“Maybe. Maybe not.” I shrugged my shoulders. “But do you really wanna stick around and find out?”
They looked at each other with nervous glances.
“Listen, fellas, it’s not worth it—just take the bag and go now that you have the chance.”
The leader’s grip tightened around his pistol, and when he cocked the damn thing, I felt my heart sink into my stomach. Maybe I should’ve just kept my mouth shut.
I locked my jaw, struggling to put on a brave face.
“Since you have such a sharp tongue,” he began. “Tell me, what’s stopping me from putting a bullet in your skull before taking the bag?”
I exhaled slowly, trying to steady my voice. “Nothing,” came my response. “Nothing’s stopping you right now.” I looked him dead in the eyes and said, “But you’re not gonna do it.”
His brows drew together. “You underestimate me, Princess.”
“No,youunderestimatehim,” I said, holding his gaze. “Demyon Tarasov is not a human being. He’s a demon from the pit of hell. What do you think he’d do if he came here and found the lifeless body of his bride drowning in the pool of her own blood?”
The others were already jumpy by now.
I continued, “He will turn this city upside down looking for you, and I can guarantee you that he will find you.”
The man swallowed hard, a bead of cold sweat streaming down his temple.
“He won’t stop with you,” I kept going, hoping that my words would scare them enough to back away. “He will go after everyone you’ve ever cared about and clear them off the face of the earth. Your mother, your father, your brothers, your sisters—”
“Fine, you made your point!” He lowered his gun and turned to his men. “Grab the bag, and let’s move.”
I let out a soft sigh of relief and closed my eyelids for a moment. Then came the chaos.
My body stiffened at the sudden sound of rapid gunfire filling the air. I squeezed my eyes shut, flinching at the destruction around me. The front door got knocked down, and heavy footsteps pounded into the room.
I heard one of my captors begging for mercy, but what came next was a loud gunshot, accompanied by a deafening silence.
“Eva, are you okay?” His familiar voice melted my heart, especially because it was dripping with concern.
I opened my eyes, and there he was, my savior, crouched before me with a gentle expression. Blood splattered his face, but I knew it wasn’t his. He drew a switchblade and cut through the ropes that bound my feet together.
One of his men behind me did the same with the ropes that tied my hands. Once I was free, I rose to my feet, throwing my arms around his neck. I inhaled the scent of his cologne, mixed with the smell of sweat and gunpowder.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, fighting back the tears that welled in my eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“Shhh.” He stroked my hair, his possessive hands around my waist.
“You were right. I never should’ve left the mansion.” I lost the battle, and those tears trickled down my cheeks.
“You’re safe now,” he said softly. “That’s all that matters.”
My grip tightened around him. “I’m not gonna run away again; I promise.”
He held on to me like he was never going to let go, and in his strong arms, I felt safe and secure.
***
I never thought that I’d ever be happy to be back at the estate, considering how much I used to loathe the place. It was clear to me now that what used to be my prison was now my safe space.
Olga and the other maids were excited that I’d returned to them without a scratch on my body. I knew I owed them an apology because, knowing my husband, he must’ve made their lives a living hell after I vanished under their watch.
He held my hand and didn’t let go until we reached our master bedroom. When I told him I needed to take a shower, he offered to bathe me, and I didn’t refuse.
