Chapter 24

**ALINA**

The door slammed behind me, and I felt a wave of frustration wash over me, a bitter mix of anger and helplessness. I hated feeling weak like I was trapped in a cage with no way out.

I hastily wiped the tears from my cheeks, telling myself to suck it up. 

Crying wasn’t going to change anything. It wouldn’t get me out of here. 

Arthur didn’t have the money to pay off the debt—if he did, he wouldn’t have sold me off to the highest bidder -Robert Solas, would he? 

I didn’t know what was worse—being sold to Robert Solas or being held captive by Alexander Dimitri.

The cold reality hit me again. It was only a matter of time before Alexander decided to do God knows what to me. He was ruthless, and I was at his mercy. The thought made my stomach churn, but I couldn’t afford to let my fear take over. I had to think and stay focused.

I wasn’t a toy. I wasn’t some plaything for him to break. I had to remind myself of that, even if it felt like the walls were closing in.

I started pacing the room, my hands shaking as I searched desperately for anything I could use. I couldn’t just sit here and wait for him to come back—I couldn’t stay. I had to do something, anything, to protect myself. But as I scoured the room, I realized just how carefully he’d planned this.

The room felt suffocating, a meticulously designed cage. Despite its luxurious furnishings and expensive taste, there was a distinct lack of anything useful. The walls, adorned with beautiful paintings, seemed to hide nothing but more space behind them. There was no safe hidden behind the artwork, no concealed weapons or tools to aid in my escape. 

The furniture was immovable, carefully placed to provide comfort, but offered no opportunity for me to gain an advantage. Every corner seemed deliberately designed to remind me that I was trapped, completely at his mercy.

I’d expected to find knives or guns, the kind of weapons a man like him would leave lying around for quick access. But as I rifled through every cupboard and drawer, I found only expensive suits, coats, and shirts. Nothing. There was nothing here I could use to defend myself. A few drawers were locked, probably holding more of his things—things I wouldn’t be able to touch.

I should’ve known. A man like Alexander, powerful and calculating, wouldn’t leave anything to chance. He’d made sure this place was as secure as possible, and now, I was left with nothing but my fear—and that was something I refused to let control me.

I grabbed a scarf from the bed, staring at it for a long moment, trying to think of a way I could use it. It seemed like a desperate attempt at best—there was no way I could overpower him with something so insignificant. He’d disarm me within seconds. 

My heart raced again, recalling the way he’d held me against him earlier, the strength of his grip around my waist. For a moment, I thought he was going to rape me. The feeling of his hard body pressing into mine, the bulge of his cock against my stomach, had nearly robbed me of my breath. It was all too much, too close, too real.

No man had ever pressed himself against me like that. Sure, I’d been touched in ways that made me uncomfortable and had men grind against me when I didn’t want them to, but never like that. It was as if he truly owned me, like he was marking me, claiming me in a way no one ever had before.

But I couldn’t let that be the end of it. I couldn’t let him control me, not like this. I wouldn’t let him. I had to keep fighting, no matter how afraid I was, because if I didn’t—if I didn’t do something—he would break me. I couldn’t let that happen.

For a moment, I thought about touching him—just to see if he was as hard as he claimed to be. But then my rational mind kicked in, reminding me of who he was, and what he'd done. He had stolen me, bought me, but he would never make me want him. Not in a million fucking years.

I walked over to the door and placed my hand on the knob. Of course, it was locked. The bastard had locked me in.

I should’ve known.

He could keep me in here, but he couldn’t keep me from wanting to escape. If he wanted access to me, if he wanted to play his little games, he could—whenever the hell he wanted.

I let go of the knob and glanced toward the balcony, the door standing open as if mocking me. 

Without thinking, I ran over, my heart pounding in my chest. I peered over the edge, my eyes scanning the drop below. The room wasn’t too high up, but the ground still felt like a world away. I weighed my options—if I was going to do this, it had to be now. I wasn’t going to wait around for him to come back.

He probably thinks I wouldn’t dare try to escape through there, I thought, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. 

Well, too bad for him.

Alexander didn’t know what I was capable of. He thought he had me cornered, but I wasn’t some helpless doll to be controlled. Not by him. Not by anyone.

I pulled my thoughts together, taking a steadying breath. 

This is the only way out.

I quickly threw back the comforter on the bed, grabbing the top sheet. It wasn’t a long drop, but I wouldn’t risk jumping unless I had to. Working quickly, I tied the top sheet and the fitted sheet together into a makeshift rope. 

It’s tight, it’s strong enough, I thought as I knotted it. Cotton was a hell of a lot easier to work with than silk, thank god.

This is it. This is my chance.

I glanced at the open balcony door one last time, mentally preparing myself for what came next. No more hesitation. No more waiting for someone to save me. I was going to get myself out of here.

I kicked off the slippers, wishing I had something sturdier to wear when I finally reached the ground.

I glanced down at the nightdress, the same one I’d been wearing when they took me from my house. The thought of how I’d ended up here, dressed like this, made my skin crawl. It felt too vulnerable, too exposed. I needed something more practical.

My eyes flicked to the pile of clothes Alexander had sent me—crumpled and forgotten. Beggers can’t be choosers, I reminded myself, quickly grabbing whatever was on top and pulling it on.

My gaze flickered nervously toward the door. He could be back any second. I didn’t know what kind of trouble I’d be in if he found out I was gone, but I had no choice. I had to try. Running was better than waiting for whatever fate awaited me at his hands.

I would die before I let him touch me.

Grabbing my lifeline—the sheet rope I’d hastily tied together—I made my way to the balcony.

Time was slipping away. If I was still here when Alexander stepped through that door, I knew I wouldn’t make it out. I wouldn’t just lose my life—there’d be pieces of me left behind that I could never get back. My dignity, my heart, my soul.

He’d break me, twist me until every part of me was controlled by him until I was nothing but an extension of his will. But I wasn’t the type to give in. 

Not to him. 

Not to anyone.

My father had never been there when I needed him, always demanding I follow his plans and his desires, never once asking about mine. I had fought for everything I had. I built my life from nothing, and I wasn’t about to lose it to a man like Alexander.

No. I wasn’t going down without a fight.