would be furious if I involved her in this, and I wouldn’t blame him. His sister is young and has a bright future ahead of her. She’s set to graduate this coming spring. I won’t do anything to jeopardize that.
“Hey, hon,” she chirps at the sight of me. “Going somewhere?”
I force a smile and point at my phone. “Business call. I’m tired of being cooped up in the house, so I’m going to take this out by the pool.”
She returns my smile and moves on past me. “Enjoy. See you later for our movie night? Fifty Shades Darker is on the menu and I’m soooo ready for some more of that sexy-as-fuck Christian.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
We go our separate ways and when I hit the first floor, I hang a left and head to the control room. Nicolas is at the desk, a collection of monitors showing him different camera feeds. He gives me a confused look, but then fixes his face into a smile as he comes to his feet. The difference in how they treat me now that I’m Diego’s wife is a complete change from when I was his prisoner.
“Something I can do for you, señora?”
I glance at the feed showing our endless driveway. If Viktor is really there, he’s been careful to park outside the camera’s range.
“Yes,” I reply, leaning against the door frame. “Radio whoever is patrolling the grounds and tell them to stand down. A car’s approaching and they’re to let it through, no questions asked.”
He furrows his brow and glances at the monitor. “If someone’s coming, they have to be vetted. Diego’s orders.”
“Diego isn’t here,” I snap, growing impatient. I can’t predict how long Viktor will wait before getting annoyed. “Do it. Now.”
Nicolas clenches his jaw and gives me a defiant look, but he keeps his tone level as he reaches for his phone. “I’ll just call him first, to make sure—”
“And how do you think it’ll go over when you tell him you refused to accommodate his wife? I’m not a fucking prisoner here, I’m the goddamn queen of this castle. When I say tell the guards to stand down, you do it without making me wait. Got it?”
Nicolas grinds his teeth but looks uncertainly at his phone, second-guessing his instincts. I hold my breath, hoping my bravado will be enough to earn his compliance.
With an annoyed huff, Nicolas plops down at the desk and calls up the line feeding into the guards’ earpieces. I don’t wait around to listen, confident Viktor will be able to pass through unimpeded.
I leave my phone on the entryway table and pause to look at my reflection in the mirror. I look like shit—as worried and frightened as I feel. Squaring my shoulders, I smooth my face into a blank slate. It’s a skill I learned while playacting as Diego’s girlfriend, and one I hope will come in handy now. I’m playing Viktor’s game only long enough to figure out where Diego is and whether he’s still alive. From there, all bets are off. I might have been unsuccessful in escaping Diego, but then a part of me eventually lost the will to fight.
To get back to Diego, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do. There’s no way in hell Viktor can stop me once I’m ready to run.
By the time I make it down the front steps, a silver Audi is rounding the driveway toward me. Viktor sits in the driver’s seat, staring at me through the open window. A pair of sunglasses are pushed low, his piercing blue eyes boring into me over the rims.
“Get in.”
I obey, pushing aside the urge to look back at the place that’s become my home. I won’t let myself think I may never see it again. For the sake of my sanity as well as the hope pushing forward, I choose to believe I’ll be back by the time the sun sets.
I slip into the car, slowly putting on my seatbelt and glaring at Viktor from the corner of my eye. He takes off, racing down the driveway so fast I’m thrown back in my seat. Hostility radiates off him, and when I turn to fully look at him, I notice his mouth is pinched and his hands are clutching the steering wheel in a death grip.
“Where the fuck is my husband?” I demand.
Viktor glances at me with a chilling smile, then reaches out to grip the back of my neck. I rear against his hold, snarling and batting at his