Chapter 55: Chapter Fifty Five.

Xena sat at the dining table, absentmindedly pushing her food around with her fork. Her eyes flickered toward the grand staircase, scanning the room, searching. It had been hours since morning, and she hadn’t seen Viktor—not even a shadow of him. When she had woken up, his side of the bed had been ice-cold, as if he hadn't even slept there. 

A strange feeling coiled in her chest. Relief? Maybe. But the absence of his overbearing presence left a different kind of unease. She caught sight of Svetlana moving around the hall and considered asking her about him, but she quickly dismissed the idea. 

Not that she cared. If anything, his absence meant freedom—a rare chance to escape this suffocating cage. 

“Xena?” Zoya’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Are you okay? You’ve barely touched your food.” 

Xena blinked, forcing a sheepish smile. “I’m… just not hungry.” Pushing her chair back, she stood up. “I’ll head upstairs now.” 

Zoya frowned, concern flashing in her eyes, but she didn’t push. “Alright,” she said softly, watching as Xena left. 

Once inside the bedroom, Xena locked the door and leaned against it, inhaling deeply. The room felt bigger, emptier without him. She curled up on the couch, picking up the book she had been reading before, but the words blurred together. Her mind refused to settle. 

Giving up, she reached for her phone and checked it. Nothing. No call. No text. 

Her fingers tightened around the device as irritation bubbled in her chest. She shouldn't care. She shouldn't feel this strange pull, this unsettling disappointment. But she did. 

Shaking her head, she set the phone down and exhaled sharply. None of this mattered. The only thing she needed to focus on was escaping. And with Viktor gone, this might be her only chance.

♧♧♧

The private jet touched down smoothly on the runway, the hum of the engine fading. Viktor stepped out first, his long coat billowing slightly in the cool breeze.

His expression was unreadable, but the tension radiating from him was undeniable.

His fists were clenched at his sides, his jaw locked in a way that told Mikhail exactly how much restraint he was exercising. 

Mikhail followed behind, his gaze flickering to his boss, noting the storm brewing beneath the surface. As they approached the sleek black car waiting for them, he finally spoke. 

"Still going with the plan?" His voice was casual, but he knew better than to mistake Viktor’s silence for hesitation. 

Viktor yanked open the driver’s side door without a word, sliding in behind the wheel. Mikhail sighed and got in the passenger seat, shutting the door behind him. 

The moment Viktor started the engine, his voice cut through the silence, low and sharp.

"We find her grandmother. She knows something about that damn contract. She’s the only one who can tell me why Marco is circling like a fucking vulture. And once I have my answers, I’ll deal with him." 

Mikhail leaned back, watching Viktor’s fingers flex against the leather of the steering wheel. "And if she refuses to talk?" 

Viktor’s grip tightened. His knuckles turned white. "Then she’ll learn what happens when people stand between me and what’s mine." 

Mikhail let out a short breath, shaking his head slightly. "You got you hooked, huh?"

Viktor's head snapped toward him, his eyes dark and lethal. "She is *not* leaving me." His voice was absolute, a promise, a warning. 

Mikhail smirked, but there was no amusement in his eyes. "Then let’s hope her grandmother understands that before you make her." 

Viktor’s jaw ticked. "She will if she values Xena's safety." 

Mikhail exhaled, shaking his head slightly. "What if Marco has already secured her loyalty?" 

Viktor's foot pressed on the accelerator. "Then I’ll make her see reason." he said darkly. "One way or another." 

Mikhail wasn't surprised by his answer. Viktor had never been the kind of man to take no for an answer, especially when it came to Xena.

The moment Marco’s name had come up, Viktor’s obsession had intensified. There was no way he was going to let another man lay claim to what he saw as his. 

As they approached the outskirts of the city, Mikhail leaned back, watching Viktor with mild amusement. "You’re really losing it over her, aren’t you?" 

Viktor said nothing, just pressed harder on the accelerator.

Back at Russia.

Xena had been so lost in the pages of her book that she barely registered the sound of the door opening. It wasn't until she heard her name that she snapped out of it.

"Xena?"

She looked up to see Zoya standing there with a small smile, and before she could respond, Alina stepped into the room as well.

"You’ve been in here for too long. Why not come out for a bit?" Alina's voice was soft, almost hesitant.

Xena frowned, her brows knitting together in suspicion. Viktor never let her leave the room unless he was the one dragging her somewhere. Why were they suddenly inviting her out?

"What?"

Alina exchanged a quick glance with Zoya before clearing her throat. "Miss Svetlana asked us to see if you'd like to go to the garden for a while."

Xena blinked, processing the unexpected offer. The *garden*? The very thought of stepping outside, even for a little while, sent a rush of emotions through her—relief, excitement, and most of all, an urgent need to *escape*.

Her lips parted slightly, hesitating. Could this be a trap? Was Viktor testing her? Or was this truly an opportunity?

But she couldn't afford to overthink it. She needed to act natural.

"Sure…" she said, trying to sound casual as she closed her book and rose to her feet.

Zoya and Alina giggled, pleased with her answer, and moved toward the door, holding it open for her.

Xena stepped out, her heart already racing. The hallway stretched before her, a path leading to something unknown, and as her feet carried her forward, only one thought consumed her mind—

*"Maybe I can find a way to escape."*