I can hear someone breathing on the other side.
“Dima?”
“Dima?”
I listen to the background noise to see if I can hear others, but it’s just the one voice.
The line goes dead, and I glance down at Dima before I leave him lying on the ground and move silently from one tree to the next. I need to make sure that no one else is here.
No one else is here, but they will come soon. Whoever he was talking to would send men, especially now they know it’s me. I return to Dima and drag him up off the ground before slinging him over my shoulder and carrying him to the wall.
I could slip inside and open the gates, but instead, I fling him over the small wall. He hits the ground hard, and a groan has me hopping the wall and picking him back up.
He fits in the trunk, and I slam it shut. I should check the cameras, but time is running out, and I hope to get some information out of this guy. That's what I did, after all.
Leaving the cube house behind, I dial the penthouse—the phone rings. No one answers. I know something is wrong. I dial Michail’s private number, and it continues to ring. I ring both of them again, but still no answer.
Fuck.
Pushing my foot down on the peddle, I race back to the penthouse. I shouldn’t have left her. Not after her telling me that she recognized Sacha and that he was a part of this. He must have made a final phone call saying she was with me before they killed him off. Whoever took all the other girls was tying up any loose ends.
I park in the underground basement and leave Dima in the trunk. He’s awake, banging loudly on the trunk. If I don’t shut him up, he’ll draw attention. I open the trunk; he’s ready to leap out. I slam my fist into his face several times, and he curls up to protect himself. But I don’t stop until his body stills. His chest still rises and falls, but I hope he stays silent for a while.
The ride up to the penthouse takes far longer than it ever has. I don’t take out my gun, but it’s ready for when I need it. Instead, I open the control box and disable the elevator once I arrive at the top floor. Whoever is here won’t be leaving. With that thought, the doors open.
CHAPTER EIGHT
EVIE
I’m back in my room, and I don’t know if I feel relief or fear of telling Lucca the truth. It could cost me my life, but he was right; I was stopping them from finding the girls. If the roles were reversed, they would do anything to help get me back. His words had left horrible images in my mind that I couldn’t shake.
Images of them shackled like we had been when they first took us—the day that destroyed me.
They had fished me out of the water along with the girl who had tried to flee from them. The one I had tried to save, but instead, they got both of us. I was one of five girls. I think we were all in shock as they dragged the girl up onto the deck. Later I had discovered her name was Helena. They had made an example out of her. She had died in front of us as a reminder that fleeing wasn’t an option.
I had replaced her on that ship. I always have those moments of looking back at my home and seeing the small candle flicker in the window, and I should have turned around, I should have gone back to bed. My life would have been mine. I wrap my arms around my waist as I think of my mother’s hugs.
“I miss you so much,” I speak the words out loud, and they are ready to break me when Michail enters the room. He closes the door and locks it behind him. I’m up and backing away from him. He’s holding his neck, and that’s when I notice a dart hanging from his neck.
“Hide,” He mumbles, and he sounds drunk. I’m back there again, back at the loading bay as all the security stumbled around.
The gun hangs from the tips of Michail’s fingers, and I race to him as the bedroom door shakes from something heavy on the other side. I take the gun, it’s far heavier than I expected it to be, but I manage to hold it steady as the door crashes in. My finger is held above the trigger like I’d imagine it should be.
I recognize the man straight away. He’s another security member from the ship. I don’t know his name, but I’d seen him around the ship a few times.
The sword in his hand is like a Samurai sword. The way he holds it tells me he knows exactly what he’s doing. The light catches the sharp edge of the sword.
Michail is mumbling, but I can’t understand a word as he tumbles to his knees. I move forward, but my legs lock and keep me in place.
“I’ll shoot.” I threaten the man.
I’m like an annoying fly to this man. He rushes towards Michail and slightly jumps in the air before he brings the sword down on Michail’s neck. Blood instantly pours, and the horror tears
