Chapter Twenty-FourIrina

Chapter Twenty-Four

Irina

It's been three days since I was kidnapped. I've barely had anything to eat, but not because Paulo didn't offer. I can't manage to keep anything down. Now that I think of it, my breasts have been swollen and sore for a while now, and my period has been overdue for days.

My chest heaves as realization hits me. I could be pregnant. Not could, I'm definitely pregnant. How did I miss the signs? Tears fill my eyes and I don't stop them from spilling. A mixture of excitement and sadness overtakes me.

Alexei will be happy to know we're expecting a baby, but it will break him if anything happens to us. He'll blame himself for it.

I don't have time to gather my thoughts when the door opens. Paulo walks in with Igor trailing behind him.

I quickly wipe away my tears. I can't let them suspect I'm pregnant. It will only make things worse, and Alexei would be more desperate to save me if he knew. He's alive so I know he will, I just don't want him to do the wrong thing.

"Our sleeping beauty is finally awake," Paulo says, clearly mocking me. "You look prettier when you're sad and disheveled, darling. Has anyone told you that?"

"Fuck you." I spit at his foot. "Mock me all you want now, because soon you'll be nothing but a pile of dirt."

He squats in front of me and places a cold finger under my jaw. "Will I?" He laughs, a sound which grates over my skin. "I don't know if it's the right time to break it to you, but your darling husband is just about to kill a pregnant woman to save you. How does that feel?"

My mouth turns to ash. "Liar."

"You heard me talking to him yesterday. Forgive me for not telling you the details of our conversation." He pushes a strand of tear-wet hair from my face and tucks it behind my ear. "Love is nothing but a weakness in our world, girl. And I intend to explore all of Alexei's weakness until they're exhausted, and then I will kill him."

I feel vomit creep up my throat, both from his touch and the words he's just spoken.

No, it can't be true.

I want to retort and tell him Alexei will never do that, but I can't be certain. He would do anything to save me. Anything. I know it.

"Bastard!" is all I can mutter.

Paulo chuckles. "Someone is here to see you." He twists his head and nods to Igor. Igor walks to the door and opens it.

I recognize his shadow before I get a clear view of his face. My father is here to see me, and…he's working with them—the Phoenix. Even now, despite everything.

"Dad!"

As my father enters the room, a mixture of feelings swirls within me. Relief that he's here, anger that he's working with them, and despair that I can't save myself from this situation.

My father's eyes meet mine, and there's a hint of regret in them. I can see the pain he's feeling, and it breaks my heart even more. He looks older, more worn, and far from the powerful, confident man I remember. "Irina," he mutters as if somehow, that is all he can bring himself to say.

Paulo claps his hand on my father's shoulder, a smug grin on his face. "Well, well, the general has finally shown up, has he? Such a lovely father-daughter reunion."

"This is not what we agreed," my father growls, his voice furious. "She is my daughter! I said you could do whatever you wanted, as long as you didn't hurt her."

Paulo sighs. "I don't remember agreeing to such bullshit, Matteo. She might be your daughter, but she's Alexei's wife, which puts her on my radar."

"Let her go, please," my father pleads. "If it's Alexei you want, I'll bring him here."

"No, Dad. Don't you dare hurt Alexei. I'll never forgive you if you do." Fear gnaws in my gut. Despair that all of this could end with Alexei dead. "I love him. I can't live without him. Please!"

Paulo's eyes crinkle with amusement. He's clearly enjoying this. "You have until midnight today. Kill him after he kills Elena and bring his head to me."

"I will do that, but in return you must allow my daughter go."

"We have a deal." Paulo smiles.

My father turns to me. All hint of emotion is gone from his face. "I'm sorry, Elena." He turns and walks away.

***

I don't know what time it is when Paulo comes to the dark room again with three other men, one of them being Igor.

"Get her up," Paulo says. "We're leaving."

My heart sinks to my stomach. "Leaving? Where are you taking me?"

Paulo ignores me. "Take care of Matteo, his services will no longer be needed when he's done with Alexei."

Fear trickles through my veins like ice. "You're a monster!" I fire at Paulo. "You deserve to die."

Paulo finally meets my gaze, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Too bad I won't be the one dying tonight, girl."

"Where are you taking me?" I can't help but ask again, my voice trembling with fear.

"You'll find out soon enough. But rest assured, your trip will not be a pleasant one," he says with a voice that is so calm it is chilling.

As they begin to lead me out of the room, I remember the baby inside of me and the tears start to flow again. I'm void of any of the hope I had before. No one will come to save me if Alexei dies. He'll never know we're having a baby, and our child will never get to meet him.

A shot rings in the air just as we reach the hangar and when I turn my head to source of the sound, Alexei is standing a few feet away from us with a few of his men at his side.

The look in his eyes is feral and dangerous. He points his gun to Paulo and growls, "Get your hands off my wife."