace and heal my wounds.
Before Isabella, I might have seen this as a chance to escape. Now, I’ve learned not to. There are guards everywhere and I am monitored constantly. One foot steps out of line, that sick son of a bitch will take Isabella.
The chains aren’t used to actually keep me here. He knows the threats against my daughter do that on their own.
The chains are to break me down. Make me weak, vulnerable, and exposed.
Wiping away the fresh tears streaming down my cheeks, I open the laptop, staring at the blank document. Any search history is monitored, but I doubt he’d check a document saved in between Isabella’s homeschooling folders. And if he does, it’s simply a story.
Maybe I can rewrite my story and get lost in the words on the pages.
An escape so I can forget the nightmare I’m living in.
I can tell the story of Charlotte that was meant to be. The story where she isn’t sold and forced into a life of murder.
No. This can be my happily ever after, where I find my Prince again. Where our story doesn’t end after three days.
This is my “what if”.
What if I save myself and find Jimmy again?
I type those two words on the screen, and it feels right. Visions of our night together replay on a loop.
It’s like I can still feel his touch all over my body.
I picture him kissing my scars. Telling me it’s going to be okay. I rest my head in my hands and let the tears fall.
No matter how many times I get knocked down, I get back up.
But each day it’s getting harder and harder to do.
I need an escape, and I need it soon. I’ll speak to Drago. Perhaps this last mysterious job is my way out. This will not be how my story ends.
As I picture Jimmy’s piercing blue eyes staring into my soul, I smile.
I look at the screen through my tears and run my hands over the keyboard.
I can’t rewrite my history, but I can decide my future.
Fiction or not, I have to believe one day, our souls will be brought back together and I can reign hell on this house.
As I start to type, the words flow so freely as I describe the Italian hotel. I don’t know how much time passes. The world doesn’t exist currently outside my laptop.
In this world, I am a badass martial arts instructor, away for a competition. My only care in the world is winning my fight. That’s how I dreamed my life would turn out.
A knock at the door throws me back into reality. I take a deep breath and slam the laptop shut. Drago knows what happened and who Isabella’s father really is. He doesn’t need the full details.
“Come in,” I tell him.
Without a word, he steps through the door, his worn sweats and faded black t-shirt hanging loosely on his frame, the shadows under his eyes deepening my worry.
“You good, Drago?” I ask as he silently hands me a stack of paperwork.
I know he’s been tied up helping Tatiana recover from her head injury. Not many people survive a bullet in the skull, but she did. That’s all I know and all he will tell me.
“Look, before you read this, just remember your end goal.” He scratches at his stubble, and I snatch the paper from his hands.
I frown, reading the bold title in a fancy-ass font.
You are invited to participate in the Decadence Games.
Please ensure you read the rules and contract carefully.
One must step into hell to get a taste of heaven.
Upon signing, you shall become property of Decadence.
We look forward to welcoming you soon
“Drago. What in the fuck is the Decadence games? Property? Games? What?” I can’t take my eyes off the words.
I can’t be reading this properly.
I’m seeing BDSM, pain, and pleasure. Lists of things I’ve never even heard of.
I blink at the last page.
Death.
“Drago, I suggest you tell me what this job really is other than some fucked-up sex game.”
I look up at him and he cringes.
“Words.” I press, throwing the paper on my desk.
“Vlad was given an exclusive invite. Men are invited to sacrifice their wives or daughters to the games. Every year it’s hosted, apparently. Only one woman survives and gets a ticket to freedom with some cash; the family of the winner is granted entry into Inferno. That’s what the real prize is.”
“Hmm.”
I don’t know what to say. Vlad wants an ‘in’ to America, and I’m the fucking bait.
“And I am what? Vlad’s golden ticket into America?” I shut up as my voice raises.
“Am I his fucking sacrifice?”
I slam my fist on the table, the sound echoing in the sudden silence.
“I’m not doing it. I’m not walking into my death.”
Drago steps closer. I hold my hand up and shake my head.
“No. That isn’t your job.”
I flick my head up.
“Your job is to go in, win the games, and get that fucking ticket to the Master. Once you’re taken to him, you interrogate him.”
I tap my nails on the wooden desk.
“Interrogate him, why? No more secrets, not like Italy. I need everything. Who even is he?”
Drago frowns. He’s hiding something. His pupils dilate. Ew. What if it’s some sick, creepy old man?
“It’s linked to Italy, sort of. Vlad mentioned Enzo extended the invite especially for him. Whoever is behind these games is running it for Enzo. We need to know who and why. We need to know what the purpose of the games are.”
I look at the scattered paperwork.
“To fulfill some fucked-up fantasies they have?”
Drago shakes his head.
“There is more behind those gates, Charlotte. Read the contract and the terms in full. Fill out the questionnaire. I’ve included a sheet with your alias details. There are some, umm, preferences.”
“Preferences?”
He clears his throat and shuffles on his feet.
“Sexual. Do some googling after you read the terms. Make sure you hit the points he wants.”
A shiver runs down my spine and I look down at my hands on my lap.
Is this all I’ll ever be? A man’s fucking property?
“I’m sorry, Charlotte. But this could be our last resort to get you out of here.” His voice is laced with pain.
He knows what I endure.
He crouches beside me, and I force myself to look at him.
“You think I can honestly win this? I fight, Drago. This isn’t my speciality.”
Running my hands through my hair, I tug it to relieve some tension building in my skull.
“You can do anything, Charlotte. I think this could be your way out.”
My heart almost stops. My eyes snap to him.
“How?”
“Whatever information Vlad is after, he’s desperate for it. Find it out, use it to your advantage. Something has him rattled. And while you’re stateside for a couple of weeks, I can work on an evacuation plan for Isabella.”
“You’re not coming with me?”
He shakes his head.
“I can’t. You have to go alone. Part of the terms. We don’t even know where it’s held. You’ll be collected via jet. You will be on your own.”
I take a deep breath.
“You reckon you can get Isabella out?”
He nods.
“But how? Why now? We haven’t found a way in four damn years, Drago.” I throw my hands up in the air.
Right now this just seems like a suicide mission for me, not an escape plan.
“Get the information and proof you’ve killed the mark. Yes, I think this will give us the advantage we need. Isabella’s freedom in exchange for information. You’ll already be out of the damn country, unattended, untracked.”
I scoff.
“Wait. I have to kill the owner? That’s signing my own death warrant. In his house? His army? On my own? What makes you think Vlad will even go for a deal?”
Dragos’ firm hand claps down on my knee.
“Remember how we said we might need to sacrifice ourselves to save Isabella? I think that is the way it has to go. The risk is worth the reward here. Tatiana is vulnerable now, and Vlad is after a takeover. We just need something good enough to give him to make him think it’s possible. There is a link here, we need to find it and use it. I truly believe the key to freedom is inside these games. I see no other reason why Vlad would entertain this otherwise.”
Tears well in my eyes, and I shake my head.
“And what if I don’t win? I won’t see my baby grow up,” I whisper, my hands trembling.
He pulls me into an embrace.
“I’m not saying it will happen. It’s a possibility you need to be prepared for. This job is more than any other before. The games are a survival mission, your task after is dangerous. But I know you, and I know how bad you want out of here. You can do it.”
My tears soak into his shirt.
“How will I even contact you with the information?”
He hugs me tighter.
“We will figure it out. We have another week before you leave. We need to be smart. If we can pull this off, you and Isabella will be free. Just remember that.”
I pull back and wipe my eyes.
“If there’s a chance, I have to take it.” I rub my fingers over my wrists.
“I’ll start the paperwork tonight.”
“This information could be the key to all of this, Charlotte,” he whispers.
“What about Tatiana?” I ask as I pull back.
“What do you mean?” He frowns.
“You’d still betray her, even now? While she’s recovering from a bullet in the skull.”
He looks down at his loafers and sighs.
“Tatiana isn’t a monster like them. She’s a lost soul, Charlotte. Just like you. I’m helping her, just as I am you. This isn’t a betrayal, it’s helping you both. Okay? That’s why I can’t tell her about you or Isabella, the threat is real to you both. You have to trust me on that.”
I process the information.
She’s our leader. How is she lost?
I don’t bother pressing. He gives nothing up about her. She’s a mystery I won’t ever solve.
I know parts. Things I’ve overheard from Vlad and Emil.
“She needs to remember who she really is, the same way you need to remember who Charlotte really is.”
With a gentle tap on my shoulder, he silently leaves.
Which just has my mind spinning.