Chapter 5

Karina’s heart raced as she stood at the airport, her legs frozen in place. Raoul’s voice rang in her ears like a threat, smooth and dangerous, with an edge she couldn’t quite escape. Her eyes darted toward the bathroom, where she knew Raine was. She couldn’t let him get to her sister—couldn’t let her sister see any more of this mess. Karina took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves.

She was running away. She had a plan, a fleeting chance to escape the nightmare she had been living since her father’s death. But now, standing here in the cold terminal, facing Raoul—the man who had already ruined so much of her life—she felt the weight of her choices pressing down on her. There was no turning back.

“Karina.” Raoul’s voice was soft, but there was an unmistakable command to it. “I think you and I both know there’s no running away from this. You can make it easy, or you can make it difficult. Your choice.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to give in, not wanting to admit that her options were narrowing down so quickly. She had been backed into a corner for too long, and now it was time to face the reality of her situation. There was no escape from him. There never had been.

“You really think you’re in control, don’t you?” she shot back, her voice more confident than she felt. “You think because you’re some mafia boss or whatever that you’re untouchable? That I’ll just roll over and do whatever you want?”

Raoul’s lips curved into the faintest of smiles, one that made her pulse quicken despite herself. “It’s not about control, Karina. It’s about survival. And right now, you don’t have many options left.”

Her gaze flicked back to the bathroom door. She was losing precious time, and the risk of Raine being caught in the crossfire made her stomach churn. “What do you want from me, Raoul?”

He stepped closer, his tall frame looming over her as the crowds bustled around them, oblivious to the tension in the air. “I want you to stop running,” he said, his voice smooth like velvet, “because you and I both know that no matter how hard you try, you’ll never be free of me.”

Her lips parted in frustration, but she couldn’t argue with the truth in his words. She had seen the cards he held, and she knew that she was far from winning this game.

“You’ll never be free of me either,” she muttered under her breath, but the words were meant more for herself than for him.

Raoul didn’t respond immediately. He simply raised an eyebrow and regarded her with a calculating look that made her stomach flip. “You’re more interesting than I gave you credit for, Karina. Most women wouldn’t even think about running away from me. They’d submit. You, though…” He paused, letting the silence stretch between them. “You’re different.”

Her pulse raced in her ears, and she struggled to control the anger boiling inside her. The last thing she wanted was to play along with his sick little games. But here she was, stuck in a battle of wills, and she had no idea how to win.

“I’m not here for you,” she spat, crossing her arms defensively over her chest. “I’m here for Raine. And I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.”

“That’s the thing, Karina.” Raoul’s tone dropped to a low growl. “I’m the one who holds the power to keep her safe. You think you can save her on your own? Think again.”

She knew he was right. As much as she hated it, she couldn’t protect Raine without Raoul’s help. He held the strings, and she was just a puppet tangled in them. The realization hit her harder than she expected.

But then she caught a glimpse of Raine’s face at the bathroom door. The younger girl had emerged, looking pale and confused, her eyes darting from Karina to Raoul and back again. Karina’s heart sank.

Karina had to think fast. Raine shouldn't know of the current situation. She quickly slid her arm into his and smiled charmingly at him. 

No. She wasn’t going to let him destroy Raine, too.

“Please, Raoul,” she said quietly, her voice trembling despite herself. “Let her go. She’s just a kid.”

Raoul’s gaze softened, but only slightly. “She’s just a kid? And you’re what? Just a woman who thinks she can save her sister from the consequences of your father’s mistakes?”

Karina flinched at the truth in his words, but she didn’t back down. “I’m not like you,” she said firmly. “I don’t hurt people just to get what I want.”

Raoul’s eyes flickered with something unreadable, and for a moment, she wondered if he would lash out, if he would show her just how cold and dangerous he could be. But instead, he nodded once, as if coming to some internal decision.

“Fine,” he said softly. “But remember this, Karina. You’re mine now. Whether you like it or not.”

“Where are you going, Karina?” Raine asked looking confused. 

“Raine, his men are going to drive you back home. I have to settle some serious stuff with him.” 

“Huh??

“Trust me, I will be home for dinner,” Karina assured her. 

“Promise? 

Before she could respond, he turned on his heel and motioned for her to follow him. As they walked toward the exit, Karina’s heart beat wildly in her chest. She wasn’t sure if this was her final surrender or the beginning of something much darker.

But one thing was certain—there was no going back and she had to fight with her strong will in order to survive.