I thought for a moment, then an idea hit me: She’d seen enough death tonight to traumatize her for life. So instead of executing her, I chose to claim her for myself. Not because it was rational or the right thing to do, but because at that moment, it was what I wanted.
“Put your gun down, Ilya,” I said quietly. “She’s coming home with us.”
She raised her head, her misty eyes locking with mine—confused by my verdict.
I ignored the stares from my men and the confusion etched on their faces. It was my decision, and I wasn’t going back on my word. I hadn’t yet figured out what to do with her. For now, she’d live under my roof and be under twenty-four-hour surveillance.
She never should’ve come here.
Chapter 7 —Eva
Two Days Later
This had to be the worst forty-eight hours of my life, especially because I had no idea what my fate was. Yet. My captor had abandoned me in this room, large enough to rival a five-star hotel suite.
The space was magnificent, designed for one thing only: comfort. A set of velvet chairs and sleek couches were arranged around the king-sized bed, with a low coffee table between them.
Gorgeous artworks adorned the high walls, adding a sense of satisfaction to the room. Rich curtains draped over the windows, spilling from the ceiling to the polished marble floor.
The air was filled with the scent of fresh flowers from the garden below, the chandelier’s warm glow enveloping the whole room. An animated show was playing on the large, flat-screen TV mounted on the wall across from me, muted.
It was supposed to be entertaining, but I deliberately killed the volume so I could think straight. Despite all of this luxury, I knew this place was nothing more than a cage. I hadn’t been let out of here since two nights ago, when I first arrived.
Although I was locked up within these walls, I knew this place was a mansion; I’d seen the expanse of land when we pulled into the estate. We’d arrived late at night, but the courtyard was lit by bright lights.
The compound featured a serpentine driveway that stretched on for eternity, flanked by tall trees on both sides. A stunning garden adorned the outdoor space, its meticulously manicured hedgerows trimmed into towering walls.
There were countless rooms in this mansion, but I was confined to just one—my cage. I was fed three times a day, not like a prisoner but like royalty. At first, I was skeptical about eating, but I was so hungry, and the aroma was tantalizing.
All it took was one spoon, and the rest was history—every meal tasted like something from a high-end restaurant. One minute, I was a prisoner, and the next, I was eating like a princess. I couldn’t figure out what game this man was playing with me.
Why was I here anyway?
His associates tried to convince him to take my life two nights ago, saying it was the rule. For a moment, I believed it was over for me—I thought for sure I was going to die. Instead of killing me, this ruthless man ordered his men to bundle me into the car.
Up until now, I still wasn’t sure why he spared my life or why he had me locked up in his mansion. This uncertainty unsettled me more than anything else because men like him were unpredictable. He could wake up any morning and decide I was no longer of any use to him and have me killed.
But truly, what use was I to him right now?
A part of me was grateful to still be alive, yet another part of me hated him and feared him at the same time. The only reason my lifeless body hadn’t washed up on the riverbank was that he hadn’t given the order. That’s how much power he had over my life.
Such a man was a walking disaster—dangerous—and should be taken seriously at all times. This was uncharted territory for me, and if I had any chance at survival, I’d have to be very smart. I was surrounded by wolves who wouldn’t hesitate to rip me to shreds if I ever stepped out of line.
The memory of the warehouse still lingered on the fringes of my mind: a constant reminder of the men I was dealing with. I recalled how they deliberated over what to do with me—one had aimed his gun at me, ready to blow my brains out.
Overwhelmed by fear, I’d almost peed myself on the spot, and I was repulsed by the blood I was forced to kneel in. Thesight, the smell, and the way the blood was sticky on my fingers made me so nauseous I nearly puked at my captor’s feet.
Even now, while in this sleek bedroom, the mere thought of that experience made my stomach turn.
I sat on a wooden chair by the glass door leading to the balcony. My legs were pulled up in front of me, and my arms were wrapped around them. An oversized T-shirt I found in the closet draped over my body, its long sleeves swallowing my hands.
My eyes were fixed on the breathtaking view of the city beyond the walls of the estate. From my cage, I watched the faint glow of lights twinkling like diamonds across the concrete landscape. I could only stare at my freedom, but couldn’t reach it, and my heart ached.
I never should’ve let my curiosity drive me to stick my nose into what didn’t concern me. I’d always been so inquisitive, and now it had landed me in trouble—one I wasn’t sure how to get out of.
If I’d just stayed home two nights ago, none of this would’ve happened. But this stubborn girl just had to satisfy her curiosity. I hated myself for being so nosy. This was entirely my fault.
Ever since he’d brought me here, I hadn’t laid eyes on my captor. I had no idea what he planned to do with me, and it scared the living daylights out of me.
