14. Lucia

14

LUCIA

I wasn't planning on sneaking out tonight. If anything, that was the last thing I wanted.

After the amazing sex with Mikhail, I was hoping to drift off into a dreamless sleep and wake up feeling refreshed. But the moment he left the room, he locked the door, and my breath leaves my lungs.

Was he locking me up to punish me for not being quiet? If so, that wasn't part of the deal.

I thought we were having fun playing a little game, nothing more. I didn't realize there was any malicious intent behind it, but I guess I could have read the entire thing wrong…

He said he trusted me, so I have to try and believe that it wasn't intentional.

But it doesn't change the fact that my door is locked, which means one thing. The moment my head hits the pillow, I'm going to be pulled into a nightmare that's going to leave me covered in sweat and silently begging for my life.

That is not how I want this night to end .

It only took one message from my friend Macy begging me to come out partying to have me climbing out of the window and making my way across town to Dolce , the new club just off fifth avenue that opened a few weeks ago. The very opening that I was meant to attend but instead, I spent the evening naked in the sea with Mikhail…

A giggle escapes my lips at the thought. Who knew that a few weeks later, I would be living in his house and having the most mind-blowing sex of my life.

Fuck, I want more. So much more .

The moment he began tying my wrists, I knew I was in for one hell of a ride.

It's always the quiet ones that are the most incredible in bed, and Mikhail Koslov did not disappoint.

Not that I could ever tell him that he's the best sex I've ever had. It would go right to his head, and I can't have that. I need to be the one to leave him wanting more.

Next time, I'll show him what I can do .

Dolce turns out to be completely worth the hype. The music is on point and the champagne keeps flowing.

I lose myself to the beat, letting my eyes flutter closed and my body sway back and forth among the sea of strangers. Soon enough, a thin sheen of sweat covers my skin, and the buzz of the alcohol starts to take hold.

This is exactly what I needed. At least as an avoidance tactic rather than a solution to my nightmares. But I'm not ready to face the truth behind them yet.

I know the attack in the park combined with being forced to stay home made everything worse.

I may have some sort of PTSD that I don't have the energy to try and work through right now. Not when I'm getting married in a week .

I try my best to swallow down the guilt at deceiving Mikhail and focus on having fun while I can.

"This club is amazing!" I yell to Macy over the music.

"What?" she yells back, cupping her hand over her ear.

Her long, blond hair is stuck to her face and her mascara is starting to smudge under her eyes.

"Never mind!"

Macy shrugs and grins before going back to grinding on the guy behind her.

I don't even know where Kara is, but knowing her, she's in the bathroom doing god-knows what.

Once the next song ends, I quickly check my phone to see if Mikhail is still out. As much as I would love to dance until the sun comes up, I have to make sure to be back and in bed before six A.M. at the very latest.

The tracker is still saying he's at the bar, so I have time for another drink or two.

I leave Macy with her new friend and make my way through the crowd toward the bar.

My feet are already starting to hurt, and climbing back up the fire escape in this dress after drinking is not going to be an easy feat but one I have to conquer if I ever want to see the lights of Manhattan again. A problem for future Lucia.

I just have to hope that Mikhail decides to have a lie in for once.

"Another bottle of champagne, please!" I yell at the bartender over the pounding of the music.

I flash my best smile, flicking my slightly sweaty hair over my shoulder. I would normally have put it up in some fancy style, but I didn't exactly have a lot of time to get ready.

I'm wearing the very dress that I wore the night I first met Mikhail, and the thought of what happened and almost happened between us that night sends a shiver of desire through my body.

As I wait for my champagne, I glance around and catch the eye of a man at the other end of the bar.

He's wearing a dark shirt and pants, with a shaved head and a snake tattoo that curves up the side of his neck. He looks shady as hell, and his eyes are locked on me.

I force myself to offer him a small smile if only not to appear frightened. That's what these guys want, someone to intimidate, and I'm not in the fucking mood to be stroking any man's ego.

So, I take my champagne and make my way back onto the dance floor, the feeling of those eyes on my back never leaving me for one moment.

Once the champagne has run dry and my feet are screaming at me, I decide to call it a night.

Kara has still not appeared, and Macy is practically dry humping some guy in one of the booths, so I'm taking that as my cue to leave.

I head over to the cloakroom to collect my coat. After handing over my ticket, I glance over my shoulder and clock eyes with the shady man again.

I offer him a small smile as I do to most people, but his facial expression remains cold and unmoving.

Weirdo .

Turning back around, I take my coat from the cloakroom attendant and quickly slip it on.

The hairs on the back of my neck are prickling, and I'm willing to bet that when I turn around, I'll come face to face with the man who has apparently taken a liking to me.

"I don't suppose you have a back exit?" I whisper-shout to the attendant .

Her eyes widen for a moment but then she nods, signaling for me to follow her.

I keep the soft smile plastered on my face to try and keep myself calm more than anything else. If I can somehow trick my body into not panicking, it will help to keep my head clear despite the alcohol.

If this man is in fact as shady as he looks, then I can't afford to make a single mistake.

It may just cost me my life.

The cloakroom attendant leads me down the corridor that leads to the bathrooms. At the very end is a door with a staff only sign taped to the front, and she quickly bundles me inside.

"There's an emergency exit back here that leads to the back alley alongside the club," she explains.

"Thanks so much." I exhale, feeling relieved.

"D-do you want me to call the police?"

"Oh no, I'm fine," I assure her. "I just wanted to lose the creep that kept ogling me in there. I appreciate the help."

She hesitates for a moment longer before nodding and disappearing back out into the corridor.

I take one long deep breath before forcing open the emergency exit and hurrying outside.

The cold air steals the breath from my lungs as I make my way toward the main street.

Despite the hour, there're people everywhere, and I can't make out the shady man from the bar among them. I'm hoping he decided I wasn't worth the effort, but I can't take any chances.

I need to get home, fast.

Being out this late and alone is stupid and irresponsible, even for me.

I always take a cab, but the queues outside the club for a taxi are a mile long, and I'm already running late if I want to make it back before Mikhail.

Slipping off my heels, I break into a run and head toward the park across the street. The orange glow of the street lights illuminates the path as I run, my chest burning from the cold air in my lungs.

Glancing over my shoulder, I notice someone entering the park. Even with the street lights, I can't make out much more than their outline, but I don't want to take any chances.

I dart into the bushes and crouch low on the frozen ground, my breath clouding in front of my face as I peer through a gap in the leaves.

"Oh, my god." I clutch a hand to my throat as I watch the stranger begin to walk toward the very spot where I'm hiding, my eyes instantly going to the snake tattoo on his neck.

Any other time, I would be able to take him down with one swift kick to the chest. Or better yet, I could jam the stiletto of my heel right into his neck.

But I've drank almost a bottle and a half of champagne, and my reflexes are anything but sharp.

For a split second, I think about caving and calling Mikhail. He would be here in a heartbeat, and I know he wouldn't stop until he had this man bleeding out on the ground.

While he may not have touched me, the threat is still there, and Mikhail has made it perfectly clear that my safety is his number one priority.

And once again, I have thrown that in his face.

Stupid.

There's no way I can call him now, which leaves me with one option. The moment this guy's back is turned, I have to make a run for it.

Holding my breath, I wait for him to grow bored and begin to walk deeper into the park.

My heart is pounding so loudly in my ears, and the alcohol sits heavy in my stomach.

I want nothing more than to empty the contents onto the ground beside me, but I can't risk drawing any attention.

It's almost funny how ironic this situation is. I went partying to avoid my nightmares, and yet they still found me.

It seems I can never be free of the darkness.

The moment the man disappears from sight, I get to my feet and make a run for it, and I don't stop until I reach the townhouse. I take a quick look around, but it seems I lost whoever was trying to follow me, for now.

I feel as if my heart is about to explode out of my chest as I begin to climb the fire escape, not just from all of the running but from fear.

I never should have disobeyed Mikhail. How could I have been so stupid?

I'm well aware of the threat to my life and yet, I still snuck out, and for what? To spend the night at a club with friends who pretty much ignored me the whole night.

Is that really worth my life?

The thought hits me out of nowhere and suddenly, tears start to stream down my cheeks.

I got away, yes. But next time, I might not be so lucky.

I sink down onto the iron step of the fire escape to catch my breath.

My body is trembling, and the last thing I should be doing is leaping across a five-foot gap, but I don't have a choice .

Mikhail is going to be home any minute, so with one last deep breath, I get to my feet, grip my heels in my left hand and lean over the edge of the railing.

With one swift jump, I throw myself at the railing of my tiny balcony and quickly swing my body over.

I'm frozen to the core, but I'll take that over the alternative ending to this night.

I'm so caught up in the fact that I managed to make it back alive as I step through the window that it takes me a second to notice that I'm not alone.