My chest tightens, the weight in my body growing heavier, and I feel the world around me blur. My stomach drops like I’ve just fallen from a great height.
The words he said to me the last time we met echo in my head, louder than the music, louder than the laughter, louder than the voices around me.
“Better make sure our paths don’t cross next time. If I see you again, I won’t let you go.”
I try to breathe, try to steady myself, but it’s no use. I can’t escape the sound of his voice, the intensity of those words, the truth behind them.
He’s here.
And I don’t know what to do. It’s over.
I stumble back a step, my body jerking as I knock into Jason. His hand steadies me immediately, concern flashing across his face. “You okay?” he asks, his voice thick with worry.
I force a smile, the panic building in my chest as I try to regain some composure. “Yeah,” I mumble, my voice trembling just slightly. “I just… need to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
Before he can respond, I slip away through the crowd, not daring to glance back. My heart is hammering, my pulse pounding in my ears. I push past people, desperate to put space between me and Lukin, my feet clicking sharply against the polished floor as I move faster than I should.
Every instinct in my body is screaming at me to run.
To get away.
But I don’t know if I can outrun him.
The crowd feels like it’s closing in on me as I head for the exit, the door in sight. I look over my shoulder, hoping to escape unnoticed, but my breath catches in my throat when I see that he’s still staring at me. I gasp, my chest tightening, and before I can think, I turn back around, not wanting to be caught in his gaze.
But just as I reach the door, something catches my eye—a flash of movement.
One of his men. Watching.
I gasp again, my heart racing even faster. I pick up my pace, almost running now. The click of my heels echoes in the hallway, loud against the quiet tension building inside me.
And then, another one.
A second man, standing just a little too still, a little too close, his eyes locked on me. Closing in.
My breath turns shallow. I don’t know how they found me, but I know I’m not safe. Not anymore.
I force myself to keep moving, my legs almost shaking beneath me. I can’t get caught. I can’t—
I finally reach the bathroom, my hand trembling as I push open the door and lock it behind me. I lean against it for a moment, my pulse still racing, the sound of my heartbeat loud in my ears.
I try to steady my breathing, but it’s no use. I can feel it—his presence, the weight of his eyes, even though he’s not physically here.
Lukin’s still watching. He’s still out there, closing in on me, even though I’ve run.
And I know this isn’t over.
It won’t be until he gets what he wants.
I stand in front of the bathroom mirror, my chest heaving as I try to steady my breathing. I need to calm down. I need to think.
I close my eyes for a moment, leaning against the cool sink, the sound of my heart still pounding in my ears. This is a crowded place. He wouldn’t try anything in here. Not with so many people around.
But the thought doesn’t bring me peace. It’s too hard to shake the feeling that I’m still being hunted, that even in this crowd, he can still take me. I saw how he commanded the room. If he chooses to do anything, no matter how unethical, he’ll get away with it. Because he’s Lukin. Lukin Rusnak.
I need to act smart. I need to keep my head.
But just as I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself, there’s a knock on the door. I freeze, my breath catching in my throat. My heart races all over again. I tell myself to calm down. Maybe it’s just some other girl who wants to use the bathroom.
