"Where is the Pakhan?" another guard asks, his eyes moving to the open door behind me. "Is he alright?"
"He's sleeping," I say, trying to sound normal, trying to keep my voice steady. "We just had a talk, it got intense, I'm just leaving now. Don't disturb him."
"We should check on him," Mikhail says, starting to move toward the door.
"No," I say sharply, louder than I intended. "He doesn't want to be disturbed. He told me specifically, no one goes in there." They exchange glances, clearly uncertain.
"Miss, you don't look well," one of them says gently. "Let us help you."
"I said I'm fine," I insist, pushing off the wall and taking a step, my legs shaking so badly I nearly collapse. Three of them move forward immediately, their hands outstretched to catch me. "Don't touch me!" I nearly shout, catching myself against the wall. "I don't need help, I just need to leave."
"We can't let you leave like this," Mikhail says firmly. "The Pakhan would have our heads if something happened to you."
"Nothing is going to happen to me," I say, tears starting to stream down my face. "I just need to go home, please, just let me go."
"We need to check with the Pakhan first," he insists, moving toward the door again. "If you wake him up, I will start screaming," I say desperately, my voice breaking. "I will scream so loud this entire hotel will hear me, do you understand? He's finally sleeping peacefully, don't you dare wake him up."
They all freeze, staring at me. "Please," I beg, my whole body shaking. "Please just let me go. He knows I'm leaving, we talked about it, everything is fine, I just need to go home."
The guards exchange uncertain looks, clearly torn between their orders to protect me and their orders to not disturb their boss. I take advantage of their hesitation and start moving down the hallway, using the wall for support, my movements slow and unsteady.
"Miss Iris, wait," one of them calls out, following me. "At least let us escort you. Let us make sure you get home safely."
"No," I say, not stopping. "Stay here. Guard him. Make sure no one goes in that room until he wakes up." I make it to the elevator and press the button with a trembling hand. Two guards follow me, staying close but not touching me, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. "We really should check on him," one mutters to the other. "She said not to," the other responds quietly. "And she's his... you saw how he is with her. If she says leave him alone, we leave him alone."
The elevator arrives and I step inside, gripping the railing immediately. The two guards move to follow me in. "No," I say firmly. "Stay up here. Watch the room. I'll be fine."
"Miss—"
"That's an order," I say, my voice shaking. "From your Pakhan's wife. Stay here."
They hesitate, then step back, letting the doors close.
I collapse against the wall the moment I'm alone, my legs giving out, sliding down to sit on the floor. The ride down feels like it takes hours, each floor passing slowly, my body shaking with exhaustion and tears.
When the doors open, I force myself to stand again, gripping the railing so tight my knuckles turn white, pulling myself up on trembling legs. I make it through the lobby somehow, one agonizing step at a time, leaning on every surface I pass, the wall, a chair, a decorative table, anything to keep myself upright. The night concierge looks at me with concern, starting to move toward me. "Miss, are you alright? Do you need assistance?"
"I'm fine," I manage to say, my voice hoarse, waving him off with a weak hand. "Just tired. Please, I'm fine." He hesitates but doesn't follow as I make it to the exit, pushing through the revolving door with the last of my strength.
Outside, the cold air hits me like a slap and I nearly collapse again, my body shivering violently. I see a taxi parked near the entrance and wave at it weakly, barely able to lift my arm, my whole body threatening to give out.
The driver sees me and immediately gets out, his eyes widening as he takes in my state, rushing over to help. "Miss, are you okay?" he asks, genuine concern in his voice as he opens the back door. "Do you need me to take you to a hospital?"
"No," I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper. "No hospital. Just drive. Please, just drive." He supports my weight as I practically fall into the back seat, my body collapsing against the leather, unable to hold myself up anymore.
"Where to?" he asks gently. I give him the address of the estate, my voice shaking, barely able to form the words. He nods, closing the door gently, then gets in the front and starts driving.
As we pull away from the hotel, I look back through the rear window one last time, seeing the building disappear into the distance, knowing that upstairs, seven guards are standing outside that door, protecting a man who doesn't know yet that I've destroyed him.
Tears stream down my face, my whole body shaking. I just drugged him, lied to his guards, and left him unconscious in that hotel room.
And I know, deep in my bones, that when he wakes up and his guards tell him I left, when he realizes what I've done, there will be nowhere far enough to hide. He will find me. He always does. But I have to try.
Chapter 38
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ILAY
