Chapter 122 Chapter 122

Chapter 122 Chapter 122
Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Two

Dimitri

The new cell was better. But it was still a cage.

I spent my days planning and thinking. Looking for any weakness in Alexei's operation.

But there were none. At least none I could see.

The guards rotated every six hours. Different faces. Different routines.

The door was solid steel. I couldn't pick the lock.

The window was too small and high. I can't escape that.

I was trapped completely.

Unless someone helped me from the outside.

But who? Mikhail was crippled. 

Sergei was dead. My lieutenants were tearing each other apart.

I had no one.

Except Lucia.

She still came twice a day. Bringing food and medicine.

I could ask her for help.

But will she be willing to go against her boss?

That evening, she came again.

I asked her news about my wife and son.

Lucia hesitated. Then she said 

quietly, "Mrs. Irina has agreed to Alexei's terms."

My blood ran cold. "What terms?"

"She goes to his bed every night," Lucia said, her voice pained. "In exchange for one hour a day with Nikolai."

The world tilted.

"What?" I whispered. "No. She did not."

"She did," Lucia confirmed. "Last night was the first time. She... she is doing it for the baby."

Rage exploded inside me.

I stood up and paced the cell like a caged animal.

"He is raping her," I said through clenched teeth.

"It's not rape," Lucia said quietly. "She is consenting to save the baby."

"It is still rape!" I shouted. "She only consents because he is using Nikolai against her!"

I slammed my fist against the wall. Pain shot through my hand. But I did not care.

Alexei had taken everything from me. And now he was taking Irina. Eery single night.

While I sat here, powerless.

"I have to get out," I said desperately. "I have to stop this."

"How?" Lucia asked. "The security is too tight. There is no way out."

"Then I will make a way," I said.

I looked at Lucia. 

"Help me," I said. "Please. You are my only hope."

"I am just a housekeeper," Lucia protested. "What can I do?"

"You can get me information," I said. "Guard schedules. Layout of the villa. Anything that might help me escape."

Lucia shook her head. "If I am caught, Mr. Alexei will kill me."

"If I do not escape, he will destroy everything," I said. "And he will keep raping Irina every night. Is that what you want?"

Lucia flinched. "Of course not."

"Then help me," I pleaded. "I am begging you."

Lucia was quiet for a long moment. Then she said, "I will see what I can do."

"Thank you," I said. "Thank you so much."

After Lucia left, I sat on the bed and put my head in my hands.

Irina was suffering every night because of me.

I had to fix this.

And I only have ten days before Alexei took me to Moscow.

It was not enough time.

But it was all I had.

Over the next week, Lucia brought me information piece by piece. Risking her own life.

Each piece of information made me hate myself more.

On the seventh day, I made my request.

"I need a weapon," I told Lucia. 

"Anything. A knife. A gun. Something."

"I cannot get you a gun," Lucia said immediately. "They are too closely guarded."

"Then a knife," I said. "From the kitchen."

Lucia hesitated. "If they search you and find it..."

"They will not," I said. "I will hide it well."

"Mr. Dimitri..."

"Please," I interrupted. "I am running out of time. In three days, Alexei takes me to Moscow. This is my last chance."

Lucia looked torn. Then she nodded slowly.

"I will try," she said. "But I make no promises."

"Thank you," I said.

That night, I could not sleep. My mind raced with possibilities.

What would I do with a knife? How would I escape?

I could overpower a guard, take his gun and fight my way out.

But then what? The villa was surrounded by Alexei's men. I would never make it past the gates.

Unless I had help. A distraction.

I thought about it all night. 

By morning, I had the beginnings of a plan.

It was dangerous and likely to fail.

But it was better than nothing.

That evening, Lucia came back. She looked nervous.

"Did you get it?" I asked immediately.

She glanced at the door. Then reached into her apron and pulled out something wrapped in cloth.

She handed it to me quickly.

I unwrapped it. It was a sharp kitchen knife.

"Hide it well," Lucia warned. "The guards will search your cell tomorrow. Alexei's orders."

My heart sank. "Tomorrow?"

"Yes," Lucia said. "He wants to make sure you have nothing before the trip to Moscow."

I looked at the knife in my hand. If they found it, this was over.

But if I did not use it soon, I would lose my chance forever.

"Then I need to move tonight," I said.

Lucia's eyes widened. "Tonight? But you do not have a plan!"

"I have enough of one," I lied.

Actually, my plan was barely formed. 

But it was now or never.

"What do you need?" Lucia asked.

"Information," I said. "Which guard is on duty tonight? What time does he do his rounds?"

Lucia thought for a moment. "Viktor is on duty tonight. He patrols every two hours. His next patrol is at midnight."

I looked at the small window. The sun was setting. Maybe two hours until dark.

Four hours until midnight.

"And after midnight?" I asked.

"He goes to the guardhouse for a break for twenty minutes. Then he comes back." Lucian said.

Twenty minutes. That was my window.

"I need you to do something for me," I said. "At midnight, I need you to cause a distraction. Anything. A fire in the kitchen. A scream. Something to draw the guards away from this wing."

"Mr. Dimitri..."

"Please," I said. "This is my only chance."

Lucia closed her eyes, took a deep breath. "Okay," she said finally. "I will do it."

"Thank you so much." I said.

Lucia left quickly.

I sat on the bed, holding the knife.

This was it. Tonight, I would either escape or die trying. There was no other option.

I hid the k
nife in my waistband and covered it with my shirt.

Then I waited.

The hours crawled by.

I went over the plan in my head again and again.

Finally, the clock struck midnight.

I stood up and positioned myself by the door.

My hand went to the knife and gripped it tight.

Come on, Lucia. Come on.

Minutes passed. Nothing.

Had she changed her mind? Had she been caught?

Then I heard it.

A loud crash. Noises came from everywhere.

This was it. The distraction.

I pressed my ear to the door, and listened.

The guards were responding, moving away from my cell. 

I gripped the knife tight

er and waited.

Any second now, Viktor would come back from his break.

I heard footsteps approaching. One person. Coming down the corridor.

My muscles tensed.

The footsteps stopped outside my door.

Keys jingled. The lock clicked.

I raised the knife immediately the door started to open.

But the person who stepped through was not Viktor.

It was Alexei.

And he was smiling.

"Hello, brother," he said. "Going somewhere?"

Behind him, six armed guards appeared. All pointing guns at me.

I stood there, frozen. The knife suddenly felt useless in my hand.