Chapter 32
The Prey
The next two days were as horrifying as the last. They went in a blur. And I never imagined I’d want Monday to last for a lifetime.
Alina was with me at the university. She barely left my side, even in the cafeteria. I was grateful, to be honest, but the snarky remarks students would throw my way didn’t help with my anxiety.
She’s a killer.
Police arrested her.
I heard she was bailed out. That’s not possible unless she has some ties.
I can’t believe she killed Dontello Morani just for some drugs.
All the things going to my head were making me wish to jump off a cliff.
The classes went in a blur; even professors eyed me warily.
I was sure the whole university knew about the situation by now.
Alina even snapped at a few of the girls, but I hated how my life had turned into this chaotic mess, and no matter how hard I tried to find some semblance of normalcy, it kept slipping further away.
I had two more days, and still, my head was blank. My phone pinged, and I immediately stilled, pulled it out, and stared at the screen.
Kyle: Be there at the gate. I’ll pick you up in twenty minutes.
I blinked, hoping the words would disappear, but when they didn’t, I took a shaky breath. Pick me up? To take me to him? Wasn’t it too soon? Weren’t there supposed to be two more days? Or did he decide to shift the deadline and torment me sooner?
Oh god.
Be it a dream.
Please.
Please, please, please-
Another ping and my heart rate accelerated.
Kyle: And don’t think of running. I hate chasing.
I looked around. Alina was in the classroom, and there was no way I could slip away, but where would I even go? I couldn’t let him take me. Not yet. Not like this.
Panic surged. I quickly wrapped the jacket around me and rushed out into the corridor, earning a few weird and judgemental glares as the students shifted from the way.
I was in the parking lot when I felt someone placing their hand on my shoulder, and I gasped as I whirled around so fast I nearly fell. That’s when I came face-to-face with Ivan.
“You have a strange hobby of keeping me waiting, Sera.” His voice was coldly impatient, and I tried to back away as he invaded my vicinity. “Where were you?”
He stood with a hand in his jacket, looking down at me with his jade-green eyes.
I sighed. I had dealt with enough deranged men in the past few days; I didn’t want to add another to the list. If I wanted to escape his clutches, I needed to pretend I didn’t suspect him at all.
“It doesn’t concern you. Can you please let go of me?” I tried to pull my arm away, but his grip tightened.
“Not unless you tell me what’s going on.” He leaned in closer, his breath hot against my ear. And I looked around the area, spotting a few students looking at us and whispering to themselves. “Why were you involved in a murder?”
“I did not murder anyone…” My voice shook with frustration. “What do you want, Ivan?”
“I know, Sera, I trust you and that’s why I’m worried. It’s not normal. Three days, and I didn’t know where you were. You phone was off, no one knew where you were and police refused to tell me anything.”
“I said I am not a—”
“But someone bailed you out.” His face turned blank, and with his bloodshot eyes, he appeared no less than a maniac. “Who was it?”
“That’s none of your con—”
“It was Judas, right?”
“How do you know…” I whispered, my heart pounding.
“How wouldn’t I? That’s his haunting mansion you work in. Do you think I’m stupid? I observe everything, and that man never had a reputation.” His eyes bore into mine, searching for something.
Ivan was not a let-go type of person. I noticed a faint wound on his forehead, hidden under his brown hair.
“Why do you think it’s him who bailed me out and not someone else?” I tried to keep my voice steady, but the fear was creeping in. I couldn’t trust Ivan, too.
I didn’t know what, but there was a pattern I noticed.
I believed it was Judas who was stalking me, but the thing was, was he the one sending me texts too?
Of course, he was, but… that day at the fest, I was in the washroom when the stalker texted me.
And there was no way Judas would take out his phone in front of the whole college to send me a threatening text.
That was questionable to his pretending blindness.
He wouldn’t risk it.
Or maybe I was imagining it all.
He smiled, and I automatically shifted as red alarms blared loudly in my head. “Only Judas Romanovski can bend the law to get a murder suspect out of jail in less than an hour. And he is the only one you’re in contact with. It’s obvious.”
“Yes, he did. So what? It shouldn’t concern you or anyone. If anything, you shouldn’t be seen with a suspect.”
“You don’t understand. This isn’t about you being a suspect. This is about you being in danger. Judas Romanovski is not a man you want to owe anything to. He’s dangerous.”
Never before had he seemed so out of control. And it scared me.
“Why do you care so much?” I spat, trying to mask my growing unease with boldness. “What’s it to you?”
“I care because I don’t want to see you get hurt.” His voice softened again, his eyes pleading. The green dilating slightly. “Sera, please. Let me help you. Let me protect you from him.”
I felt a chill crawling up my spine, but I couldn’t let him see that. “I don’t need your protection, Ivan. I can handle myself.”
“You’re wrong.” He stepped closer, his face inches from mine. “You’re in over your head, and you don’t even realize it. Just… let me help you.”
For a moment, I was tempted. But then I remembered the look in Judas’s eyes when he bailed me out, and the power dynamics of this world. If not Judas, then Ivan would prey on me.
“I don’t need your help,” I repeated, my voice firmer this time. “Now let go of me.”
Ivan’s eyes narrowed, anger flickered, and then a sly smile curved his lips.
“I can help with anything. Remember when I said my family is influential? I wasn’t lying.
Just say it, and it’s done. My brother is one of the top politicians in the country.
We have connections and resources. Whatever you need, Sera. ”
His words confused me, and I shook my head. “Why are you so insistent? What do you really want?”
“I… like you.” His tone was almost gentle. “Is that so hard to believe?”
“Yes,” I snapped, my voice trembling. “It is.”
I didn’t know what to believe anymore. Could I trust him? Could I trust anyone?
I looked into his eyes; I saw something beyond anger—a glimmer of sincerity. But I couldn’t afford to let my guard down. Not now. Not with everything at stake.
Why did he care so much? What did he really want from me? His sudden concern and willingness to help felt too convenient, too manipulative. My instincts screamed at me to stay cautious.
And then there was Judas. I would not trade one monster for another.
No, I had to stay strong. I couldn’t let myself become a pawn in their games. I had to find a way to protect myself without relying on anyone else. Trust was a luxury I couldn’t afford.
Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and ripped my arm from his hold, few gasps fell upon my ears, and I knew I was creating a scene, and this was the only place I could do this.
I didn’t trust myself to be this brave alone with him.
In the crowd, I didn’t think he’d try to force me to go somewhere with him.
His green eyes widened and then narrowed, the bare annoyance shining.
Ah, this was the real him behind the mask.
That made me take another step back, and I tried to calm myself and steadied my voice.
“I appreciate your concern, Ivan, I really do, but I can handle this on my own. I don’t need your help. ”
“Sera-” he growled.
His demeanour suddenly shifted, and I saw a flash of something darker, more dangerous. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. Anger and frustration twisted his features as he struggled to maintain control. His eyes blazed as he took a step forward. His lips twitching.
“You think you can just walk away?” His voice lost the softness, the mask fell to the ground exposing the true Ivan underneath. “You don’t understand what you’re dealing with. You don’t know what he’s capable of.”
I took another step back, my heart racing. “I know enough to know I don’t need your help.”
His eyes darkened further. He took a step forward, closing the distance between us. “You’re being stubborn and reckless. You’re going to get yourself killed.”
Fear surged through me as he reached for my arm again, his grip tightening painfully. Instinctively, I slapped his hand away, my palm stinging from the impact. “Don’t touch me!”
For a moment, he looked stunned, as if he couldn’t believe I yelled at him.
Then his expression twisted into something almost unhinged.
He laughed slowly and lifted his head as his eyes shifted behind me and a smirk pulled across his lips.
“You have no idea what you’re getting into, Sera.
But fine, have it your way.” He leaned down and whispered. “I will miss you.”
My eyes widened as his lips brushed over my cheek, and I pushed him back. He smiled. “See you soon.”
I stared at his back as he blended into the crowd. What… did that mean?
Students stared at me, and I tried to make sense of it all.
I turned around just in time when I felt a warm presence behind me.
My eyes met the face of one of the students as her eyes widened and the chaos broke.
A hand wrapped around my middle, hard front glued to my back, and I quickly smelled the expensive cologne and scent of the cigar.
“Oh my god, isn’t that…”
I ignored the voices, focusing solely on the danger of standing behind me as he whispered in low, frightening words against my ear. “What the fuck do you think you were doing, Ptichka?”