The escape plan

Livia's POV

I'm on my best behavior for the rest of the day. I eat the food Rose brings me and ask her innocent questions about the mafia.

Unfortunately for me, it seems the mafia does not sleep. While ‘normies’ activities are in full swing during the day, the mafia slows down, in recovery from the last night or preparing for the next night and when the rest of the world are sound asleep at night, the ones that belong in the dark come out to play. Fortunately for me, that means that Nikolai Volkov and his men will be away at work. It will be I, Rose and the usual staff of the house remaining here which gives my plan that much of a success boost. I cannot possibly attempt escaping in the day, it must be at night and it must be this night.

I spend the rest of my day by the window, trying to look bored as I gaze out and survey the sprawling compounds. We are the only residents as far as my eyes can see, and I wonder what the possibilities are that I was brought to an island while I was unconscious. The thought is distressing so I don't linger on it. There is no way I can get a boat and spirit myself out of here to only God knows where without getting caught.

When night falls, I have dinner while Rose watches like a hawk and the delicious meal tastes like sawdust on my tongue. In truth, I have never had food so decadent but I cannot bring myself to appreciate the little treat. My nerves are a jangling mess and I allow Rose to ramble on about her daughter who is studying in the best college thanks to Nikolai so she will not notice.

Finally, it is the time of reckoning and I slip under the covers and turn off all the lights. The curtains are so thick that not a hint of moonlight penetrates. The only light is the staring red from the security camera and I close my eyes, calm my racing heart and count. When it has been two hours with my approximation, I rise quietly to my feet.

My plan depends on lulling whoever is behind the camera into a false sense of calm. As quiet as a mouse, I slip into the bathroom, thanking God that their expensive door does not so much as whisper as I shut it behind me.

And then it is game time. Escaping is probably the last thing they expected from me because the bathroom window is not even burglarized. My time is now ticking so I grab the long makeshift rope with a pleased smile. It took me all day of trying not to look suspicious as I held each gown to my front in front of the mirror as if I was enamored with it, then attempting to put it on before looking self-consciously at the camera and finally heading to the bathroom where I'm not watched. Almost every outfit that was formerly in my wardrobe is now fashioned into one makeshift rope and I lower it as gently as I can before hoisting myself on the tub. I just want to make it home and once I do, I can take my family and disappear.

The clambering through the window takes way longer than it did in my imagination and by the time my entire body is out of the window, my pulse pounds like a water hammer and I'm painfully aware I could be discovered any minute. Thinking of Mum, Noni and Sofia, there is no time to back down so I lower myself from the window and test my weight on the rope, pleased to see that it holds securely. With a silent prayer, I make my way down.

My timing was grossly off of course. I underestimated how long it would take for me to climb down the rope, I underestimated the breeze howling in my ear and threatening to throw me off. If the patrolling units so much as looked up, they would find my ass hanging in the air but the prayer must have worked because even though several patrols comb their way through the grounds, not even one spare a glance upwards.

After what feels like a long, punishing eternity, I reach the end of the rope but I'm still at least a floor from the ground. Luckily, there are no patrols so I balance precariously on a ledge, wondering how I'll make it down.

"Think, think!" I whisper because there is no turning back. My feet slips on the thin ledge and I gasp and try to right myself, right before the light switches on behind the curtains and I lose my footing entirely. My scream catches at the back of my throat as I hit the floor hard, the breath knocked straight out of me. I take a few seconds to blink the darkness from my eyes before sitting up with dread but apart from the initial shock of the impact, I didn't break anything.

I break into a relieved grin as I scramble to my feet and start jogging for the line of trees but I've not taken two steps before a sudden, bone-rattling bark rips through the night, seizing my heart painfully in my chest.

The sound is quickly followed by two more powerful barks and clutching my chest, I turn around and gape at the heavy-set Cane Corsos with their glowing eyes set on me. Security dogs that Rose somehow neglected to mention!

All thought empties quickly from my head and the only thing I can think of is survival as I do the most stupid thing I could possibly do and break into a run. The security dogs give chase behind me, letting out  a synchronized booming bark that nearly empties my bladder.

I can't see where I'm going, I can't figure out what direction, I don't even care that tree branches are tearing at my exposed skin as my blood roars in my ears and I crash through the forest, my feet quick as an antelope's. But it's not fast enough, I can feel those demon-dogs closing in on me fast, can practically feel them breathing down my neck.

A deep, explosive bark shatters the silence, too close. I dare a glance back to see the massive shadows with glinting eyes, muscles rippling, barely a stone-throw away and my foot snags on a root.

I go down hard, the air punched from my lungs. Dirt fills my mouth as I scramble, hands shaking and I twist around just as the first dog lunges, close enough for me to see the flash of teeth.

I scream and shield my face with my hand, bracing for impact but it never comes. Tentatively, I peel my fingers apart to see someone standing between me and the now prowling dogs.

“Get up.” He commands and I would recognize that voice anywhere.

I’m shaking like a leaf as I straighten up, hiding the flash of pain in my ankle as I stare at the broad expanse of Nikolai Volkov’s back.

“There, that’s a good dog.” He murmurs and strokes the back of the demon-dogs’ ears. “Go!”

The three dogs turn around and melt back into the night like the stuff of a conjured nightmare. And then it is just me and Nikolai and the expression on his face when he turns around is enough to shrivel the testicles off a man.

“I…” I begin and trail off.

“I explicitly ordered you to remain inside.” He growls, his jaw clenched hard in an expression of anger. “You disobeyed my direct order!”

I failed. I had one shot at escaping this place and I failed and my chest fills with welcome anger at the thought. Better anger than fear.

“I do not want to remain here!” I growl back, sounding like a petulant child.

“I don’t recall asking for your wishes.” He replies.

“Why? Because you bought me?“

“Precisely.” He replies. “And now I think you are far more trouble than you are worth.”

“I didn’t force you to buy me!” I snarl, stung. “Why did you do it if you’re only going to bitch about it all night?”

“What did you say?” His voice rumbles with menace and I take a step back.

“I just… want to leave.” I tell him, retreating slowly.

“Stop.”

“I’ll pay your money back I promise, no matter how long I swear I’ll pay it back-“

“I said stop!” He commands and I flinch.

“-but my family needs me and-“

“Stop goddamit!” He yells and I feel the wind knocked out of me as he tackles me to the ground, just before an explosion rocks the ground.

His weight is crushing me for an instance before he rolls to the side and I stare at the mess of dirt where I had been standing a moment ago.

“This place is booby-trapped?!” I turn on him accusingly, my voice high with panic.

“I ordered you to stay inside for your own damn safety. Are you determined to end your life, Woman? Because I can find many less exhausting and ghastly ways of doing it.” He stands and dusts his shirt off with an annoyed expression while my heart beats out of my chest as I realize just how close I came to becoming human ribbons.

“You fucking booby-trapped the forest!” I screech.

“Which is why you should not go trampling about in the night.” He points out.

“I could have died tonight.” I tell him.

“You are correct, if it wasn’t my dogs, it would have been the land mines but you won’t have to worry about either of them if you pull this kind of stunt again because I will kill you myself. Do you understand?”

Staring into Nikolai’s black soulless eyes in the dead of night, it is easy to believe him and a foreboding shiver runs down my spine.

I cast my eyes down and gather myself to my feet.

“I asked you a question.” He says softly.

“Yes.” I bite out. “I understand perfectly.” I reply and begin limping back the way we came. He doesn’t offer aid once and even if he did, I would not accept it.