Chapter 9 The Illusion of Freedom
I follow her out, my heart thudding so loud I’m sure the whole mansion can hear it. Every step feels like I’m walking a tightrope above fire. The maid moves quickly, her head bowed, her footsteps soft. I trail behind, trying to quiet the sound of my own breathing.
This is really happening. I’m going to see Adrian again.
Tears sting my eyes before I can stop them. I don’t know if it’s relief or fear. Relief that he’s close, fear of what Nikolai would do if he ever discovers this. Probably both. The thought of Nikolai’s eyes watching from some hidden corner sends a shiver down my spine, but I keep moving.
If there’s even a chance that Adrian can get me out of here, I’ll take it.
Soon, we slip out of the building through a narrow back door. For a mansion this big, I’m sure there are countless exits, but she’s smart enough to pick the one that’s completely deserted. The moment we step outside, the cool air hits me.
The sky is dimming fast, painted in shades of violet and blue. The kind of evening that feels like it’s holding its breath before night takes over. We keep walking briskly, our footsteps muffled against the gravel. My pulse races with every step, fear and hope tangling inside me.
Up ahead, I spot a small iron gate. So narrow it looks like it was made for servants or secret deliveries. The maid pushes it open and gestures for me to go first. My hands tremble as I step through, the cold metal brushing against my arm. She closes it quietly behind me, and for a second, I glance back at her. There’s something in her eyes. A plea, or maybe a warning. But before I can read it, she’s gone.
The night air feels heavier now. My heart hammers as I look ahead, and then I see it.
A car. Parked a little distance away on the dirt path beyond the trees. My breath catches. I know that car. I’d recognize it anywhere.
“Adrian…” I whisper, my voice breaking.
And before I know it, my legs are moving. I run, faster than I thought I could, tears spilling freely down my cheeks. My dress swishes around my legs, my pulse roaring in my ears.
As if sensing me, the car door opens, and he steps out. The sight of him, his familiar face, his eyes searching for mine, breaks something inside me.
When I reach him, I throw my arms around him, holding him as tightly as I can. The world blurs. For the first time since today, I feel like I can breathe.
He wraps me in his arms, one hand sliding up to the back of my head, the other drawing me closer. Then, he presses a soft kiss to my forehead.
After some time, he pulls back, a small, reassuring smile tugging at his lips.
“I’m sorry for not coming earlier,” he says softly.
I shake my head immediately, blinking back the tears threatening to fall. He doesn’t need to apologize. He’s here now. That’s all that should matter.
“Nikolai is swamped today,” Adrian continues, his voice lower now, almost conspiratorial. “From my sources, he won’t be returning to the mansion tonight. Probably late tomorrow.”
The mention of Nikolai’s name makes my heart jolt painfully. The air feels thinner. My chest tightens, and for a second, I think I might faint.
“Adi,” I whisper, the word catching in my throat as tears finally spill over. “I missed you.”
But even as I say it, something feels wrong. The words sound hollow, like they don’t belong to me anymore. Because deep down, I know the truth. I didn’t miss him. Not in the way I used to. I just needed rescuing. From Nikolai. From the mansion. From whatever I’m becoming there.
“I missed you too,” he murmurs, pressing a gentle kiss against my forehead. “Let’s go somewhere, just for tonight. Away from that beast your father sold you to.”
I nod slowly. It’s what I should want. Freedom, peace, a night away from all this madness. But beneath that agreement, there’s a gnawing fear I can’t explain. No, I can explain it. One word. One man.
Nikolai.
His name echoes in my mind, making my pulse quicken.
Adrian cups my face, his thumbs brushing away the tears I didn’t realize were still falling. “He’s far away. He won’t know about this,” he says gently. “You know me, I’m not reckless.”
Yes. He’s not reckless. But Nikolai… Nikolai is a monster. A devil in human skin—clever, calculating, always three steps ahead. I don’t know how, but a part of me is certain he’ll know about this.
“Don’t think about him,” Adrian whispers, his voice tender. “Just focus on now. On us. Whatever happens, I’m here for you.”
I sigh, nodding, and he gestures toward the car. I begin to move, my pulse drumming against my ribs. Before slipping in, I turn back one last time, half expecting to see someone watching from the shadows.
But it’s just the mansion. No sign of Nikolai or anyone else.
Maybe I really am safe tonight.
I slide into the passenger seat, and Adrian starts the engine. The tires roll over gravel, and the mansion fades in the rearview mirror.
He drives for a long time, through winding back roads, past the city’s edge, and into streets where the lights grow dimmer. I can’t tell if he’s taking precautions or just being careful, but he keeps making turns, doubling back once or twice. I watch him in silence, the tension in my shoulders slowly easing with every mile we put between us and that house.
Every passing car, every glint of headlights makes me flinch. But eventually, exhaustion takes over. My eyelids grow heavy, and I let them close.
Just a few minutes. Just to breathe.
I drift off, lulled by the hum of the engine. The tension in my body finally begins to melt away, until a violent jolt snaps me awake.
The car has stopped.
My eyes fly open, heart hammering against my ribs.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, my voice trembling.
Adrian’s face hardens. “Stay here,” he says, already pushing his door open.
I lean forward, peering through the windshield, only to feel my blood run cold.
An obsidian Rolls-Royce Phantom blocks the road ahead, its body gleaming like liquid metal beneath the streetlights. Around it, men emerge from the darkness, eight of them, maybe more. All dressed in black, all armed, their guns catching the light.
My stomach twists violently. No. Please, no.
Adrian steps out, tense and ready. Against every instinct screaming at me, I follow him, my pulse thundering in my ears. The night air is sharp and cold, biting through my skin.
The back door of the Rolls-Royce opens.
And then I see him.
Nikolai.
He steps out, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit that fits him like sin itself. The faintest smirk curls his lips. His eyes, though, are glacial. And when they land on me, my entire body goes numb.
My legs nearly give out, and I clutch the edge of Adrian’s car for balance.
“Well,” Nikolai drawls, the corners of his lips lifting in amusement. “What do we have here? My runaway bride and her knight in shining suit.”
He glances at Adrian like he’s inspecting something filthy on his shoe. “Did you really think you could play hero, Calloway? That you could steal what’s mine and walk away breathing?”
Adrian moves in front of me instinctively, shielding me from Nikolai’s approach.
"Let her be."
“Do you badly want to lose your life?” Nikolai asks, his tone almost casual. “Those men behind you aren’t here for decoration. So unless you want to see what hollow points do to human flesh, I suggest you step aside and let me speak to my wife.”
Wife.
The word cuts through me and my knees weaken.
Adrian’s gaze darts to the armed men, his jaw tightening as his eyes catch the glint of metal. After a long, tense moment, he steps aside, his expression hard.
Nikolai’s lips twitch again, amused, satisfied. Nikolai’s gaze slides back to me, like a predator savoring the moment.
“You disappoint me, moya lyubov.” His tone is almost pitying. “After everything, you thought I wouldn’t find you? That I’d just sit quietly while you ran off with your little past love story?”
My throat tightens. “I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s not her fault,” Adrian interrupts quickly, stepping forward again. “I dragged her into this—”
“Shut your mouth, Calloway.”
Nikolai’s voice is pure command. The kind that makes the night itself hold its breath. Even Adrian falters, eyes flicking toward me in helpless frustration.
Nikolai’s gaze slides back to me, softer now. Almost gentle.
“That band,” he says, tilting his head slightly, “really did its job perfectly.”
It takes me a moment to process his words, then realization crashes over me. My gaze shoots to the golden wristband he gave me that morning. It’s glowing faintly, a tiny red light blinking once… then fading.
My lips part. “No…”
It wasn’t just jewelry.
It was a tracker. A camera. A perfect disguise.
How could I have been so blind?
He never blocked the cameras.
He just moved them closer... onto me.
I take a shaky step backward, but the world tilts and spins around me.
My lungs seize up, refusing to draw air.
I never escaped him. I never could.
The
night air feels heavier now, suffocating even. My knees buckle, the strength in my body draining away, and finally, I collapse to the cold ground.