Chapter 33
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Luna
We managed to transfer all the data. Damien arrived at Lev's apartment with a small army, but I don't think Lev expected to be caught so quickly, because we got in without any trouble.
The advantage of the virus they purchased is that it behaves like an antivirus scan. It doesn't trigger any alerts, absolutely nothing. Lev's team won't discover the transfer until it's too late.
Before dropping me off at home, Damien checks the perimeter and signals me to proceed.
"I enjoy working with you, tygrysek," he says playfully, and I can't hide my smile. I have to admit we worked well together.
"You're playing with fire, Damien," I warn him, knowing that if Roman hears him call me that one more time, his head will explode.
"I've been told I'm going to burn in hell anyway. Might as well get used to the temperature," he quips before getting in his car and driving away.
I enter the house and decide to get some work done. I open my laptop, and after starting up my terminals, the sound of a new email catches my attention.
When I see the subject line, I feel the blood drain from my face, and a painful knot forms in my chest. 'For my sweetie'... With trembling hands, I open the message.
I have to stifle a scream when a video appears showing Roxy, unconscious and tied to a chair. Her black hair is pulled back in a messy bun, and the Zadig and Voltaire dress I gave her some time ago is torn on one side.
After a few seconds, there's a rustling in the background, and Aidan appears in the frame wearing the most triumphant smile. When I hear his voice, a cold shiver runs down my spine.
I hate his voice. My entire body revolts at the first intonation, but the words are spoken slowly as if he knows I have no choice but to listen.
"Roxy and I would like to have coffee with you, sweetie. And, if possible, have a million dollars on the table. I swear, Luna, if I see you bring anyone with you, Roxy will become just another fentanyl overdose case. Be a smart girl and hurry up."
The video ends with him touching Roxy's face with his fingertips.
I'm going to be sick.
My first reaction is exactly what he wants. I want to run to Roxy as fast as possible, but unlike the Luna he manipulated so many times before, this Luna isn't alone.
I could take a million dollars from Roman's safe because I know the safe code. A warmth squeezes my heart because this man, who doesn't trust people easily, has opened his safe in front of me so many times without hiding. I could create a diversion and slip away from Sergey and the other guards. I could. But I won't. Because Roman is the best solution.
I try calling him, but he's not answering. I close my eyes for a second. Breathe in. Breathe out. Anton. Anton must be with him. I rush from the office to the entryway, where Sergey looks at me with concern.
"Are you okay, Luna?" he asks.
"I need Anton's number," I tell him, and only now do I notice I'm panting. I ran as if the office was on fire. I have no doubt Aidan would hurt Roxy. Somehow his obsession has evolved to the point where I'm sure it's more of a mental illness.
After keying in the number, I wait for it to ring.
Please answer.
For a second, I hate myself. I know they're dealing with Lev. I know he's a priority for them, but Roxy is family to me. She's in this mess because of me. She's unconscious with that psychopath because of me.
Anton's voice rings out when he answers, and I feel myself exhale with relief.
"Anton! I need to talk to Roman. It's urgent!" I tell him, and I hear a scream in the background.
Guilt washes over me, knowing I'm interrupting Roman again. Instead of handling his business, dealing with the traitor who could put his entire organization at risk, he has to deal with my phone calls.
God, I feel so pathetic, but the alternative would have been to run and handle this myself. Because no matter how much I want to deny it, that was my first instinct. To not let anyone deal with my mistakes, to not bother anyone, but a trace of reason remained and Roman is the only one who can help me.
In a few moments, I hear footsteps and know he's taken the phone. As soon as his first breath reaches my ears, I let all my frustration and fear show in my voice.
"He took Roxy."
"I'm coming now. Don't you dare leave the house until I get there, is that clear, Luna?" he says, and his authoritative tone is exactly what I need to keep me rooted in place.
If something happens to Roxy because of me... No. I refuse to believe he'd hurt her…but who am I kidding? I know better than anyone how unstable Aidan is.
If you met him on the street, you'd swear he was the most ordinary person: probably with an office job, a girlfriend, and a puppy waiting at home. People's opinions would change radically if they knew that the same individual who smiles at them cheerfully on the street is the one who sold me to the Polish mafia to pay off his debts.
I feel like I'm about to have a nervous breakdown. I think I've worn holes in the hardwood floor of Roman's office from all my pacing, and there's a physical pain in my chest.
Hold on, Roxy.
After an eternity, which in reality is only eighteen minutes, I hear the sound of a car and see Roman getting out of his SUV. His gaze automatically goes to the office window where I am. I wish I were stronger than this, but when I see him, my eyes turn glassy. This man, who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, always comes when I need him.
My heart is about to burst, partly from the stress of not knowing how I'll convince Aidan to let Roxy go and partly from love. Because even though I haven't told Roman, I know he sees in my eyes that I love him. I have no idea if he recognizes this feeling, but I do. Every time I see him, my heart does this little dance of happiness.
The office door opens, and his presence is enough to charge the entire atmosphere of the room. His gaze stops on my face, and all his features become rigid.
Why is he looking at me like that?
All my doubts start whispering that I've bothered him, that he's angry with me for taking him away from the interrogation of Lev.
"I'm sorry. I wouldn't have bothered you, I swear, but it's..."
I start talking because I can't help myself, but then he takes a few steps toward me. His hand reaches out and wraps around my waist, pulling me to him.
"What the hell are you apologizing for?" His voice is calm, but there's something there. A note of discomfort.
"For bothering you with this. I would have gone alone, it’s just that..."
His palms cradle my jaw, tilting my face upward until our lips hover a millimeter apart. The warmth of his exhale brushes my skin, mingling with my own shallow breaths. My pulse flutters beneath his fingertips, each shared breath sending sparks of electricity dancing through my veins.
"I want you to bother me every time. I want to be the only one you turn to when you have a problem. I want you to know in every fiber of your body that I could be on the other side of the earth, and if you needed me, I would cut the world in half to get to you, Luna," he declares, looking into my eyes, and doesn't give me time to breathe or give him any answer, though I don't know what I could say to that.
My heart melts, and I feel like I'm a mountain of emotions because, just as I'm about to touch his lips, my mouth decides that in the middle of this crisis is the perfect moment to confess my feelings.
"I think I love you."
His eyes fly open, glowing dangerously. A smirk appears on his face as he runs his tongue over his lower lip.
"Just think?" he asks without taking his eyes off mine.
"Okay. I'm sure," I whisper and close the small distance between us to kiss him. His fingers trail fire across my hip, each point of contact sending electricity racing beneath my skin. The world dissolves with every sweep of his tongue, every shared breath, until nothing exists but the pressure of his lips and the heat building between us.
His hand grips me tightly as if he's afraid I'll disappear any second. The need to touch him becomes too much, so I dig my fingers into his back. I don't know how long we stay like this, only that we break the kiss for some much-needed oxygen while his teeth pull at my lower lip.
"Let's bring Roxy home, and then my mouth and yours have business to attend to," he says in a husky voice as if he’s just woken up. This voice of his is my favorite. It's the moment when I clearly see how affected he is by me, just as I am by him.
I slowly pull away from him and move to the laptop to show him the email. When I play the video, I force myself to watch though the guilt reappears and consumes me. But Roman seems unaffected by everything he's seen.
"I need to call Damien. That house is in his territory," he tells me in the calmest voice, and my eyes grow wide.
The last thing I wanted was to involve the Polish mafia boss in this problem, but I trust Roman.
"Damien, I need access and some resources at an address." I hear him discussing tactical details of how to approach the house, while all my thoughts are directed toward Roxy.
I close my eyes and try to convince myself that my friend is strong, and if she wakes up, she'll know not to provoke Aidan.
Damn it. That's exactly what she won't do. She'll anger him.
It feels like an eternity passes before Roman finishes the call, and my heart is in my throat. Hanging up the phone, he comes toward me. His face is so serene, and I envy him.
I wish I had his control. His calm.
"It's normal to worry about her, but nothing will happen to her. You have my word," he says, seemingly reading my fears, and there's such certainty in his voice that some of the doubt in my soul disappears. "Damien assured me the location is perfectly isolated from other properties. We'll meet him there, and we'll have enough men to conquer a small state. Breathe, Luna," he tells me, and only then do I realize I was holding my breath.
"When do we leave?" I ask, trying to shake off my nerves.
I see him frown slightly and know what he's going to say, so I don't even let him speak.
"I'm coming with you. I'll go crazy here!" I tell him, and I think he sees in my eyes that there's no way he can make me stay in the house while my best friend is locked up with the nightmare of my life.
"On one condition!" he says.
I raise my gaze slightly, waiting to hear the condition.
"If at any moment I tell you to get out of there, you'll leave without protest. Am I clear?"
"If Roxy is still in that house, I won't leave," I declare.
A sharp inhale cuts through the silence as his jaw clenches, every line of his body turning to steel against mine. When Roman gets angry, he consumes all the air in the room. Rationally, I should be afraid of this man when he looks at me like he wants to strangle me, but all I feel when I look at him is warmth in my chest.
His hand moves gently to my throat and applying slight pressure, he looks directly into my eyes.
"If something happens to you, not a stone will remain standing in this damn city. Every soldier who's there and fails to protect you will learn how it feels to have their dicks ripped off. I will paint Chicago red with blood if you get hurt. Is that what you want?" he says, emphasizing each word as if he wants to imprint them in my mind.
"No!" I manage to say, though it's more of a murmur. His hand tightens at my throat and he brings his mouth close to my lips.
"Then you will listen to me and run if something goes wrong," he whispers.
"Okay."
It's all I manage to answer because his presence is too much for me right now. His dark gray gaze has a gleam that I've learned to recognize so well. It's desire. And even though I'd like nothing more than to forget everything and sink into him, into his safety, the reality is that time is passing and we need to act.
Realizing the same thing as me, he releases me and takes a few steps back.
"You'll go in with the money and try to convince him to release Roxy," he tells me, and I know that he hates every bit of this plan, but it's what Aidan demanded.
Roman believes Lev has been helping Aidan hide until now, precisely to make his move and separate me from him.
He’ll certainly be monitoring the surveillance cameras, and I know that at the first sign of suspicious movement, he won’t hesitate to hurt Roxy and disappear. The plan is simple: I go in, convince him to release Roxy as soon as he has me where he wants, and keep him talking long enough for Roman and Damien to intervene and grab him.
I know what will happen once Roman gets his hands on him, but I can't find any sympathy in me. This man, who emotionally and financially blackmailed me for months, dared to kidnap Roxy just to get to me.
I feel like every limit of my kindness has been tested with him, and I simply can't find the strength to forgive him or move past it anymore. Because that's what I would have wanted. To forget him. To forgive him at some point. For me, for my peace of mind, but it's clear this man will never leave me alone.
Before we leave the room, I look at Roman and ask him, as confidently as I can,"Do you have a gun?"
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The address where Aidan is located is at the opposite end of the city, so we met with Damien a few miles away, just in case Aidan isn't alone there.
And something tells me he isn't alone. He's always been a coward. He knows I'll come for Roxy, but he also knows who I live with, and he won't take risks.
Damien gets off a Ducati while, behind him, two SUVs stop and five armed men emerge. Roman wasn't exaggerating - judging by how many soldiers are here, we really could conquer a small state. If we count the other six we brought, we're definitely too visible a force. We'd be easy to detect on any surveillance camera.
I could have hacked the cameras in the area, but he would have immediately realized something was wrong. Aidan is too paranoid to believe in coincidences.
"Luna," is all Damien says, and I awkwardly wave in greeting. It feels like an eternity since he dropped me off at home. Damien resembles Roman physically - tall, broad-shouldered, with black hair. He has intense brown eyes and hair cut short on the sides. Although their styles are completely different - Roman with his designer suits and Damien with his leather jacket, black jeans, and boots - both exude the same aura of control and dominance.
The difference is that with Damien, control seems like a bomb ready to explode, while with Roman it's masked under a veil of sophistication.
Roman puts his hand on my waist and greets Damien.
"I know I said it was urgent, but I wasn't expecting you to bring the heavy artillery," Roman says, and I can detect the amused tone.
Something passes through Damien's eyes, and I could swear it's regret.
"Let's say it's a debt I needed to repay to tygrisek," he answers, and I instantly know what he's talking about.
From the way Roman tenses, he too realizes what ‘debt’ he's talking about.
"Thank you," I say and extend my hand.
If it weren't for Damien forcing Aidan's to leave the city and leave me alone, I don't know what I would have done. I know the man who gave me my scars is dead. The fact that Damien feels the need to make amends for Aidan’s return gives me comfort. Yet if you saw him on the street, you'd say this man has no soul.
My hand barely touches his when Roman pulls me back toward him.
"A thank you is enough. He doesn't need to touch you!" His tone is final.
I can't help rolling my eyes at how crazy he can be sometimes. The grin on Damien’s face tells me how ridiculous he finds his friend's remark and gesture too.
"The Siberian glaciers must have melted if even you fell in love," he says before turning his back to have a discussion with some of his soldiers.
Neither Roman nor I say a word. Damien's remark hangs heavily in the air between us. I don't need him to tell me what he feels - I already know. I know that Roman's feelings for me are the closest to love this man can ever experience.
I hate this oppressive tension and feeling of shame starting to overcome me, so I turn to him and bring the discussion back to what really matters now.
"Let's test the earpiece one more time to see if it works well before we get started," I say, moving away so we can check if the sound is clear.
Roman reluctantly lets go of my waist. The moment I break away from his touch, I feel my body lower a few degrees in temperature as a shiver runs down my spine.
One hundred feet away, we do a check and confirm everything is going according to plan. Roman and I agreed to use a regular car, which would look like an Uber, to drop me off in front of the house where Aidan is holding Roxy.
Before I get in the car, with one of the soldiers acting as the Uber driver, he catches my hand and turns me toward him. His gaze is the color of the sky during a storm.
"Promise me you won't do anything stupid," he says, and his hands lift my face so I look into his eyes when I answer.
He always seeks out my eyes when we talk. It's as if he can read my mind and soul just by looking into them.
"I promise to try," is all I offer him and then kiss his cheek.
I don't know how much he'd appreciate making a scene here, so I don't kiss him like I want to. I start to turn when his hand catches my waist again. I'm ready to roll my eyes at him and reassure him I'll be fine when his lips crash into mine and devour me.
In front of all the soldiers, with Damien there.
For a few seconds I'm too shocked and slightly embarrassed, but I can never deny him a kiss. His lips are firm, and when his tongue touches mine, I want to sink into the ground because I can't hide the whimper that escapes me.
When he breaks the kiss, my lips feel numb, and I barely hear his whisper.
"My mouth and yours have plans. Don't forget that."
Although I'm red from head to toe at his remark, I nod and get in the car.
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When I get out of the car, I grip the backpack with the money and walk toward the house. Of course he chose an isolated house with no neighbors nearby. There are some houses on the other side of the street, but they appear uninhabited.
I don't dare look back at the house where I know Roman and Damien are waiting for the signal that Roxy is safe before they act. I don't want to make Aidan suspicious. I knock on the door, and a tingly feeling starts in my chest. Until now, my focus has been on seeing Roxy, knowing she's safe.
But I'm about to see Aidan. Breathe . I'm about to see the eyes that watched me bleed at Igor's hands. Breathe . I'm about to see the man who made me disgusted with myself. Breathe .
The door opens and Aidan appears in a black T-shirt and jeans. He's wearing worn white sneakers, and when my gaze falls on his face, I have to suppress my shock. His brown eyes are bloodshot and have a feverish gleam, and his grin is creepy.
He grabs my hand and my body revolts at his mere touch, but before I can react, he pulls me inside. When I hear the bolt lock, every fiber of me screams to run, but I remain frozen in place.
"Where's Roxy?" I manage to ask while scanning the house's interior.
The blinds are drawn, making everything dark, and there's barely any furniture. From what I can see, the kitchen is to my left, a bathroom to my right.
From the other room, which is partly blocked by Aidan's body, I hear a rustling and almost push him down when my gaze catches a flash of Roxy's dress.
I lunge toward her, but Aidan's fingers sink into my upper arm, holding me back. Pain shoots through my skin, forcing a small cry from my throat before I can stop it, and I know Roman heard it.
Damn it, he's going to burst in on us.
"Let go of my arm, Aidan," I say through gritted teeth.
I want to gouge his eyes out for what he did to Roxy. For everything he did to the Luna who wanted to do good, to help him when he needed it.
"Aren't you going to greet me like you used to?" he asks, and again I have to suppress a shiver at the sound of his voice.
It's the voice that still haunts my nightmares. The voice that called me a whore for talking to any male colleague. The voice that made me doubt myself at every step because everything I am and everything I've achieved was due to "luck." The voice that whispered I would never escape him.
He moves closer, and I know I couldn't bear it if he put his hand on my face. On my body. But I understand who I'm dealing with. I know I need to give him the impression things are going in the direction he wants.
"Not before I see Roxy and you let her go," I say in a low, submissive voice that I know he likes.
I see his pupils dilate, and I feel sick because I can- unwillingly- see his erection growing. I know he's always been attracted to me.
"Did you bring the money, sweetie?" he says after clearing his throat, and he looks at my backpack.
His hand is no longer digging into my flesh but instead caressing me, and I have to remind myself that I need him to let me free Roxy.
He grabs the backpack, and I immediately seize the strap and hold onto it with all my strength.
"Not until you let Roxy go!" I tell him, and my gaze moves to where she's tied to a chair.
She seems to be coming around from whatever he drugged her with, but her gaze is foggy as she tries to move her head.
"Ughh, fiiine. Let's go see Roxy," he whines, and his mood swing puts all my sensors on alert.
He kneels in front of her and brushes aside a strand of hair. Although I want to be civil, so as not to set him off, I put myself between him and Roxy and examine her face. She's pale, but her eyes seem clearer.
I slowly pull the duct tape from her mouth and an "Ahh" escapes her, though it's so weak my heart clenches a little when I hear it.
"Roxy. I'm getting you out of here," I tell her, and I don't care if Aidan hears.
I want to assure her this whole madness will end soon.
Aidan's hand shoots out, yanking my hair, but this time I shut my mouth before a sound can escape. I need her to be safe before Roman and Damien come for us.
"Not so fast, sweetie. Until I see all the money's there, Roxy's staying here with us," Aidan growls at me, and my face contorts in pain. I think he'll end up with a chunk of my hair in his hand, he's gripping it so hard.
"Let her go, you creep!" Roxy shouts, tears in her eyes. She's still tied up, arms behind her back, and I see her trying to move in the chair. I try to catch her eye and signal her to shut up.
"Don't anger me, Roxanne. You always had a filthy mouth and filled Luna's head with garbage against me," he says, and although his tone is normal, I know there's a threat there.
"Let her go and then you can take the money and disappear," I say but realize too late my mouth ran ahead of me again. His hand clamps even harder in my hair, and I physically have to breathe through my nose not to scream in pain. I know Roman can hear everything, and my only consolation is that he'll break every bone in Aidan’s body for what he's done. I can't help but smile slightly just thinking about him getting everything he deserves soon enough.
"I swear to God, you psychopath, if you don't let go of her hair this second, I'm coming at you with this chair and all!" Roxy yells at him, and I know I have no chance of calming her down. The drugs are probably wearing off, and Roxy is many things, but a docile woman is not one of them. Even when her life depends on a mental case. Who doesn't like her to begin with.
Aidan releases my hair and pushes me down next to Roxy's chair.
"Roxy, shut up," I whisper, grabbing her hand, and she must see the panic on my face because she goes quiet. I'm not afraid of what he'd do to me. Somehow I know he wouldn't kill me. Roxy though? I know he wouldn't hesitate.
"What did you call me?" Aidan's voice is low and full of venom.
"She didn't say anything. Aidan, you need to let her go," I almost beg. I know Roman and Damien won't wait much longer.
Aidan looks at me and snatches the backpack. I start to lunge for it but stop myself. Maybe if he sees the money, he'll calm down and let her go. I can't hope he'll let me leave too. I know him better than that.
In his head, we're still in a relationship. In his head, I was the one at fault for our "distance."
He counts the money with his eyes and realizes he hasn't been tricked. There really is a million dollars there. Roman put a million dollars in the backpack as casually as if he'd tossed me some candy to carry. The smile on Aidan's face is one of genuine joy.
"Now we can leave, sweetie. I promise to be the best for you, little Luna," he tells me, running his hand through his hair.
My first instinct is to tell him to go to hell, but I choose to stay quiet and keep my face neutral. I can't smile at him, can't play his game. Every cell in my body revolts at his presence.
"Aren't you happy?" he asks, coming toward me.
"First Roxy, then we'll celebrate."
If he doesn't let her go, we'll have to risk it and hope nothing goes wrong when the heavy artillery arrives.
"How stupid can you be to think I'd let this whore, who tried to turn you against me, go free?" he tells me in an amused tone as if he’s just told me the best joke and I don’t get it.
I look at Roxy and see in her eyes that she's not in the best shape. I knew there was a risk this idiot wouldn't let her go. That's why Roman and I arranged to have a phrase that would be the signal to come after us. I had hoped maybe Aidan had some rationality left and wouldn't keep Roxy, but I believe him capable of hurting her, and although this risk exists even when Roman and Damien burst in, it's a risk I'm willing to take.
"I feel sick," I say in a clear tone. I know Roman heard the signal to come for us. I don't know how much longer I can keep this madman in place, and although I still have the gun at my back, there's a tiny part of me that doesn't want to use it. I've never shot a gun, and the thought of doing it because of Aidan makes me sick. I feel like it's the last intact piece of my soul, and I’d be giving it up for him.
The gun is a backup, in case Roman and Damien are delayed and we need to defend ourselves.
Aidan studies me with a look you could swear is concern.
"That's because you got worked up over this idiot, little Luna. But don't worry, Devin will take care of her," he tells me, and every cell in my body freezes.
Now I really do feel sick. What does Devin have to do with him? I know he owes him money and...
In the distance, I can hear the sound of gunfire ripping through the air—someone emptying an entire clip—and my heart begins to race.
Before I can finish my thought and let the panic sink, he says, "Oh nooo, sweetie. Don't worry. He won't do anything to me."
How insane must he be to think I'd worry about him after everything he's done to me?
"I thought you owed him money," I manage to say without my voice trembling.
I have a bad feeling and just pray Roman is hearing all of this conversation.
Suddenly, a powerful blast shakes the house's walls, and I look horrified at Roxy, who seems equally alarmed. That...was that an explosion?
"And that was my debt paid," he tells me while caressing my cheek.
My heart is about to explode from how much blood it's pumping through my body because I know that wasn't a bomb set by Roman or Damien. When my gaze settles on Aidan's face, I could swear it's impossible to smile so sinisterly, yet that's exactly what he’s doing.
"What did you do?" I whisper as tears gather in my eyes.
"I just blew up the little house your boyfriend was spying from, sweetie," he says, spitting out the last words at me.
Suddenly something heavy strikes my head, and everything goes black.