“Fuck you!” He spits on my shoes.
I pull the blade out of his chest as his blood spurts on the floor. I grab his head and force him to look at me. “One last chance Sergey, where is she?”
He chuckles and I pull my foot on his wound, pressing.
“B…base…basement.” He coughs as I cut his throat. I clean the blade on his shirt and my shoes against his leg before taking back my gun and leaving.
I marchdown the corridors as the team checks that the manor is clean. The maid is sobbing in a corner, shielding a baby, while the servants are all lined up next to her.
“Where is the basement?” I snap as they look at me, fear in their eyes.
“The west wing, sir,” one of them mutters.
“You're free to go.” I wave my hand as Zack awaits my next order.
I've never seen someone rushing out of a house as fast as they did. Rumor has it the Ivanovs were strict and savage dictators with their employees, once in you couldn't leave their house, even in a coffin. Now, they won't be a problem anymore. This territory will be mine.
When the guys meet me,I point to the west wing and we head toward the basement. Flashes pop in my head, reminding me how it feels. I've been thrown in the basement since I was four after Mom died. Apparently I wasn't enough for Dad and he wanted to get rid of me, and at eight he threw me into a boarding school. When at sixteen I came back home he sent me to a military academy. On my leave he seemed to tolerate me more but still he made it clear I wouldn’t ever sit at their table and I should do anything to protect Nicholas, even risking my life for him. And I did, I've embraced my fate and become a shadow. Now though, I'm back to live the life that’s been ripped from me, and I'm back for her too.
CHAPTER 7
LEILA
Ipull my knees to my chest and pray to God to let me die. I can't live this way anymore. I'm losing track of time and it hurts to see no one cares about me. I thought Nicholas was the one but what Nicholas pretended to be was a mere illusion.How foolish I was!Tears run down my cheeks as I remember how my life changed in the past years.
The shots I hear draw me out of my daydream and startle me. I try to pull the chain on my ankle, hoping to finally rip it off, but it doesn't work. The door of the basement flies open and I hold my breath.
“Trovata!”Found her!one of the armed men yells as he comes closer.
I back off until I'm trapped against the wall.Shit!
“Stay away from me!” I scream at the top of my lungs.
He moves away and stands still while another man in a suit comes in. “It's okay, we're here to take you home.” He kneels as I burst into tears.
“Ti prego, uccidimi!”Please kill me, please, I beg him. “Please.” I don't want to go back home. I don't want to go back to Nicholas. Better dead than at the manor again. As foolish as it may seem, it was even better here than near Nicholas.
“Shhh, nessuno ti farà mai più del male.”Shhh, no one will ever hurt you anymore.He comes closer. When I finally meet Christopher's eyes, I start hyperventilating as he fires at the chain and then scoops me up.
It's a dream.
He's not here.
I blink a few times and I barely hear him saying something. Not sure if to me or to the men with him. I'm in trance. Everything seems to happen in slow motion. He walks across the corridors, his mouth moving while he peers at me. Once my lungs inhale the fresh air and the rain drops fall on my head, I meet his gaze one more time before everything goes blank.
I openmy eyes and the dim light in the room catches my attention but I try to not move.Where am I? Was it a nightmare?Still, my body hurts so much, as does my head.
When I feel someone moving in the back of the room, I shut my eyes, the steps stop near me and my heart starts hammering in my chest. Nicholas will be so mad at me. Hopefully it won't be worse than the last time but I'm not ready to face him yet.
“I won't move from here if that's what you're waiting for.” The deep voice makes me hold my breath as the light switches on.
I brace myself and open my eyes. “Where am I?” I ask while blinking a few times. This room is not Nicholas'. When my gaze shifts to him, I start to tremble. “Christopher?”
“Seems no concussion, you'll be good.” He turns his back to me and walks around the bed. “Get ready, dinner will be served soon.”
“Dove sei stato?”Where have you been?The question leaves my lips without even realizing it. He stops for a second and then opens the door, leaving me alone.
I tryto get up but my ankle hurts. I pause for a second and then get on my feet, realizing I'm wearing a T-shirt and nothing else. On the armchair there are some jeans, a shirt and a dress. I try to get dressed but I'm afraid to step out of here.
