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Just like he had done with so many other innocent girls.
Take. Use. Sell. Kill.
Looking at Irina now, I felt a sorrow down my soul. How I wished I could have protected her from this.
My hand came up, and I touched the harsh circular redness on her neck. It had been a collar; I knew that. “He hurt you a lot,” I said softly.
“He did. But it’s over now. We will both be free soon.”
Shaking my head, I stared at Irina with confusion. She was here; that was a good thing. But how and why? That didn’t make sense to me. “I don’t understand. How are you here? What—”
Irina cut me off before I could finish my troubled thought. “Viktor.”
One word.
One name.
Yet so many unspoken words.
My heart stilled, missing a beat, and then surged to a frantic palpitation.
“He came to me tonight. I don’t understand how he was able to take me away from that place, but he not only took me away but he also took off my collar. He didn’t say much. He only said that—tonight, it ends.”
There was fear but hope also rose in me. Tonight, it ends.
Viktor hadn’t told me much about his plans. He wouldn’t. He only said to trust him. And I did. Some nights, when we would lay in bed, me wrapped in his warm embrace, I’d look into his eyes.
I would see fear…I would see uncertainty. Sometimes, I’d see a hopelessness so deep, it hurt my own soul.
Other nights, I’d see a strong man, someone so brutal and fierce, arrogance masking his face. His structure steeled, as if he owned this bloodthirsty game and he knew…he’d win.
Viktor was a man split onto two different pages of a story.
Tonight, it ends.
Tonight, we’d free.
Irina’s fingers curled warmly around me, and she gave me a gentle squeeze. “He also came to me a few weeks ago. He promised me he’d take me out of there. I didn’t know then…I mean, I didn’t know he was yours.”
My heart pounded against my ribcage and my chest pinched. Jesus, I never knew such simple words could have such effects on my fragile heart.
“I realize now what…or who brought the change in him. I knew Viktor before he met you. I could see he was a good man deep within, a man with a heart, but he was so blinded by something else—sometimes he was unnecessarily cruel.”
I looked into Irina’s silver eyes. And then I noticed her small smile. “I still remember our parting words. He was harsh, I was hurt. I told him that I hoped he’d find a good woman, one who will not make him so heartless to anyone. Someone who would teach him how to show compassion.”
“Irina,” I whispered. I could feel the quiver in my voice. There were so many emotions inside me, bottled up and ready to be spilled.
“I see he has found her. And I’m glad she is you, Valerie. You two couldn’t be more of a perfect match. I don’t believe in miracles or magic. I have long lost my faith in God. But I think now I believe in Cupid, the god of love.” Irina winked and then she threw her head back and released a laugh.
When I choked back a sob, which I was sure was a happy cry, Irina sobered. She looked at our entwined hands. “I hope to find that someday. A love like yours. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
I nodded. “It is. It’s tragically beautiful. Dark and simple. It hurts, but it is beautiful nonetheless. It is something worth living for.”
Irina grinned through her tears. “I’m going to find it one day. Trust me, I refuse to die without finding that type of love.”
I launched myself at her again, hugging so tight. My ribs constricted, but I couldn’t bring myself to let go. Irina tightened her arms around me, and we clung to each other, not sure if we should cry or laugh.
We did both. Sinking to the ground, we held onto each other.
Tonight, it ends.
Holding those words to my heart, I breathed.
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
“Viktor told me to stay here. He said he will come for me later,” I finally said. Swiping away the trail of tears, I stood up and then lent a hand to Irina. She took mine in hers, pulling herself upright. “I guess…he will come for us.”
“When Yegor brought me to your room, he told me to wait for Viktor. He told me that under no circumstances should we leave this room unless Viktor himself comes and takes us away.”
I nodded. That made sense. Viktor said the same thing to me.
A heavy thud of my heart made me suck in a deep, aching breath. For hours, since Viktor left our bed, I had been trying to think of something else.
I didn’t want to think of what Viktor was doing…or exactly how dangerous his actions could be. For hours, I convinced myself that he was okay, he was safe.
