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I look at the tiny blade. When I close my fist, it barely sticks out of my hand. “I have a letter opener.”
“You and a two-inch dull blade against the world?” He laughs. “Why am I not surprised? But if you stop and listen to me for a second, I think I have a better option.”
“A better option for what? Is the maid you sent in here armed with something more deadly than a cell phone?” I look over at the woman and she finally meets my eyes. She gives me a quick shake of her head.
Guess not.
“I have a better option for getting you home,” he clarifies.
Home.
God, I want that so bad.
Ivan clears his throat. “I’ll get you out of Alexander’s house and get Francia out of our lives. But I need you to be patient.”
I cling to the phone with both hands. “I can’t. I need to get out of here.”
“And you will.” He says it with so much certainty that it’s almost impossible not to believe him. Yet some part of me really can’t see beyond these four walls. Some part of me refuses to think I’ll ever escape.
Tears well in my eyes. I swipe them away, grateful Ivan can’t see them. “Alexander is scary. I know what he’s capable of now. I don’t want to be here any longer than I have to.”
“If I could get you out right now, I would. But…” He growls in frustration. “I’m going to get you out, Cora. And you aren’t in there alone. I have people watching over you.”
I look over at the maid again. As if she can hear Ivan, she nods her head at me.
“But we have to get off the phone now.”
“No!” I know I sound like a child.Just one more minute.But that’s how I feel. Small and helpless. Even if he can’t be here in person, having Ivan in my ear is better than nothing. I feel safe.
“It will look suspicious if she’s in your room too long,” he explains. “I’ll call again soon.”
“You promise?”
“I swear it,solnishka.” His voice is low and serious. I want to wrap up in it like a blanket. “I won’t leave you there. I’ll get you out.”
I nod, tears clogging my throat.
“I need you to trust me.”
I swallow down my emotions. “I do. I trust you.”
He doesn’t say anything else as the maid takes the phone and slips out of my room.
20
IVAN
I’ve held countless lives in my hands. I’ve been responsible for ending them. For saving them.
But nothing compares to hearing Cora admit that she trusts me.
I hang up the phone with a new weight on my shoulders and an ache below my belt. Since the moment Cora was taken, I haven’t been able to think about anything except getting her back. I’ve been solely focused on finding her and making sure she is safe.
Now, I know she’s alive. For the moment, she’s safe. And she trusts me. I’m going to get her out of Alexander’s house and when I do…
I’m going to reclaim every last fucking inch of her.
All the sexual frustration I’ve ignored and shoved down for days bubbles up in one instant. I shift in my seat, trying to ease the pressure of my rock-hard cock against my zipper.
