Chapter 48
I revel in the darkness,unable to muster the strength to even open my eyes. I can”t focus. I can”t think about what’s next. I can”t even talk to Sofiya. I just feel numb. Broken.
Less than twelve hours ago, I was in Roman”s arms—the happiest and safest I”ve ever felt—and now, the worst possible thing has happened. The unimaginable.
The life with him that I had only just started constructing in my head is erased—a one-time fantasy that will never be.
I knew he lived in a dangerous world with dangerous people—I had experienced that firsthand. But I wanted to believe he was invincible. Well, stupid me. It turns out no one is, only the superheroes in movies.
“Come on, Lizka,“ Sofiya whispers. “We”ve just landed.”
Huh?
I blink away the grogginess as the jet”s engines wind down, their hum replaced by a deafening silence that seems out of place after hours of constant noise. My limbs are stiff, and my muscles are sore from the constrained positions and the cold metal of the cuffs that have kept me and Sofiya bound.
Anatoly stands in the open doorway of the jet, his silhouette dark against the blinding light spilling in from outside.
“Unchain them,“ he barks over his shoulder.
His men, two burly figures I’ve never seen before, move towards us. Sofiya flinches as they approach, but I tell her it’s going to be okay. Not because I believe it, but because I need to say something comforting.
“Behave,“ Anatoly warns as the metal falls away from my wrists.
I rub at the red marks left by the cuffs, the skin tender and bruised. My hands tremble, not just from the pain but also from the rush of fear and uncertainty.
Somehow, I need to set aside my grief to figure out how Sofiya and I can escape from this nightmare. The thought of these two monsters joining forces at our expense is so terrifying that it steals my breath.
As we step off the jet, bright sunlight stings my eyes. I have no idea where we are, and I doubt anyone will fill me in. The only thing I can say for sure is that the air is warmer here, scented with sea salt. We’re somewhere far from Russia.
Anatoly leads the way to a sleek, black SUV parked on the tarmac. Another identical vehicle idles behind it.
I glance at Sofiya. Her face is pale, and dark smudges rest under her eyes. Our gazes meet in a silent exchange, and I try to stay strong for her. I hope she knows I”m going to figure this out for us. I have no idea how, but I will.
If we can”t break free, then Roman’s death will have been pointless. I know he would have wanted me to fight tooth and nail to escape, and I am determined to not let him down.
A short time later, the vehicle we’re traveling in comes to a stop. A blindfold has blocked out any view of the outside world since we left the airstrip. Rough hands guide me out of the vehicle, and the scent of sea salt mixed with dry earth fills my nostrils.
Anatoly’s voice cuts through the silence. “Walk,” he commands. His hand grips my arm, steering me with a force that leaves no room for resistance.
“Don”t separate me from Sofiya,” I beg. “Keep us together, that”s all I”m asking of?—”
“You”re in no position to make demands,“ he snaps.
“I can make this easy for you, or I can make it hard. Give me this one thing—let me stay with Sofiya. Do that, and I’ll cooperate,“ I bargain, hoping my words find some leverage.
Anatoly pauses then grunts a reluctant agreement. “Try anything, and I”ll break your sister in before Sergey gets here.” His voice takes on a dark edge.
“Why me?” The question escapes my throat before I can stop it. “You could have chosen anyone. Why pick Sofiya and me from the millions who would willingly submit to you? You know I”ve never loved you, and I never will.”
“Oh, but the challenge of controlling you, breaking you when you resist—that”s what I enjoy. Knowing your family is so desperate and willing to bend to my every whim just adds to the fun.”
The delighted tone in his voice makes my stomach churn.
“You’re sick,” I say under my breath.
“Watch that sharp tongue of yours. Remember, Sofiya’s fate is in your hands.”
I clamp my mouth shut, happy that I got him to concede. Sofiya and I can”t escape if we”re not together.
Still blindfolded, I nearly trip over my feet as I’m dragged up a set of stairs and down a corridor. The sound of a key turning in a lock echoes as the door swings open, and I’m pushed inside with no further instructions. My sister is pushed through the door after me.
Once the door slams shut and I hear the click of the lock, I hastily remove my blindfold and tell Sofiya to do the same. Blinking in the dim light, I scan the room—a stark, cold space with bare walls and a single barred window. My heart sinks. That”s one less possible escape route.
The room has a table and a few chairs, as well as a mattress on the floor that makes my skin crawl when I think of how this room has been used. A windowless, bare-bones bathroom is the only room connected to this one.
The reality of our situation sinks in. This is nothing more than a holding cell.
Sofiya moves to my side. Her hand finds mine and squeezes it tightly. “Liza,” she whispers. “What is going on? Why is Anatoly treating us this way?”
I shake my head and swallow hard against the secret I”ve kept from her for too long. ”Anatoly is not the man you think he is.” My voice cracks like glass. ”When we first started dating, he wore a mask. He was charming and charismatic, and I thought he had changed from the boy I knew in school. But in truth, he”s much worse than I could have imagined. I didn”t want to worry you with my troubles, so I kept it from you. To be honest, I kept it from most people—the lies, the control, and even when he got physical with me.”
“How could you keep this from me?” Tears well in her eyes. “I feel terrible. All this time, you were suffering, and I had no idea.”
I rush to embrace her. “Because I truly thought it was best no one knew. Our family needed the money, and I didn”t see another way.”
“I’m so sorry I never realized what you were going through.” She inhales a shaky breath. “You shouldn’t have had to sacrifice yourself for our family. I could have helped. I wish you didn’t carry this burden alone.”
My throat feels like it’s closing in. “Don”t feel bad, please. It was my choice, even if it was a foolish one. But there’s more I need to tell you.”
Sofiya wipes away a tear and takes a seat on the floor, which is preferable to the mattress. “Does this have to do with your breakdown on the plane?”
“Yes.” I sink down beside her, not knowing where to even start. “You remember Roman Vasiliev, Maxim Belov”s right hand?” When she nods, I swallow past the brick of emotion in my throat and force myself to continue. “He guarded Kira and me in London, and that”s when something first developed between us. He’s everything Anatoly isn’t. He treated me like I actually matter, like he cared about my thoughts and feelings. He even read Jane Eyre to understand me better.
“This past week, I was hiding out with him, not Kira, and just… I fell hard for him. It’s strange how quickly you can feel so much for someone. I’ve never experienced anything like it, and it was the best feeling in the world.” My voice catches, emotion bubbling thick and hot in my throat. “But he’s gone.”
Her jaw drops. “What do you mean, he”s gone?”
“Did you hear Anatoly on that phone call? Roman is dead.”
I”m overcome by a wave of emotion. Sofiya gathers me in her arms and lets me cry on her shoulder. This has never been our relationship. I”ve always been the one to look after her, but with my world crumbling, she”s the anchor I desperately need.
When I pull away, I see my own sadness mirrored in her eyes.
“You fell in love?” she whispers.
Tears continue to trickle down my cheeks, and I brush them away, only for new ones to quickly take their place. “I did, but I never got to tell him. Sergey Zhukov killed Roman, and he plans to kill the rest of the Belov Syndicate. I pray that Maxim and Kira are safe.”
The possibility of losing Kira is too horrific to contemplate. I can’t even allow my brain to go there.
Confusion crosses Sofiya’s features. “You mean … the Sergey I had dinner with?”
“He’s not just a business associate of Anatoly’s—he’s a vicious bratva leader, and they’re partnering now on some… very dark deals.”
”Oh my God.” She clutches her knees, her body trembling with fear. “Is that why we”re here? They”re going to do something terrible to us, aren”t they?”
My heart climbs into my throat, but I can’t hide the truth from her any longer. “Sergey will marry you, and Anatoly will marry me, which will link their partnership through marriage.
“This ... this can”t be real.” Sofiya’s face drains of color. ”Married? To Sergey? How can they force us to marry them?”
“Men like them can do whatever they want, and there”s nothing we can do about it.”
“I can’t believe this.” She stands up and paces the room frantically. “Wait.” She comes to a sudden stop. “Did our parents have something to do with this?”
I bite my lip. “Our parents had a lot to do with it. I’m pretty sure Anatoly convinced Papa to sign a contract promising you to Sergey.”
Sofiya clenches her fists, her expression showing how utterly betrayed she feels. “How could our own parents be so cruel?” she shouts, her anger boiling over. “They just sold me like I”m nothing! Sold both of us!”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. I honestly don’t. But we can”t focus on that right now.” I grab her by the shoulders so she doesn”t miss a word I”m about to say. “These men are depraved. They”ve been involved in shit I don”t even want to tell you about. All that matters is that we get away from them. We need to save ourselves.”
She walks towards the window to gaze outside. “How? There”s nothing but cliffs and open water as far as I can see. We”re completely secluded here.”
“We need to scour this place for anything we can use as a weapon. Maybe if one of us pretends to be sick, we can distract them, and … I don”t know, make a run for it. Try to get help.”
Doubt creases her forehead.
“We’re going to work together to find a way out of here,” I insist. I need her to believe it as much as I do. “We can”t afford to think otherwise.”
She offers me a weak smile as her distant gaze shifts out the window. “If you say so, Lizka.”