“It’s all bullshit,” Chase mumbled.
“No, that woman… Helena. What if she was messing with us? What if she isn’t getting us out of here?”
“You just now asking that?”
“I don’t know… I guess I hoped.” I lifted my head to the south tower. There were four guards hidden behind billowing clouds of smoke. They were far enough away that their features weren’t clear but their actions were.
Chase’s closeness surprised me. “Hey,” he said as he lifted a hand to my side.
I smiled. “Hey,”
“I know that look.”
Unwilling to ignore the urge to stop all of this, I admitted my thoughts, “I need to do something.” I chewed on my lip,
“You are doing something.”
I turned, and he stepped back after a minute of watching me with a hardened stare. “No, I’m not.” I sighed. “I have to find him,”
He closed his eyes and lightly shook his head. “Always trying to save the day.” I had the impression he didn’t think that was a good thing.
“I want to protect my family. What’s so wrong with that?”
“You act like a child, Bella. You don’t take into account the people who care about you… who love you. What do you think that does to us? Keeping us worried all the time isn’t cool. You always ran off without your guards and did shit that you knew better than to do. All you’ve ever done is cause more trouble than…”
“Than what? Just say it, Chase. More trouble than I’m worth, right?” I turned back toward the window knowing I’d been the one to cause all of this. I made that call because I wanted to save them and because of that… people died. I sighed again. “I’m not perfect, but it’s important to me that I do what I can.”
“I get it, I feel the same… wanting to protect people that I love from danger.”
“Yes.”
His head dropped forward, and he lifted my chin with a warm finger. “Let us protect you, okay?”
I nodded as I heard the desperation in his words.
“I’m gonna take a relaxing bath. I think that’s just what I need.”
“Yeah, sounds good.” It felt like there was more he wanted to say, but he turned from me after hesitating a moment.
Chase walked to the red chair and sat next to Tony. I slipped into the bathroom and turned toward them seeing they were deep in conversation with each other and clueless of what I was doing.
If I was going to do what I knew had to be done, it would have to be now. I drew a slow, deliberate breath and tiptoed toward the door. Jax hadn’t been in the dungeon, but he was here, which also meant he was in danger. I sighed closing my eyes with gratitude that he was alive. He was okay, and we’d be okay too. I hesitated, rubbing my growing belly.
I had no idea what would come next, but I wouldn’t be this man’s prisoner any longer. Another sharp cramp stabbed at my belly, but I ignored it as my fingers danced toward the metal of the doorknob. I didn’t want to be afraid, but I was. I was terrified and as strong as I had always tried to be in the past, this moment held nothing but weakness. My head fell as I remembered I’d been the one responsible for all those men killed the night I was taken. I called Ivan. Me.
I’d called begging him to spare my family and guards, I swore that I would go willingly. Men died that day—died protecting Jax and me. My chest fell heavy with sadness that their mothers would never hold them again. Yes, they knew what they were doing. Yes, they knew there was a possibility they’d be killed. None of those thoughts comforted me, however. They didn’t help me feel better about the bloodshed that had happened that night.
I opened the door hopeful that Chase and Tony wouldn’t hear the creak of the hinge. I held my breath and turned toward the two who were still deep in conversation. I stepped out of the room and closed the door behind me. The hall was empty and quiet as I leaned against the wall, petrified. I had no time to hang out there and needed to get downstairs.
As I padded down the hallway, I stayed close to the wall retracing Albina’s steps from earlier.
“Miss?” She hissed behind me.
I dropped my hand from the wall and tilted into her direction.
“Mr. Mikolov ordered you not to leave your room.” Her blonde locks bounced As she caught up with me. “You don’t want to get caught. What are you doing?” Her expression was puzzled.
“I have to find him.”
She pressed her hands flat down her apron. “You have to go back.”
“He can’t keep me locked away.” I continued forward.
“Miss, this is a bad idea.”
“I’ve never known a bad idea I didn’t like.”
“Miss,” she hissed, following on my heels.
I wasn’t listening. I turned and spoke before continuing, “One way or another, I’m getting out of this castle, and I’m doing it today!”
She gasped, chasing after me. “Miss, stop!”
I still hadn’t gotten used to the caliber of the house. It seemed more a museum than a home. I hesitated, sweeping my hand along the smooth mahogany trim on the wall as I continued.
I assumed the guards would sweep me up by my arms and toss me back into the room, maybe even throw the key away. When I was sure there was no one. I smiled continuing toward the stairs. I was certain, however, they’d be chasing after me soon enough.
“Miss, you can’t.” I shook my head as I continued forward. “Please,” she cried.
I paused from my decent and gripped the railing as I heard a deep voice. I squinted, leaning to my left, listening. I couldn’t understand what the male voice said, but listened anyway.
I stilled on the first step for several minutes until I heard nothing at all. Not even the staff; in fact, it was so quiet I turned toward Albina, my eyes full of question.
She looked scared. “Miss,”—she shook her head—“Please, let’s go back.” Her eyes floated off the staircase.
“Princess!” a rolling voice bellowed behind me. “What are you doing?”
And there he was… the guard that I knew would eventually find me. “My name is Bella.” I paused. “Am I not allowed to leave my room, Alexei.” I smiled as sarcasm danced on my words.
Albina’s eyes moved between Alexei and me. “Miss,” she warned.
He tucked his thumbs into the waist of his trousers. “You’re not to leave your room.” He turned his attention to Albina. He shook his head and lifted his brows.
They spoke to one another in Russian, leaving me on the outside of their conversation, and I didn’t have time for that.
“Yeah, about that.” I lifted a finger. “I’m going to tell Ivan, that I’m going home.”
He laughed, throwing his head back. “Now that’s funny.”
Standing beside him, his stature greater than mine, I realized that at any moment this man could stop me. And despite the need to continue the sarcasm and inability to obey, I thought best not to.
I cleared my throat waiting for him to halt his laughter when his hand reached for me instead. I batted it away and lifted my brows with disgust that he would dare. “You will not put your hands on me!” I demanded. “You think you can do whatever you…” I tightened my lips and waved a hand. “Touch me, tell me what to do—like I’m a… prisoner?” I flung his hand away as he tried again. I’d had enough.
“Nadia, it’s your father’s order. I have to do as he says.”
“You’re a fool if you think you can control me… if he thinks he can control me,” I verbally lashed.
Slivers of fear circled the dark fragments of his irises. Oh? I tilted my head. I’d scare him? How was I able to do that? I pulled a breath and stood erect as I watched his unexpected expression. For a moment it seemed I held some sort of power. That was an obscure thought, I knew that.
When he didn’t move, I dropped my foot to the stair below. When he didn’t speak further I dropped another foot, but still waited for him to respond. When he didn’t, I dropped another foot and then another.
When the two stayed where they were and didn’t attempt to take me, I bounced down the stairs. I didn’t know where to go or how to find him, but I wouldn’t give up until I was successful.
I saw no one and only heard silence as I looked back. I closed my eyes and held my breath for just a moment before continuing.
“You’re going to get me fired.” Albina bounced off the last step and curled her tiny hand around my elbow.
I quickly turned, furious. “You people don’t get it, do you? All these games have my life turned upside down. Now, I’m telling you”—I raised my index finger to her pale cheek, immediately feeling guilty for having done it—“I am going home. I don’t care what I have to do.”
As I turned to assess his reaction his lips pressed together he in a flat line.. He scratched at his head and cleared his throat. “We can have him come to you.” He smiled. “That’s good, yes?”
I shook my head. “No!” No! He’d see Chase and Tony, and I couldn’t let that happen.
The two of them turned to each other and shook their heads.
Albina chimed in, “He’ll kill me, us. Do you want that?”
“God, no.”
“He will.” I could see the sadistic little smirk behind her lips. She thought she’d snuck into my decency, but I questioned if she did it for Alexei’s benefit.
I narrowed my stare and drew my face together. “Not buying it; besides, you can tell him I hit you and ran away. Or I can tell him. Either way, I’m going to find him and demand he send me home,” I said with an even voice.
Alexei rolled his eyes and reached for me. So I did what any girl stuck in a castle would do.
I ran.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
—Bella—
The palace was ridiculously huge, and no matter how many times I’d been brought to the dining room, figuring it out was futile. The rooms had rooms and the hallways had hallways. It was torturous to think how I’d get back to my room, knowing I probably wouldn’t.
I ambled through a smaller hallway hearing nothing but silence as I reached a wide golden door. I pressed an ear to its cold metal hearing someone laugh and another cough as my skin prickled with fear. I stilled as I waited to hear Ivan or Jax, but neither voice that spoke were theirs. I dropped my hand and pressed forward to the next shiny golden door, but no sound came from that room, so again moved forward.
“Nadia,” a deep voice halted my steps. I pressed my hands to my swollen belly feeling another cramp just below my belly button. I turned seeing the man that I had been searching for and Albina and Alexi on either side of him.
Ivan laughed in his fitted dark suit and slicked-back silver hair, his chest puffed slightly. I stared daggers to him, but it didn’t shake his erect posture. He said something to Alexei and then moved forward.
Albina moved in unison with Alexei. “I told you,” she whispered as Alexei grabbed my hand and pulled me forward.
This is what I’d wanted. “Alexei, it’s a bit chilly, could I use your coat?”
He quickly removed it and slipped it over my shoulders and hurried us toward Ivan.
A large door opened and a green carpet pulled us into the room. Ivan yelled and cursed in English then Russian. He raged in the room, throwing things at the wall while other men ran in from a back door looking down at a chair.
My eyes widened seeing it, then seeing the ropes curled below it; my entire body bowed to the floor where I cradled my knees. He was gone, but his vomit and blood were left behind. I jumped to my feet slipping my hands into the pockets of the jacket as I once had only to realize there was nothing in them this time. This was very bad news. I turned toward the door hearing more voices enter as my heart pounded in my chest. A man with a rope tied to his waist walked toward me, and I cleared my throat and raised my chin. I whipped my head back to Ivan as my reactions were nothing more than me flying by the seat of my pants. I hadn’t planned any of this, and I would pay for that. Dark eyes the color of black smoke peered at me. He was there in front of me in an awkward lean. “Where is Jax?” Fear stabbed my chest as I waited for his answer.
His lip curled and brows folded as if he didn’t understand the question. “Jax?”
“You know what I’m talking about, Ivan!”
He laughed turning toward his desk. “Sit!” he ordered looking, toward the same chair he’d locked Jax to. I turned quickly not wanting to see the vomit and blood that smothered it and the floor.
All logic was washing out into the cold. “No!” I refused, having turned back toward the giant in front of me. “I want my husband, Ivan. Now!” I was being stupid, but I had to know where he was; I had to try. I mentally attempted to prepare myself for whatever would come next.
He pulled something from his pocket. “Sit!”
My eyes widened seeing it was the same note I’d written to Jax. “What is that?” How did he get that?
He smiled. “This?” His glare raked over my face as he approached. I watched with petrified confusion as his smile slipped, and his fluffy silver eyebrows settled over his darkened eyes. “This is the note you wrote.” His eyes hardened. “You!” He turned then pointed to Albina, motioning for Alexei to bring her forward.
Fear stabbed at my chest, and my whole world washed out from under my feet. I watched with horror as her tiny frame moved past me under Alexei’s hold. “You?” He waved the tiny note toward her before grabbing her by the throat.
Her body moved like liquid fire as her feet trembled off the floor. My thoughts were molten panic as she gasped for air from the strict hold of Ivan’s grip. Fear flooded me as I watched him hold her off the ground with only one hand.
I thrust forward. “Stop!” I screamed, anger fueling me like gasoline to a car. “Don’t you dare hurt her!”
He watched me like I was his own personal puppet. “I don’t tolerate insubordination.”
“She didn’t do anything,” I demanded, moving my stare between him and the wobbly body of Albina. “Leave her alone!”
“Who is it you’d choose to save, Nadia?” He moved his attention to where Chase and Tony were being dragged through the golden door along the green carpet.
Oh my God!
This game Ivan played had set my life into a spiral the moment my father passed away. This was something most shuddered from, being absorbed by sadness and anger. Looking back on everything I’d been through it was easy to see that I could’ve fallen into that. I had almost allowed it to swallow me whole. If only for a moment, a brief cry, a heavy tear, and an anger so raw and sharp that if it had been more than a feeling its edges would’ve cut through the soft flesh of my soul.
However, I’d been raised by a powerful man, and regardless of the genes that ran through my blood, he would always be my father. The thought that everything had been lost—stolen—from me was exactly the push I needed to survive, and I would survive. We all would.
I turned quickly seeing Ivan’s hardened stare. “You did this, Nadia!”
A heavy hand squeezed at my shoulder. “Get off of me!” I yelled, swinging my head to see the man with the rope tied around his waist. I slipped from the jacket and released from him. I backed away needing something to protect myself and the others, but there was nothing.
My body crashed against the cold wall as I continued backing away. My panic-stricken thoughts were filled with death and horror as I watched the group around me. I lifted my expression expecting to see Albina, still in Ivan’s hold but she’d already been released and laid on the floor limp and pale white.
“No,” I gasped. Was she dead? Did I do this? “Why?” My face heated with insurmountable anger. “Why would you do this?” My body and mouth rested on their own as I wanted to go to her. My mind had taken over, and I was frozen inside, locked away from all control.
“You had her bring this to him.” He looked at me as if I were nothing as he stepped forward throwing the now crumpled paper onto her lifeless body.
I stood there feeling even more angry, if that wer
e possible, and if I could’ve grown two heads or razor-sharp teeth at that moment I would have. I was standing in front of all the monster that Jax had said he was. I had hoped he would be something else, reasonable or loving in some way, but there was none of that. At that moment, I had no idea what it was he actually wanted from me. He didn’t show love or concern. My stomach twisted as I surged forward smacking his face as hard as I could. Hands grabbed me holding me back from slapping him again as I so desperately wanted.
He cupped his face for a moment before laughing at me as I thrashed against the two men who held me tight.
“I hate you! I will never be your daughter!” I spit at him, sealing what I’d said.
“It doesn’t matter.” He waved to someone behind us as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a shiny black dagger.
A brutal scream echoed around me as Chase’s body was dragged in front of Ivan. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him as I watched Ivan laugh in his face and draw the dagger up then letting it fall toward him. “No!”
I twisted my neck and pressed my mouth to the man’s arm. I tightly closed my eyes and sank my teeth into his flesh desperately ripping it from his bone. He released me as blood sprang from his arm. I jerked free from the other man as his attention focused on the damage I’d caused.
I searched the room as everything blurred around me from fear alone. My head flung to the right then left. There was nothing that could help me, and the room seemed bare other than the huge men that stalked me. A shiny object caught my eye on Ivan’s desk. The gun was small and would be useful, but I’d have to get past Alexei who blocked my only opening. As that thought swam around in my head and everyone watched in the one second that I’d been free, I had no other choice. I skidded and ducked to the side of Alexei landing me to the rear of the desk. I reached up and grabbed the gun before Alexei had turned toward me.
I had no idea if the gun was loaded, and I had no time to check. I swept my finger along the bottom of the gun feeling the edge of the clip. “Leave him alone,” I growled.
Bella: The Ending: A Sagatori Family Saga Page 16
