Chapter 80
Aurora POV
After Gianna’s breathing grows long and deep beside me, I slip out from under the covers and squat down next to the bed. Retrieving my bag from where I’d quickly kicked it under the bed after my breakdown in front of the guards, my fingers part the zipper and the seam along the inside of it.
My heart races as I glance over my shoulder at the door, making sure it’s still closed shut, before taking the phone out and powering it on. The tiny screen flickers to life, dim enough that it doesn’t wake Gianna.
As soon as the home screen loads, a text notification pops up with Stefano’s number.
I’m trying to trace this phone number to find your location, but it isn’t registered in Mexico. Where did you get it from? Do you know your address?
A part of me is tempted to rat Camilla out for giving me the phone but then again, it’s not like she’s personally responsible for any of this mess Gianna and I found ourselves in. All she did was provide the opportunity to escape. What happened after I took the documents from her is solely on my shoulders.
Though, damn is it tempting to show not just Stefano but my father that Camilla isn’t the perfect little innocent princess they all see her as.
I exhale slowly, typing back a response: I didn’t get this phone in Mexico. No, I don’t know our location. We were taken right after Gianna called you from that payphone. I’m not sure which direction we headed after that. Maybe south?
From what I remember on our car ride, we hadn’t gone very far. A half hour at most, if I were to take a guess. At that time, I had been hopped up on adrenaline and fear so I’ll admit, I wasn’t exactly paying attention to my surroundings.
One mistake out of many I’ve made since leaving the States.
My thumb glide over the keyboard again.
The house we’re staying in is a mansion. Big gate outside and cameras on the rear walls facing the road. We aren’t in a traditional suburban neighborhood. It’s more of a gated community without the actual gate to get in. Lot of wealthy looking houses surrounding us.
Maybe the next time Gianna is invited out to dinner with Alek, I can tell her to try and find out our address. Even if she spots a few street signs close to where we are that I can give to Stefano to make it easier to pinpoint our general area.
Anything that can help him find us.
When he answers back, it’s a simple message: Got it. Can you keep this phone on so I can ping it?
My teeth work the inside of my cheek.
As much as I’d like to, I can’t risk the battery dying on me. Camilla didn’t exactly pack a charger along with it. And even if she did, I wasn’t willing to risk being caught trying to charge it. The only outlet I see in here is over by the door with nothing nearby that could be used to conceal a wall plug, cord, and phone.
Sighing, I type back: No. Sorry.
He responds instantly. Alright. Text me when you have more info.
I power the phone down and tuck it back into the ripped lining of my bag before shoving it back under the bed again. Pushing myself up from the floor, I slip back into bed and lie down beside Gianna, staring at the ceiling until exhaustion drags me under.
Come the next morning, the sound of banging jolts me out of a dead sleep and upright in bed. Gianna and I barely get enough time to reorient ourselves before the door is flung open and one of Alek’s guard sticks his head in.
He’s not one of the familiar ones. This man is bigger, much taller than the others with broader shoulders and a face like carved stone with eyes too dark to read.
“Get up,” he barks, eyes on me. “You’re being taken out today.”
Once the door is slammed shut again, the silence that follows is deafening.
Gianna turns to me, her face pale and pinched, confusion clouding her expression. “What’s happening?”
“No idea.” Unless me using that burner phone last night had somehow gotten detected, there’s no reason for me to be taken out of the house. It isn’t like I’m the one Alek is trying to seduce.
Unless he wants to talk to me about that deal he proposed to Gianna?
“Maybe he’s just moving me to another room,” I offer, though the words feel hollow even to my own ears. “Or maybe he’s finally decided I’m too much trouble.”
Her hands find mine and squeeze hard, her fingers trembling. “Don’t say that. He would’ve never bothered keeping you comfortable here if that’s the case.”
While that may be true, it isn’t exactly comforting. Plus, are we really all that “comfortable” locked inside this room all day? I suppose we could wander around the rest of the mansion with the guard’s supervision but then what would be the point when everything we say or do will get back to Alek?
I try to smile, but it falters. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
She squeezes my hand one last time before letting me go.
Alek is waiting for me just outside the front doors when I’m finally led outside, looking disgustingly casual in a crisp white shirt and black slacks. He reminds me of some kind of goddamn businessman meeting a potential client for a deal rather than transporting a prisoner to whatever fate he has in store for me.
His smile sends a chill rolling down my spine. “Good morning, Aurora.”
I don’t return it, I just nod and get into the car, biting the inside of my cheek to keep myself from flinching when the doors lock behind me. The silence stretches until we’re halfway down the street.
Then Alek turns to me, that shark smile still plastered to his face. “You’ve been quiet.”
“What are you talking about?”
He chuckles like he finds me charming. “My guards tell me you and Miss Gianna spend the majority of the day locked inside your rooms. Have you not taken advantage of what the house has to offer? I booked it specifically with you two in mind. There is a pool, a place to tan outside, a small gym in the basement. You did not want to take advantage of the free amenities?”
“We haven’t been feeling up doing much,” I say, folding my arms across my chest.
His gaze sharpens. “And why is that?”
For some reason, a thread of resistance tugs at me, coaxing me into opening my mouth and digging my own grave deeper. “Perhaps it’s because you are trying to convince Gianna to convince me to become your spy.”
Alek is quiet for a moment.
It will honestly be a miracle if I make it out of this alive. Particularly with all of my limbs still intact.
“And what was the verdict?” Alek asks, tilting his head.
The words hang in the air like a challenge. I take a slow breath and decide to bite the bullet. “If it keeps her safe, I’ll do what you asked. I’ll get you what you need but only if that means we both get to walk free. No strings attached.”
Alek chuckles. “My, my… Dominic did not say you were a harsh negotiator. He led me to believe you were nothing more than a pet.”
The words sting, but only because deep down, I know that every little romantic notion I ever felt for that man had been of my own naivety—believing he was capable of seeing me as a person and not just a tool to use in order to benefit himself and his own self interests.
I’ve always known my heart would be my downfall. I just never thought it would end up being this spectacularly devastating.
He leans back in his seat, visibly pleased. “Once I have everything I need, I’ll send you both to wherever your little hearts’ desire. You will be free. I am a man of my word—I keep my promises.”
I don’t respond. There isn’t really much to say, anyway. Becoming a double agent for the second time in my life is… well, it seems to be my fate.
If not for my father than for a Russian Bratva boss.
The car pulls into a familiar hotel entrance.
My stomach knots. Why the hell are we here of all places? Alek’s guards grabbed our things and brought them to us days ago. There’s no reason for him to bring me back here.
When the car parks, the driver comes around to let me out. The air outside is hot, the sun overhead beaming down uncomfortably and forcing me to squint as my hand cups over my eyes. I follow Alek into the hotel lobby, my eyes darting around as I take in the familiar water feature behind the counter and the small sitting area with potted plants scattered around it.
We don’t stop at the desk like I’m expecting and instead, he takes me by the arm and leads me down a hallway left of the concierge. We stop in front of a closed door, the plaque next to it in Spanish but one of the words stands out to me.
Conferencias.
A conference room?
Who the hell are we meeting?
Alek raps his knuckles against the door twice before pushing it open. His hand around my wrist tightens just a fraction, pulling me inside before shutting the door behind us.
A man stands over by one of the windows, facing out to look out at the cars passing by. His entire silhouette is shadowed by the way the light is spilling into the room, making him look ten times more intimidating than normal. As he turns, his eyes find mine and something in his face shifts.
Every part of me freezes.
Dominic.
