Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Ava
I can’t believe him.
He must be out of his fucking mind.
He’s a monster, the devil reincarnated.
I don’t have to stay here and take this. I have to find a way to either get his money or disappear. I’m so angry I can’t help the tears. There was so much darkness in his eyes. It’s not normal. He doesn’t need me. I’m just a toy to him, someone he can do whatever he pleases to. His constant mood swings are driving me crazy. I look in the mirror and see my neck has a light print of his fingers. I won’t tolerate this. I can tolerate a lot of things, but not this—not even from the man I love. I must find a way to leave this place.
I take a hoodie from my closet and go downstairs. I must learn everything I can about this house. I need to put the skills I learned in the projects to good use. The house is quiet. Viktor must have left with Oliver. I don’t see Mary, so she’s off somewhere. My only shot is to find an escape route through the backyard.
I’m surprised when I walk to the French doors and no one stops me. Maybe this whole confinement has not reached the guards yet. This is it. I pull my hoodie up and try to blend in. To avoid raising suspicion, I pop in my AirPods. I can always say I’m listening to music and enjoying the fresh air.
To one side of the backyard, there isn’t much. The pond takes up most of the space. I haven’t seen the back of the house, and I’m shocked when I do. It’s a completely different world. There’s a two-story house you can’t see from the front. It’s very well hidden, which I imagine is on purpose. It’s new but has this old, dark feeling to it. There’s a small shed to the side, and I wonder what they store there, but I try not to linger since men are standing in front of the two-story house. I keep walking like it’s normal for me to be here.
“Ms. O’Brien,” I hear someone call, but I pretend I can’t hear. “Ms. O’Brien.” Louder this time, and there’s a tap on my shoulder. It’s Marco, no surprise there. I take out one of the AirPods.
“Sorry, I was listening to music. How can I help you?” We’ve stopped walking.
“This is a restricted area. You’re not allowed to be here.”
“I didn’t realize.” I try to play it cool.
“Let me walk you back inside the house.” I’m disappointed because I wanted to explore more. I had noticed what seemed to be a running path behind the shed. It could lead to my freedom.
“That’s not necessary,” I say dismissively. “I’ll take myself.” I keep walking toward the other side of the mansion.
Marco steps in front of me and inclines his head. “I’d rather keep my job if you don’t mind.”
I feel bad for the man. It’s not his fault his boss is a monster, and I’m me.
“Okay.” I’m hoping he’ll continue my path of walking around the house, but he does an about-face. I wonder if he suspects what I was up to.
We walk back to the French doors. The men have dispersed. They’re no longer standing in front of the two-story house, and something tells me to look at the time. My cell reads twelve. Guard shift? Something to note. “Thanks,” I tell Marco as he opens the door.
“Please let me know if you need anything. I’ll be in the kitchen,” Marco advises.
I don’t respond. Instead, I turn and walk to Viktor’s office. Maybe I can see what’s on this side of the mansion through his window. There must be a way out of this place. I open the door and am immediately smacked by his musky, sandalwood scent. Butterflies flutter in my stomach. My libido needs to get over herself. I have a task, and I need to focus.
I walk to the window, but the glass is frosted. Great. I try to open it, but it won’t budge. I sit to think. Where else? I look around the office like it will tell me something. I’m about to stand and give up when I notice a bookshelf that isn’t completely flush with the wall like the others. I stand and look around, making sure no one is watching. Stupid since I’m alone, and there’s only one way into his office. I walk over to take a closer look. At first, I think nothing of it, but then I feel a breeze. I’m not sure why but I try to move the bookshelf and, to my surprise, I can. I push it all the way and discover it’s a door to a corridor. A twinge of excitement hits me, and, against my better judgment, I walk into the corridor and close the bookshelf door behind me.
The corridor is pitch dark and cold, and I’m sure I shouldn’t be here. Something tells me this is a terrible idea. The tunnel is long, and the further I go, the more spooked I feel. Then I hear voices.
At first, I think the voices are coming from behind me. But I look back, and there isn’t anyone there. I’m alone. I walk deeper in, and it crosses my mind that this is usually when the people watching a horror movie yell to the actors to turn around. But I’m at the point of no return with no other options. At the end of the corridor, it splits into two hallways, and the voices become clearer, although I don’t recognize either of them.
“I don’t get why we have to protect her. She’s no one.”
“Because she’s marrying the boss. At least she’s better than Fiona.”
“Aye. But she’s a child while the other one is a woman.”
“I’d watch what you say. She’s going to be the queen of the clan someday.”
I don’t want to hear anymore. The men’s chatter only reminds me that I don’t belong here. I walk to the other hallway, which is quiet. There are a few doors, but I don’t have the courage to open them. Finally, I see a door with light spilling under it. I turn the knob, and to my surprise, it opens. It leads outside the mansion. I look out in both directions and don’t see anyone, so I close the door behind me and walk. If someone sees me, I can say I’m getting fresh air again.
I notice the fence extends all the way to the back. This place is a fortress. Closer to the mansion's entrance, SUVs are parked alongside the fence, but no guards are visible. I use the SUVs as cover, hoping if I continue on my path, I might make it to the gate unnoticed. I look behind me every few seconds, just in case, but it’s still clear. I’m less than thirty feet from the gate. I can sense freedom. Taking a deep breath, I dart to the gate and push it open. The most horrific sound goes off. It takes less than a minute for me to be surrounded by guards.
“Ma’am, you aren’t allowed to leave the premises.” A giant of a man says.
“I’m going for a walk.” I walk toward the gate, ignoring him.
“I’m afraid you aren’t going anywhere,” another says. He’s an older man with an accent.
“You can’t tell me what to do.” I take another step
“Mr. Manarch has given orders.”
“I don’t give a fuck what he said.” I make it to the gate. There are at least three larger men on the other side. “Get out of the way.”
“Ms. O’Brien,” Marco calls and turns.
“What?” I snap.
“Mr. Manarch is on the line for you.” He holds out a cell.
“And?” I put my hand on my hip.
“He would like to speak to you.”
“Too bad for him.” I turn to try to leave again, but my path is still blocked.
“Yes, sir,” Marco says.
“Ava, take the fucking cell.” Marco must have put it on speaker. Viktor’s voice is colder than I’ve ever heard. It gives me the chills.
“I don’t want to talk to you,” I scream. I’m being childish, especially with all these men surrounding me. But I don’t care. I need to get out of here.
“I won’t repeat myself. Take it or deal with the consequences.”
“Fuck you and your consequences,” I bark.
“Marco, take Ava to her bedroom by any means necessary. Lock her inside,” he orders.
“I’m not your fucking prisoner.”
“Marco,” he repeats.
“Yes, sir.”
The next thing I know, I’m being carried like a sack of potatoes.
“Put me down,” I scream. It doesn’t faze Marco, who continues walking. I start punching his back. “Put me fucking down,” I bellow as best I can with my head hanging over his shoulder.
“Ms. O’Brien, it’s only going to get worse,” he says apologetically.
“I need to leave this fucking prison.”
He walks inside straight for the stairs. He takes two steps at a time, unfazed by anything I’m doing or saying.
“Please don’t do this.”
“I’m sorry, Ava.”
I can hear the sincerity in his voice. He opens my door, walks straight to my bed, and drops me on it. I run to catch the door before he closes it, but I’m not quick enough. I turn the knob, but I’m locked in.
“Open the fucking door.” I bang on the door and scream until my voice is hoarse.
I drop to the floor. This is worse than prison. My freedom has been taken because of my father’s gambling. It's not hard to see that all I’m worth at this moment is a hundred thousand dollars. I’ve become a pawn in Viktor’s life. It doesn’t matter how many times he tells me I’m safe. Deep down inside, something tells me I’m not.
Being with him will get me killed.