Chapter 33
ADRIANNE
One moment, I was standing in the living room, watching Nikolai and Adrik tear into each other with words that cut deeper than knives, and the next, chaos erupted.
“Nikolai!” I screamed, but my voice was lost in the deafening hell.
A hand clamped over my mouth from behind, and I bit down hard until I tasted blood. Whoever grabbed me grunted, but didn’t let go. Another set of hands grabbed my arms, and I was being dragged backward, away from the fighting and away from Nikolai.
I fought. Kicked. Screamed against the palm covering my mouth.
But these men were built for wars, and my efforts were too little to even bother them.
They pulled me through a side door, into a servant’s corridor that was mercifully empty of gunfire. My feet scraped against the floor as I struggled, trying to get a grip to break free.
“Stop fighting, little butterfly, or I’ll have them break your legs.” The words were whispered into my ear, hot against my flesh, and I knew it was Alexei. “There we go. Much better when you’re obedient.”
“Bring her. And the other one,” Vladimir ordered from the front, not even bothering to look at us.
Two men dragged Sasha behind Vladimir, and my stomach turned at the lifeless look she had in her eyes.
Like she’d given up the fight. Like she knew there was no use.
I couldn’t help but think that whatever plans Vladimir had for me before Nikolai saved me, he’d wasted no time rearranging them for her.
The red dress she wore was torn and stained. Blood crusted at her temple while a new streak leaked just above it. When her eyes settled on mine, they widened, giving me a warning before the light extinguished as if someone had flipped a switch.
She was saving her strength for when it mattered, because right now, fighting these men off of us with no weapons and shattered hope wasn’t going to do us any good.
They forced us up the stairs, moving us away from the center of conflict, every step taking me further away from Nikolai. Panic clawed up my throat. The further they take us, the slimmer the chance to escape.
“Where are you taking us?” I demanded, my voice steadier than I felt in reality.
Vladimir glanced back, a sickening grin curving his lips. “Somewhere special. Somewhere with history. You see, I’m a man who appreciates poetry. Symmetry. And tonight, I’m going to recreate something beautiful.”
When we reached a door, Vladimir pulled out a key from his jacket’s pocket, unlocking it with deliberate slowness. It pushed open to reveal an opulent bedroom, and laid out on the bed was a red dress.
“No,” I breathed.
“Oh yes,” Vladimir gestured, and his men shoved me and Sasha inside. “You see, my late wife wore red the night she died, and today is the anniversary of her death. Such a beautiful color on her. I think it will look equally stunning on you.”
“I’m not wearing that.”
“You are.” Vladimir’s voice went flat and dangerous. “Or I’ll have my men strip you and dress you themselves. Your choice. Would you prefer to maintain some dignity, or shall I let them have their fun?”
Sasha’s eyes met mine across the room. She gave the smallest shake of her head. Not worth fighting. Not yet.
“Fine,” I gritted out. “Turn around.”
Vladimir smiled. “No.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said no.” He settled into a chair by the door, crossing his legs casually. “I’ll watch. You know… To make sure you do it properly. My men will watch, too. Consider it an incentive to cooperate.”
Rage burned through me, but I swallowed it down. Getting assaulted before Nikolai could reach me wouldn’t help anyone.
I grabbed the damn dress, my hands shaking with the dreaded and ominous meaning of it. It was heavier than I expected, luxurious fabric, so beautiful if it weren’t so horrifying.
I turned my back to Vladimir and his men, trying to shield myself with what little privacy they allowed. My hands shook as I took the lighter from my pocket and hid it in my palm, before I pulled off Nikolai’s hoodie. I unhooked my bra and let it fall, stepping out of my leggings next.
I felt their eyes on me. All of them. Violating me without touching.
I pulled the red dress over my head as quickly as I could, tugging it into place. It fit perfectly, which somehow made it worse. Like this had been planned long in advance.
“Beautiful.” Vladimir stood, approaching us both. “Absolutely beautiful. You look just like her. Both of you. My Irina would be honored.”
“Your wife would be horrified,” I spat. “That her husband would do this. That he’d use her memory as an excuse for cruelty.”
His hand shot out, slapping me across the face with enough force to snap my head to the side. Pain exploded through my cheek while stars burst behind my eyes.
“You don’t speak of her.” His voice was soft, deadly. “You don’t have that right.”
He towered over me, his eyes burning with unmasked fury, but I met his gaze anyway. “Nikolai is going to kill you.”
He hit me again. Harder this time.
I fell to my knees, the room spinning.
“Get her up,” Vladimir ordered.
Rough hands hauled me to my feet. My cheek throbbed, already swelling.
“Take them to the ballroom,” Vladimir said to his men. “It’s time for the grand finale.”
They dragged us out of the room and down the stairs again like we were mere puppets.
“Why are you doing this, Alexei? I thought I could trust you.” I whispered, but Alexei merely pushed me forward with more force than before.
We descended the grand staircase, and I saw the carnage in the entrance hall below. Bodies everywhere. Blood pooling on the marble floor.
My legs almost gave out as a whimper escaped my throat before I could stop it.
My hand flew to my mouth as bile rose hot and fast. I’d never seen anything like it.
The metallic scent of blood was overwhelming, making my head spin and my stomach revolt.
This was real death. Gratuitous violence, and I was expected to waltz right past it like it was normal.
“Are you going to pass out, Addy?” Alexei taunted me from behind.
I couldn’t. Not when I was trying to identify every person on the floor to make sure none of them were him. That none of them were my brothers.
They pulled us across the hall, and in the midst of the chaos, I exhaled a breath of relief. I didn’t recognize a single one.
His men positioned us in the middle of the ballroom, right where Nikolai and I had stood when he’d kissed me.
Vladimir walked a slow circle around Sasha and me, inspecting us like meat on a hook at the slaughterhouse.
“Perfect. Absolutely perfect.” He stopped in front of me. “Do you know what happened in this room? What my son did just a few hours ago?”
“He killed a man who deserved it.”
“He killed an ally. A friend. Someone who’d supported him.” Vladimir’s smile was cold. “Over you. He threw away everything for you. Isn’t that romantic?”
“It’s love.”
“It’s weakness.” He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. “And weakness is something I’ve spent years trying to beat out of him. But you… You’ve made him soft again. Made him vulnerable. Exactly like his pathetic mother.”
“His mother was strong.” I jerked my chin from his grip. “Stronger than you’ll ever be. She survived you for years. Protected her children. She created beauty in the middle of your ugliness. That’s real strength.”
His eyes narrowed. “You know about the maze.”
It wasn’t a question.
“Of course you do. He showed you, didn’t he?
” Vladimir laughed, and my stomach churned at the bitter sound.
“My sentimental son. Always clinging to ghosts. To memories. To a dead woman’s garden.
” He leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear.
“When this is over, when I’ve killed him in front of you, I’m going to burn it all.
The maze. The dome. Every last butterfly.
I’m going to destroy everything she built, and there won’t be anything left but ashes. ”
“You’re a monster.”
“Yes.” He pulled back, smiling. “But I’m the monster who wins.”
The doors to the ballroom burst open.
Nikolai stood there, covered in blood and ash, his gun raised, his eyes burning with fury that made Vladimir’s cruelty look like a candle next to the sun.
“Get away from her.”
His voice was calm. Steady. Terrifying in its control.
Vladimir smiled and pulled out his gun, pressing it to my temple.
“Hello, syn. So glad you could join us.” Son.