"Master Morozov is waiting for you."
"Thank you."
I nodded at the man as he side-stepped and opened the door. Ivan was beside me, stepping inside the room with me on his back. My hands were clamped with sweat, and my throat felt dry as sand. I shouldn't be here, but once again, I found myself in a place where I didn't belong.
They say fate has a cruel sense of humor-what you run from often has a way of chasing you down. My father always said, the wolves will find you if you carry the scent of fear.
Right now, I reeked of it. But I had no choice.
Sometimes the only way out was through, even when the path felt like walking on broken glass.
As soon as we entered inside, Lucius was walking towards us wearing his signature smile that was supposed to be warm but it was anything but that. In some way, he reminded me of Judas.
That mischievous glint in his eyes, the way he analysed a person. Like he could see right through them.
And that scared me more than anything right now.
His eyes lit up as they landed on me and I unconsciously straightened my back. "Greetings, Ms Rosewood," he took my hand in his and kissed the back of my hand. "Bring some wine for the young lady."
I pulled away and gave him a tight-lipped smile. "No, I'm fine. Thank you."
The man didn't like that. He tilted his head, a touch of smirk playing on his lips. "I insist."
I hesitated before murmuring, "T-thank you."
Ivan, who had been silent, shifted uncomfortably beside me. He was sitting close, too close, as if he could shield me from whatever storm was brewing.
Or was it only me or Ivan looked quite nervous beside his brother.
Lucius was now settled back into his chair as he arched an eyebrow. "What do you have for me?"
I swallowed hard. I had so many things. The files. The drives in my pocket. And Judas's medical reports. It could be informative for him. Knowing Judas was pretending to be blind. But I needed a assurance first.
So I raised my head, and clenched my fists.
"Nothing for now." I glanced at Ivan, then back to Lucius, summoning whatever courage I had left. "I wanted to get some conditions straight first."
"Conditions?" Lucius's voice was smooth, almost mocking, as he leaned forward. The atmosphere felt thick, like a noose tightening around my neck.
"Sera-" Ivan's voice was a warning, but I cut him off, my voice stronger than I expected.
"No." I turned to Ivan, meeting his eyes. "Please, Ivan. Stay out of it. If I'm going to… observe for you, I need to know why. I can't just trade one prison for another."
"Spy?" Lucius chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're using such an ugly word, Ms. Rosewood. You're not spying, you're simply… observing. I thought you understood that." His smile returned, sharp as a blade. "And as for why? Isn't it obvious? You're helping to win your freedom back. Or perhaps… I misjudged your resolve."
My breath hitched as he stood, circling me like a predator. His voice was low, almost a whisper, but it felt like a knife in my back. "You speak of prison, but I've done nothing but offer you freedom. Choices. You chose to be here, did you not? Yet you speak of conditions like I've bound you in chains."
He leaned down closer and I held my breath counting to ten hoping he couldn't see fear in my eyes. I didn't want to get on bad terms with him. He definitely did not look like a kind man. And I knew he was not. But his words… they hit me hard.
"If you don't trust me by now, maybe you don't trust yourself. That's the real problem, isn't it? You're afraid if you'll get caught. But if you truly feel trapped, Ms Rosewood, you're free to walk away... though I wonder, where would that leave the people you love?"
"You don't know anything about me. And don't you dare threaten the people I love-"
"I dare not." He laughed. "I'd never hurt innocents. But are you sure Judas would let your family live in peace once you get your freedom back?"
"Then what are you suggesting? You're asking me to spy for you ensuring I'd get away from him and then you're saying if I get caught he'd ruin me. What do you want me to do?"
"What I'm saying is," to my surprise, he grabbed the alcohol filled glass and placed it in front of me. "I am an influential man. I have money, control, resources… and power. One call from me, and you're family will live the life of one of Americas big shots. One call and your mother won't have to work night shifts at the motel-"
My eyes widened. "How-"
"One call, and your brother won't have to wear work out shoes. You understand what money can do, right? It can make people sell their souls, sell their dignity. Isn't that what you, Seraphina? A life without the devil."
"I do…"
"That's what I think."
"But-"
"If you still have doubts, walk away, I won't stop you after all you're a human, I can not force you to help me, right?" My hands sweat. "But tell me one thing, what would happen if he your life never change? Do you want to spend rest of your life as his mistress? Or his whore? Just warm his bed and get raped by him-"
I shook my head, unable to listen anymore. "Stop-"
Judas raled his sister? Oh lord. Please. This couldn't be true. But didn't he forced me to sleep with him too? What about all those pictures? But why… why I didn't want to believe that? Why?
Despite my refusal he continued. And his words were like nails to the coffin. "And let me tell you, he'd not stop there. Not untill you are dead. Judas Romanovski is a cruel man. He killed my sister. Raped her. Left her to die and have his men rape her corpse. When I reached there, there was nothing left except her dead soulless eyes staring at me."
"Stop it, please…"
"She was sixteen and innocent. My little Gayle had life to live but that monster took it from her. He ruined our family."
He leaned back in his chair and his eyes narrowed as he continued. His voice now dangerously low. "Do you understand now, Ms. Rosewood? You aren't trading one prison for another-you're escaping a hell far worse than you can imagine. I'm offering you salvation, but it comes at a cost. Freedom always does."
My hands trembled, my heart pounding in my chest, but i knew he wasn't finished. He leaned forward, his gaze locking onto mine with chilling intensity.
"You say you don't want to be his prisoner. You say you want out. But do you think Judas will ever let you go? He'll drag you back, over and over, breaking you piece by piece. This isn't just about you, Seraphina. It's about everyone you love. Do you really think he won't come after them too? A man like him, he doesn't leave loose ends."
I could feel myself slipping under the weight of his words, the desperation creeping in. "But what you're asking-"
"What I'm asking," he interrupted, "is for you to use the power you have. You don't need to be his victim, his pawn. With me, you can be something more. You can have real control over your life. Over your family's future. I'm not the monster, darling. I'm the only one who can stop him."
My breath caught in my throat. Lucius's words were spinning around in my head, twisting my thoughts.
"And let me remind you," he said, his voice almost gentle now, "this isn't about threats. This is about choices. You can choose to walk away. You can choose to live under Judas's thumb for the rest of your life, or worse, let him destroy everything you hold dear. Or… you can choose to take your fate into your own hands."
The silence that followed was suffocating. My mind raced, torn between fear and survival.
Lucius sat back, the barest hint of a smile touching his lips, as if he already knew the decision I would make. His fingers drummed lightly on the armrest, his eyes never leaving mine, studying my every twitch, my every breath.
I wanted to scream, to run, but my legs felt like lead. Every word he said echoed in my mind, wrapping around me like chains, tightening until I could hardly breathe. The image of my mother, exhausted from double shifts at the motel, and my brother, walking around in shoes two sizes too small, flashed before my eyes. And then... Judas. The coldness in his gaze, the way he looked at me like a possession, a tool for his pleasure.
"I..." My voice cracked, the sound barely recognizable. I swallowed hard, trying to regain some control, but my heart was hammering against my chest. Lucius just waited, patient, like a predator letting its prey exhaust itself.
I clenched my fists, feeling the crescent-shaped indents my nails made in my palms. "And if I do this... you'll protect them? My family?"
Lucius leaned forward slightly, his smile widening, more genuine now. "Of course, darling. You have my word. Your family will want for nothing, and you... you will finally be free. Free from Judas, free from all of this."
His words should have felt like a lifeline, but instead, they wrapped tighter around my neck. He was promising freedom, but at what cost? My soul? My dignity? But what choice did I have? If I refused, Judas would never let me or my family go. Lucius was right-there was no escape from men like him.
I looked into Lucius's eyes, searching for any sign of deceit. But all I saw was cold, calculated certainty. He knew he had me cornered, and in that moment, I realized there was no walking away.
Taking a deep breath, I stood up slowly, my legs shaking beneath me. I straightened my spine, forcing strength into my voice. "Fine. I'll do it. But you keep your word. My family stays safe, or I swear, I'll find a way to take you down too."
Lucius chuckled, rising gracefully from his chair, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Of course, Seraphina. I always keep my promises." He extended his hand toward me, and after a brief hesitation, I placed mine in his. His grip was firm, final.
"Welcome to the real game, Ms. Rosewood," he whispered, his voice sending a chill down my spine. "Let's make sure you play it well."
As I pulled my hand back, I could feel the weight of my choice settle deep in my chest. There was no turning back now.