Chapter 15 THE THEFT
Anya shook her head quickly, violently, like the thought alone terrified her.
"No, no, no. It’s fine. No killing, please"
Nikolai’s jaw tightened. His hand slammed hard against the steering wheel, the sound sharp and violent inside the car. His fingers twitched like he was barely holding himself back.
Anya shuddered, her body shrinking into the seat.
Her hands flew to the door handle. She pulled it but it was locked.
Her breath hitched as she turned back to him.
"Please," she whispered. "I want to come out"
"You’re not going anywhere"
"No, please. I have a class to attend"
"I said you’re not going anywhere!" he yelled, striking the steering wheel again.
Anya flinched hard, tears instantly flooding her eyes.
Nicholas turned fully toward her, his stare dark.
"Have I made myself clear?"
Anya stared at him blankly, fear freezing her tongue.
"Have I made myself clear!!!" he roared, hitting the steering wheel once more.
"Yes. Yes!" she cried, her voice breaking as tears spilled freely down her cheeks.
He leaned closer, his voice dropping into something colder.
"Clean those. I hate seeing tears. I hate them"
She rushed to wipe her tears with the back of her hand, dragging her sleeve across her cheeks again and again.
But they wouldn’t stop.
The more she wiped, the more they came, hot and relentless, blurring her vision until she could barely see him anymore. Her chest hitched violently, sobs forcing their way out despite her trying so hard to stay quiet.
"I’m sorry," she whispered brokenly. "I’m trying… I really am"
Her shoulders shook as she curled inward, fighting the crying that refused to obey her. Tears slipped past her fingers, dripping on her lap, betraying her fear no matter how hard she tried to hide it.
He reached into his pocket abruptly and pulled out a neatly folded handkerchief. Without warning, he tossed it at her face.
"Use it to wipe those off" he said coldly.
The cloth hit her cheek and slid down into her lap. She flinched, fingers trembling as she picked it up.
Before she could say another word, the engine roared to life.
The car jerked forward and sped off, tires screeching faintly against the road as the school gates disappeared behind them.
•••
LIANA’S HOSTEL ROOM
The bathroom door clicked open earlier, steam drifting out as Liana stepped back into the room. She dressed quickly, grabbed her bag, and rushed out, already late for class.
The door shut behind her.
Silence.
Raina stood still for a moment, listening to Liana’s footsteps fade down the hallway. When she was sure she was alone, she moved calmly to the door and locked it.
Her expression changed.
She crouched and slid a hand under her bed, fingers searching until they closed around something cold and smooth. She pulled it out.
The gold earrings.
They glinted softly in her palm, expensive and unmistakable.
Raina stared at them for a second, then smirked.
She had noticed them the night before, tucked carelessly in Liana’s drawer. Too flashy and too tempting. She had slipped them out easily, hiding them where no one would think to look.
She straightened and reached for her phone, scrolling and then she dialed.
It rang once, then twice.
The call connected.
"Margo," Raina said quietly. "I need your help"
There was a pause, then a faint response on the other end.
"I need you to get me a buyer," she continued, eyes fixed on the earrings in her hand. "I have a very expensive gold ring to sell"
She paused, correcting herself smoothly.
"Earrings. Gold. Very clean"
Another pause.
Raina’s lips curved slightly.
"Yes. Today," she said. "No questions. Just discreet"
She ended the call and slipped the earrings into her pocket, her face unreadable once more.
Then she picked up her guitar, sat on the bed, and began to play.
As if nothing at all had happened.
Raina lowered the guitar slowly, the final note fading into silence.
She set it aside and lay back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling.
For a few seconds, she said nothing.
Then her chest hitched.
Tears rushed out suddenly, blurring her vision as they streamed down the sides of her face, soaking into the pillow beneath her head. She pressed her lips together, trying to stop them, but they kept coming anyway, heavy and quiet.
Her fingers curled into the sheets.
"I’m so sorry, Liana," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But I just have to do it"
She turned her face to the side, letting the tears fall freely now, shoulders shaking as guilt and desperation tangled painfully in her chest.