AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Rules,” he says firmly. “You try to run and I’ll kill you. If you draw attention to us to get help, I’ll kill them. And it will be the very last time you leave this house, is that clear?”
“I make no promises,” I say, shrugging.
He smirks. “Grace, this is not a game. What I am doing today is for you. Don’t make me regret it.”
“Fine. Whatever. I agree.”
As if to enforce his rules, he lifts his jacket to show me his gun. “The police are not interested in you, sladost. They respect me. They will not help you. They will return you to me.”
I nod, all the time wondering what planet this idiot thinks he’s on. Of course, the police will help me, it’s their job. “Okay, Ivan, I get it.” I just need to get out of here and check out my options.
My heart is racing as we pull up outside a church. I stare out the window as Ivan’s security get out of the car behind us. My door is opened, and I step out, immediately flanked by his men. Ivan takes me by the hand, and Maxim stands the other side of me. The rest of the men space out a little, and we begin to walk through the church gates. “Why are we here?” I ask, but he ignores me.
We walk for a few minutes, until we come to the graveyard at the back of the church. One of Ivan’s men, walking ahead, stops and waves at us. Ivan leads me that way, and we stop by a grave covered in bright flowers. “Step away,” I hear Ivan tell his men.
I stare at the gravestone. It’s clean black marble with gold lettering that reads, ‘Nicolas Edgerton. Beloved son, taken too soon.’
“You said you weren’t invited to the funeral,” Ivan explains, “so I thought you could say your goodbyes now.” Tears are spilling down my cheeks, blurring the words in front of me. The fact Ivan remembered the details and went to the trouble of finding out this information has thrown me. “I’ll let you have some time,” he adds, taking a few steps back.
I take a calming breath and wipe my cheeks, wincing when I feel the bruised skin. I crouch down, taking a card from the flowers and reading the words. ‘Love always, your Kim.’ I don’t know who Kim is, so I move to the next. ‘We miss you so much, love Mum and Dad.’ That hurts my heart. I hate that they suffered because of something I did.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper. “I’m sorry for everything.” I wipe my face again. “I wish I could undo it all. I wish I never moved in with you and ruined your life. I should’ve let you be yourself instead of trying to spice things up. And for what? Liam hates my guts now, you’re gone, and your parents will never forgive me.”
“What the fuck are you doing here?” A woman races towards me, and before I can fully stand, she pushes me hard and I land on my arse. Ivan stays back, indicating for his men to do the same.
“I just came to say goodbye,” I mutter.
Nick’s mum glares down at me. She’s lost weight, and she’s pale with dark circles under her eyes. “He wouldn’t want you here.”
“I’m sorry,” I mutter again, pushing to stand and backing away.
“Don’t ever come here again. You should be in that grave, not him. Why didn’t you kill yourself after what you did?” Her eyes fall to Ivan, who’s watching impassively. “Are you her next victim?”
“She is mine,” he says dryly.
She looks back and forth between us. “Did she tell you what she did?” Ivan nods. “And you’re still with her?”
“No,” he says clearly.
“She doesn’t deserve happiness,” she snaps. “She deserves nothing but misery and pain.”
My tears continue to fall, and all thoughts of escaping have left my head. Sickness bubbles in my stomach, and I take some deep breaths. “Can we go?” I whisper, moving towards Ivan.
“Don’t you want to explain your actions?” he asks, and I shake my head. “Doesn’t she deserve the truth?”
“That she’s a whore?” she cuts in.
“That your son asked Liam to join them. It was a mutual decision,” Ivan informs her.
I take his arm and pull. “Please, let’s just go.”
“Is that what she told you?” she asks, laughing. “She played them off against one another, both trying to please her. She’s a manipulative cow, and you’re welcome to her.”
“Please,” I beg, “I want to go home.”
IVAN
I wrap my arm around her shoulder and lead her to the exit, feeling satisfied my plan worked. She had the chance to run, but she didn’t. She came to me to protect her, and she asked for me to take her home.Home.I smile to myself. Nick’s mother visits his grave every day around ten-thirty. It was a good first test, and Grace passed.
