Page 90 of Betrayal and Vows

He holds out the pack. I jerk a cigarette out of the pack and snatch my lighter from my pocket.

I light up, inhale deeply and let the nicotine flow through my body.

Unfortunately, it’s not having the calming effect it normally would.

“Iamtaking her.” I leave zero room for argument.

He looks at me like I’m already dead.

“Three days, Anton.”

“I know. I have to get out of here.”

He blows out another curl of smoke. “Okay.”

He says okay but we both know what I’m saying is impossible.

That doesn’t mean I’m not going to try.

My phone buzzes once.

Then again.

Then a third time in rapid succession.

Worried it might be Lena; I pull it from my pocket.

I glance at the screen and see it’s from an unknown number.

I quickly open the stream of messages.

My blood turns to ice.

“Blyad.” The word is released on a heavy breath.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Photos.

My phone continues to vibrate in my hand as more pictures come through.

Dozens of them.

Lena in the garden, sunlight in her hair.

Me behind her, fingers on her bare shoulder.

Her riding me at her childhood home.

Me, kneeling at her feet like I was born to worship her.

Moments no one should’ve seen.

Moments thatbelongedto us.