“Nothing. Just talking to myself.”
“Well, make sure you listen,” he says, flat and final.
I almost laugh. Almost.
The sedan stops in front of a downtown high-rise of glass, steel, and power. The valet takes one look at Bogdan and instantly moves to take the car. Bogdan gets out, leaving the keys in the ignition, then steps around to open the door for me.
The valet slides into the car and is soon gone. I step out and tilt my head back. The tower seems to stretch endlessly into the evening sky, like a blade cutting into the murky clouds above. Bogdan moves ahead, scanning the perimeter before leading me through a marble lobby so tall, it could house a damn cathedral. There’s no music, no chatter, just a quiet hum of pure luxury.
It’s more than a little overwhelming.
We reach a private elevator tucked behind a minimalist black wall. Bogdan swipes a keycard, presses PH. The display doesn’t even show numbers. It’s a smooth, silent ascent.
When the doors open, my breath catches. The penthouse is unreal. Two stories of open space, windows on each side. Chicago sprawls around us in every direction—river glittering, skyscrapers glowing.
Everything in the penthouse is black, gray, or steel. Minimalist, masculine, expensive. The kind of design that screams calm control. A suspended fireplace divides the living area, surrounded by low leather furniture.
I take a step forward, and my reflection follows me across the polished marble floor.
“It’s… cozy,” I say with a hint of sarcasm.
Bogdan’s mouth twitches. I get the impression that, for him, that’s practically a laugh.
To my right, a staircase floats upward to the mezzanine, glass railings catching the skyline’s shimmer.
“Welcome to the tower,” Bogdan says.
He leads me down a hallway lined with dark wood and recessed lighting. Every inch of this place is precise, intentional. And more than a little cold.
At the end, he taps a keycard to a door. “This is your room,” he says, stepping inside.
I walk in behind him and just… stop.
It’s gorgeous. Unlike the straight functionality of the rest of the apartment, my room is inviting. Warm wood floors, soft amber lighting, and a panoramic view of the river. The bed is huge, covered in luxuriously soft linen. There’s a little sitting area by the window with a loveseat, a small table, and a vase of lilies. And then I see the office nook—a glassdesk, a high-end laptop already set up and ready to go, shelves lined with supplies. Everything’s arranged exactly how I’d need it, like someone studied my office and recreated it here better.
Hell, that’s probably exactly what happened.
However, it’s the bathroom that really does me in. Marble counters. A rainfall shower. A soaking tub big enough to drown in. It’s easily twice the size of my old bathroom.
“This is mine?” I ask, still processing everything.
“For now,” Bogdan says. His tone is neutral, but there’s something else to it. “He wanted you close. It’s safer here than anywhere else. And you’re not to leave for now.”
I turn to him. He’s standing like a statue at the door to the room. Part of me wonders what he would do if I tried to run past him and leave. Would he grab me, tackle me to the ground?
“I’m not allowed to leave?”
“For the time being. We can discuss excursions outside of the apartment after speaking with Sasha. Surely you see the wisdom in staying here after what happened this morning.”
I open my mouth, wanting to argue, wanting to tell him that no one puts me in a damn cage. But I remember the fear I felt as the car raced toward me. The idea of being essentially a prisoner here doesn’t sit right with me in the slightest, but if my life is truly in danger, maybe it’s the best option?
Then there’s the little matter of the baby. It’s strange having something like him or her, reminding me that my decisionsaren’t my own anymore. I have someone else to think about now.
Bogdan strides into the room, stepping over to the window and scanning the skyline, as if a sniper might be waiting for me in the wings. If I wanted to bolt, now would be the time.
I don’t.
“Kitchen’s stocked,” he says. “Help yourself to whatever you want. And I’ll have the rest of your things brought up once they’re cleared.”
