Page 105

Two enormous men stand near the doorway, both watching me with blank expressions. They look like they could snap me in half without breaking a sweat.

The room is enormous and barren, the concrete walls and exposed beams making it feel more like an abandoned warehouse than anywhere people actually live.

“We’re far from the city,” Katerina says. “There isn’t a soul around for miles. No one’s coming.”

Her eyes meet mine. “You’re completely at my mercy.”

“No.” My voice cracks. “Please. Don’t do this.”

She watches me without emotion.

“Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.” My tears spill freely now. “If you want me to leave Roman, I will. I’ll leave him. I’ll divorce him. Whatever you want.”

The words hurt to say. The thought of walking away from Roman, of living my life without him, feels impossible. I can’t imagine a future where he isn’t in it. But none of that matters right now.

My baby matters more. If giving up Roman is the price for getting out of here alive, then I’ll pay it.

Katerina’s expression doesn’t change. “It’s too late for that now. You had your chance.”

I shake my head. “Please—”

She raises her hand. The blow lands against my head. Pain explodes through my skull, and the room tilts violently.

My vision blurs, and my last thought is of my baby. Then everything goes black.

Chapter 29

Roman

We reach the estate and the first thing I see is the gate. They’ve been blown apart. Metal hangs from the hinges, twisted and blackened, while smoke still curls into the night air.

Vehicles are abandoned across the driveway, and bodies are scattered everywhere.

“Fuck.”

I barely wait for the car to come to a complete stop before I shove the door open and jump out.

“Aurora!”

I run.

My boots pound against the driveway as I search every face, every body. Some of my men are dead. Others are wounded, groaning as they lie against the walls or clutch at their injuries.

And suddenly, I’m not here anymore. I’m a boy again. I can smell the smoke. I can hear the screaming.

I can see my mother and father lying in pools of their own blood while I stand there, helpless, too young and too powerless to save them.

The same helplessness grips my chest now. Not again. Not her.

“Aurora!” I sprint toward the house. “Aurora!”

I burst through the entrance, my eyes sweeping across the foyer. Then I see something on the floor near the door. Aurora’s phone.

I stop so abruptly my boots skid against the marble, and snatch it up. My heart is hammering as I check the screen. There’s a message open. It’s from Luca. I read it once. Then again. A meeting location. My grip tightens around the phone.

What the fuck? Why is Luca messaging my wife? Could this be connected to the attack?

A weak cough comes from somewhere nearby. I spin around. “Sofía?”