The worst part was the suffocating silence. Thick soundproofing isolated us completely from the world above.
Kholod lounged on the sofa, legs crossed, cigar smoke curling lazily from his fingers. Those amber eyes gleamed through the haze, piercing and intense.
"Everyone out," he ordered Dmitri.
"Yes, boss."
The heavy metal door thudded shut with a resounding boom, sealing us in.
Now, it was just him and me.
"Come here."
I stood frozen, my legs heavy as lead.
"I said, come here."
I gritted my teeth and stepped toward him. Each click of my heels echoed sharply, like a timer ticking down to my doom.
I stopped three paces away.
He flicked his cigar, ash crumbling to the floor.
"You'd better spill everything." He sounded like he was interrogating a condemned prisoner.
I drew in a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. "I already told you, Isabella said it was a surprise! I had no idea Lorenzo would show up. Kholod, why won't you believe me?"
"Believe you?" He cut me off, then laughed.
That laugh was ice-cold, devoid of any warmth.
"Noelle Bellucci, you really think I'm that stupid?" He rose to his feet, advancing step by step. "Hand-delivering your old flame as a surprise? You think I'm blind?"
"He's not my old flame!"
"Oh?" He sneered, now right in my face, seizing my chin with a grip so tight I could barely breathe. "Then why did Isabella arrange the meeting?"
"I don't know!" I twisted, trying to break free. "I really don't!"
"Still lying!" Fury ignited in his eyes. "You think using Isabella as a shield will make me buy it?"
"I'm not lying!" Tears welled up in my eyes. "She just invited me for tea—how could I have known—"
"Enough." He released me, stepping back, his gaze a turbulent mix of disappointment and rage. "I'm done listening to your lies."
"Kholod, I really didn't—" I reached for his arm.
He swung his hand sharply, shoving me away. I stumbled back into the cold wall.
"You know what I hate most?" He closed in, trapping me between the wall and his body. "Being played for a fool. And you, Noelle, you've tested my limits over and over again."
"I didn't—"
"Shut up!" His roar echoed deafeningly in the sealed space.
I flinched, tears finally spilling down my cheeks.
He stared at me for a moment, then seized my wrist and flung me onto the sofa.
