Roman sat on an old wooden chair, the legs uneven, creaking faintly each time he leaned forward. His boots were planted firmly on the cold, damp floor, and his elbows rested on his knees. In front of him, Kade was on the ground, kneeling, shivering as the death dance before his eyes. His body trembled, soaked in sweat, his face streaked with blood. A dark stain on his pants made it obvious he’d lost control of his bladder.The space around them was suffocating. Like a forgotten tunnel—stone walls rough and chipped, the air thick with the smell of damp rock, rust, and old blood. A single vent near the ceiling let in a weak breath of air, hinting that somewhere far above, daylight still existed.A single bulb hung from a wire overhead. It flickered, buzzing faintly, casting jittery shadows across the walls and faces. The light swung slightly.Roman’s face was countered with anger but it was wrapped in something colder. He wasn’t shouting. He didn’t need to. Every movement was calculated
The world returned in fragments. Roman stirred, a low groan escaping his throat as consciousness crept back into him. His muscles screamed with stiffness, his body sunk deep into the back seat of the car where he’d passed out. The door was still cracked open, letting in the morning air enter. The leather seat stuck to his damp shirt, his neck ached from the angle he’d collapsed in. He blinked slowly, vision slightly blurred, lashes weighed down by sweat and fatigue. His mouth was dry and bitter. His hand fumbled to his side, searching blindly until his fingers grazed cold metal. He pulled his phone from the floor of the car, the screen smeared with a faint crack across one corner. He unlocked it without thinking. Calling: Dario His investigator. The kind of man who asked no questions unless paid to. The phone rang. On the third, Dario picked up. Roman’s voice came out hoarse and flat. “I want you at the cabin site in ten minutes.” A pause on the other end. “I thought the r
Vera had been shifted to another hospital. The room was quieter, more private, but it didn’t make her feel any less suffocated. She lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, her hand instinctively moving to her belly.There is a life pulsating in her belly, and more importantly, did she want to keep the child?The question barely formed in her mind when a wave of nausea rose sharply in her throat. Her stomach twisted. She threw the blanket off and rushed to the bathroom, barely making it to the sink before she vomited up everything she'd eaten for breakfast just minutes ago.She gripped the edge of the counter, her body trembling. After rinsing her mouth, she splashed cold water on her face, trying to steady herself. Slowly, she reached for a towel, wiped her face, and turned toward the bathroom door.The moment she stepped out, her vision blurred. The floor tilted beneath her feet. She swayed—and would’ve collapsed if not for the strong arms that caught her just in time.She blinked ra
Roman sat on the edge of the car trunk, his forearms resting on his knees, eyes fixed on the charred remains of the cabin. The smell of burnt wood still clung to the air. The fire had died hours ago, but the heat lingered, trapped in the soil and ashes. Everything was dark now—just smoke and silence. He didn’t speak. He hadn’t since they arrived.Alessio stood beside him, arms folded, his gaze following Roman’s. He didn’t bother saying anything either. What was there to say?Roman’s jaw tightened. His throat burned, “She’s alive.”Alessio didn’t respond.“I don’t care what the report says. I could feel it,” Roman continued, his eyes locked on the blackened foundation before his eyes, “Something’s telling me she’s not dead.”Alessio stared at him for a long moment. His expression didn’t shift, but his silence spoke louder than most words.Then he finally broke it. “And if she is alive…” he said slowly, “Then I hope to God she stays far away from you.”Roman’s head turned sharply, but A
Vera was wheeled back into the room, her posture limp, eyes dull like someone who’d gone far too long without peace. Her face was pale, lips dry, and yet, when her gaze found Leila and Dimitry waiting inside, something fragile stirred in her expression, a tired smile. She tried to stand on her own, hands gripping the arms of the wheelchair as the nurse assisted her, but her body trembled under the effort. Leila quickly stepped forward, helping steady her. Dimitry watched, quiet but attentive. As she eased onto the bed, letting out a soft exhale, Dimitry spoke. “Just a few more minutes,” he said gently. “We’re shifting you out of this hospital.” Vera looked up at him, brows knitting in confusion. “What? Why?” He crouched a little so they were at eye level. “Because I want you somewhere safer. Somewhere more secure. You’re not just a patient, Vera. You need real protection, and the best care possible.” Leila nodded beside him, her hand resting protectively on Vera’s shoulder. “Yo
Leila pressed her lips together, fighting the rage she didn’t want to let loose, not while Vera looked like she might crumble with a single word. She nodded slowly, eyes never leaving her friend’s face.Vera lay there motionless, her breaths shallow. The silence stretched for a long moment before Leila finally spoke.“They told me… about the pills,” she said softly.Vera’s eyes didn’t move, but a flicker of understanding crossed her face.“Your doctor confirmed it,” Leila continued, quieter now. “She said she was forced to switch your prescribed contraceptives with folic acid supplements. Roman made her do it. Threatened her the same day he went with you,"The memory came back like a punch, Roman bringing her to the clinic. The appointment felt ordinary at the time. Routine. He’d even waited outside the exam room, scrolling through his phone, but she remembered the doctor seemed uncomfortable. She never suspected a thing.But now, everything clicked.He never punished her for refusing