A restless heart was the prisoner of secrets untold. And so was mine.
I paced around the room with my heart thrumming like the fluttering wings of a trapped bird. Judas had left, but this agitation in my chest lingered, pulsing with an urgency I couldn’t shake. I clutched the cardigan around me feeling the weight but not its warmth.
Something was wrong-I could feel it crawling up my spine, sinking its claws into my skin, and whispering into my thoughts. Shit.
What did he mean by those words? Why did he say them?
‘And if you betray me, if you ever think you can take what is mine and give it to another…’
I stilled. He knew. He fucking knew. Cause… I just underestimated him. I played him for the fool he never was. Or was it him playing me?
The silence gnawed at me and I couldn’t ease this dread. My mind spun in circles, replaying the cold, dangerous glint in his eyes and that strange gentleness of his touch as he brushed my hair, and the unspoken threat woven between every word he had murmured. Did he know?
My pulse quickened, and I tried to swallow, but my throat was as dry as dust.
I was so engrossed in my own panic to realise that someone was knocking at the door. I jumped startled as my heart leapt to my throat. Who could it be? Kyle? Judas? Had he returned?
No. They just left half-an hour ago. There was no way. It was someone else. Cause would never knock, he’d just barge in.
Before I could think, I grabbed a vase from the table and the cool porcelain pressed into my trembling fingers. I raised it, ready to strike, as the doorknob twisted slowly. My breath hitched, fear coiling in my belly as I prepared myself for whatever-or whoever-lay beyond that door.
But as it swung open, the vase slipped slightly in my grip. My eyes widened, locking onto the figure in the doorway. Ivan.
“What… are you doing here?” I stammered, the words barely a whisper.
He stepped inside, his eyes steady and intent, the hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. “I told you I’d give you what you wanted most, didn’t I?” His voice was low with an unsettling calmness in his tone.
I swallowed hard.
“What are you talking about?” My grip tightened around the vase, even as my heart pounded harder.
“Your freedom, Sera,” he shrugged his shoulders. “Tonight, I’m going to destroy Judas Romanovski.”
A shiver ran down my spine, mingling fear and disbelief. “You’re insane. If Judas finds out about this-”
“He won’t come,” he interrupted smoothly, taking another step forward.
I shook my head, backing away. “What… what are you saying?”
His eyes darkened, and he reached out, his grip cold and firm as he took my hand, pulling me closer to him. “Come with me, Sera,” he murmured, his voice like a shadow seeping into my mind. “We don’t have much time.”
A thousand thoughts collided in my mind, fear battling with confusion. This was Ivan-the man who had always stood in the shadows, who had watched everything with silent, calculating eyes. I knew he held secrets, but this… this was madness.
And yet, the idea of freedom dangled before me like a distant light, almost impossible to resist. Could he really help me escape this life? Could I break free from the chains Judas had wrapped around me so tightly?
“Why would you do this?” I whispered, searching his face for answers.
He leaned close, his voice low, almost poetic. “Because I believe in freeing caged birds. And you, sweetheart…” His fingers tightened around mine, his gaze intense. “You’re a bird too beautiful to be locked in the dark.”
A shiver sliced through me, unraveling me whole. I glanced back at the room, then at Ivan, fear scraping its way up my throat. “If Judas finds out… he’ll kill us both.”
A dangerous gleam sparked in Ivan’s eyes, his lips curving into a wicked smile. “Then we’ll give him a reason to fear us first.”
Before I could protest, he pulled me toward the door. The cold, hollow corridors stretched out like a shadowed path to ruin. I cast one last glance at the room, haunted by Judas’s presence-his voice, his grip, his threats. Watching. Waiting.
With a final, trembling breath, I followed Ivan into the night.
Be a good girl for me.
My heart stuttered.
I don’t want to hurt you anymore, little bird.
Lies. Every word.
Don’t make me the monster you fear.
The dread pulsed through me. Freedom felt like a lie like a fucking glimmer on the edge of a blade, one wrong move from collapse. But Ivan’s grip tightened.
And against all odds, a fragile hope flickered inside me.
A heart bound in chains, aching for freedom, would always dare the darkness.
******
The snow fell thick and silent almost blanketing the world in an eerie, ghostly white as Ivan drove us further from the life I’d just left behind. I watched it blur past, swirling in the headlights like ash. It felt as cold as the hollowness taking root inside me.
Judas. I was scared of him-had always been. But tonight…he’d been different. Gentle. The memory twisted in my mind, foreign, unnerving. He didn’t have to be. He could have destroyed me the way he always threatened, yet tonight was almost tender.
I clenched my fists and my chest tightened with the tangled threads of rage and confusion. God, I hated him, hated him so much. But then why did it feel like I was leaving something behind? Why did it feel like this wasn’t the end?
Ivan’s voice pulled me back and I knew something was up his sleeve. He slowed the car and pulled up in front of an old, run-down warehouse. Rusted metal doors framed by walls that seemed ready to collapse beneath the snow piling on the cracked roof. There were no lights, no signs of life-only the distant howling of the wind.
Ivan looked over at me, his brows furrowed as he shrugged off his coat. “Take this.”
I shook my head as my breath clouded in the freezing air. He sighed, slipping out and motioning for me to follow. I stumbled into the snow and the icy bite seeped into my bones as I followed him toward the warehouse. Guards stood at the entrance, massive, unsmiling men who seemed to melt from the shadows. Ivan exchanged a few rapid words in Russian with them-harsh, clipped sounds I couldn’t understand. They stepped aside without a glance in my direction.
A sudden chill ran down my spine as I observed the area. Middle of the forest.
Inside, the warehouse was dark, the air thick and cold. The sound of boots echoed off the concrete floor, and a faint metallic scent lingered. Ivan led me down a narrow hallway, dimly lit and foreboding. At the end, he opened a door into a small, isolated room.
I immediately recognised Lucius standing there with his cold, calculating gaze quickly settled on me. A flicker of dread coiled in my stomach. But then, my eyes caught something else-a figure slumped in a chair, bound tightly, her head drooping. A gag cut into her mouth, and a blindfold was tied around her eyes. A woman. I couldn’t tell if she was breathing.
“Ms. Rosewood.” Lucius muttered and I glared at him.
“What is this? Who is she?”
Lucius’s gaze shifted from me to the girl who was wearing a short dress and a cruel smirk twisted his lips. He took a step toward me as my eyes widened and his hand gripped my arm like a vice. I yelped staring up at him. “Just a little surprise for your lover.” he sneered glancing at Ivan who avoided my eyes.
Lucius’s smirk widened as he took in my shocked expression and tears gathering in my eyes. I turned to Ivan. “You said-”
“I didn’t lie,” Ivan sighed. “I meant every word. But…”
“But what?”
Lucius chuckled and his grip tightened before his face inched away from mine. “I’m a man of my words, Ms. Rosewood. I am not your enemy here, and trust me when I say I will take Judas Romanovski out of your life.” Light green eyes gleamed with hatred until all I could see was my reflection in his eyes and that’s when I knew, I was fucked up. “You’re his weakness. You don’t get it, do you?” He leaned closer, his breath hot and taunting against my cheek as I flinched away. “You’re the perfect pawn.”
My jaw clenched as I gritted my teeth.
“Are you even hearing yourself?” I spat as my voice rose as fury overrode my fear. “You’ll kill me, too? Is that the plan now?” I looked at Ivan, desperate for a sign that any of this could be stopped. “Who is she? Why is she here? Don’t tell me you’re… No, Ivan, please-”
“She’s just collateral damage,” he said flatly.
“An innocent woman!”
“No Romanovski is innocent!”
I froze.
No Romanovski is innocent.
No Romanovski.
No. No, no, no.
As if stricken by light, my head whipped in the girl’s direction as I took in her appearance. Tattered clothes, bloodied arms and dried blood on her face. Even without looking at her face, I knew who she was. At least, I thought I did, and nothing… nothing I could do to reverse it.
Romanovski.
She was a Romanovski.
Lucius laughed and I knew he realised my skeptism. He knew what he had done.
I was shoved roughly back against the wall but my eyes… they didn’t leave the girl. “You don’t get to decide that, little one,” he snarled, his fingers dug harder into my arm. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be. This woman’s life?” He nodded toward the bound figure. “Means nothing to me. And what the fuck are you so agitiated about, huh?” I groaned as he grabbed my chin and made me face him. The light green of his eyes turned jade green and the scar on his face made him look ten times uglier. “You’re the one who did this to her. You… gave her to me. You… sealed her fate.”
The words hit like a slap. I… I did this? I… I dragged an innocent woman into this mess?
“I… I did not.”
He only grinned wider and he leaned closer. “You did not? Trust me, I wouldn’t have come this far if it wasn’t for you, little one,” he sneered and his grip tightened painfully, and the room spun as his taunting words rang in my ears.
‘What-what’re you saying?”
“The file you traded for your non-existent freedom, Ms. Rosewood, was far more useful than you ever could be on your own. You handed me a damn documentary on Judas Romanovski.” He laughed and my eyes widened.
That file looked harmless.
My throat tightened. “No… I-I didn’t know…”
“Didn’t you?” tilted his head. “You’re telling me you didn’t have even a sliver of suspicion? Didn’t wonder why I wanted that file so badly?” He shook his head, chuckling softly. “Naive doesn’t even begin to cover it. You practically gift-wrapped your precious Judas for me.”
A bitter taste filled my mouth. I thought I’d taken control, that I’d finally found a way to escape this nightmare. Instead, I’d walked straight into another trap, dragging someone else-his sister-down with me. He’d never forgive me. I’d never forgive myself.
My gaze drifted back to the girl slumped in the chair, her frail form almost swallowed by the shadows.
“No…” I whispered, shaking my head. “You’re lying.”
More tears streamed down my face. Anguish filled my chest.
“Oh, I think you know better than to question me on that,” His grip tightened on my chin. “You’re just pissed because you finally realized who you are in this story-nothing but a dying lamb.”
A surge of anger boiled up. “You think this makes you powerful?” I spat back. “You’re nothing but a coward, hiding behind innocent lives, dragging everyone down to your level because that’s all you know. Judas will destroy you-”
His eyes narrowed. “Watch it, little girl. Don’t pretend you’re any better than me.” His voice dropped to a chilling whisper. “Because trust me, you’re not. And his sister will pay for his sins as much as you would. I have a few bidders willing to pay enough for you,” My eyes widened as his licked his lips and eyed me from head to toe making me squirm in uneasiness. “You’ll make a magnificent pet.”
He released me with a rough shove, and I stumbled back, catching myself against the wall. Ivan stood nearby with his face impassive, but his eyes flashed with something unreadable. I turned to him, desperation clawing its way to the surface.
Betrayal. That’s what I felt at that moment. I trusted the wrong person.
His jaw was clenched but he didn’t look at me, and I felt a hollow ache settle in my chest.
Lucius smirked. “Don’t worry your pretty little head. Once I kill Judas, you’ll have freedom. Depends if the man I sold you to is considerate enough.”
“You’re a monster.”
“Not more than that bastard.”
My eyes narrowed as I glared at him. “He’d find us.”
Lucius shook his head. “Not if I find him first.”
“What… are you saying?”
“Oh, my innocent little dove. Ever heard of traps? Location swap?” He smirked. “Even monsters need to be careful these days. Your precious Judas will be looking for his sister somewhere else and by the time he’ll realise his mistake, I’ll fucking ruin him.”