4. ISABELLA

Chapter 4

ISABELLA

“Mrs. Belov,” a soft voice calls me from my warm dream. “It’s dinner time.”

My eyes open to find Stan standing over me. I sit up straight and glance around, getting my bearings. The room is warm, and someone has started a fire, plus there is a soft, fluffy blanket over me.

“Sorry, I did knock,” he tells me. “Both times. I brought wood for the fire as it gets hellishly cold here this time of year. You were asleep, so I put the blanket over you.”

“Uh… thank you.” I look at him wide-eyed. “It is a bit creepy, though.”

“Oh, sorry,” he says with a frown, and a haunting shadow flickers in his eyes. “You remind me of my daughter.” There’s a catch in his voice.

“You have a daughter?” I didn’t mean to sound like I was so surprised.

“I had a daughter.” His voice drops, and he looks toward the fire before changing the subject. “It’s time for dinner.” He turns and starts walking toward the door. “You’re joining your friends in the dining room for dinner tonight.”

Now I’m intrigued and a little heartsore for him if by had he means she’s dead. But I’m hoping they’re just estranged, and I’m not sure why I care at all. He’s my fucking prison guard.

“Did you say I’m dining with Stacy and Lev tonight?” I slide off the bed and shove my feet back into the warm boots.

“Yes.” He nods, waiting patiently for me. “They’re already in the dining room.”

I nod and hurry along after him down the long hallway, past the reception area to the back of the lodge. As we enter the dining room, the sun is going down, and I suck in a breath. The view through the window is breathtaking.

The long, sprawling garden runs down toward a sparkling lake painted with hues of gold and orange as the sun rests on the horizon, ready to disappear for the night.

If we weren’t captives, I’d have loved to have gone for a walk to the lake. Instead, I look away from the view and find Stacy waiting for me at a table for three near the window.

“Wow, this place is packed,” I say sarcastically. “You’re lucky to have found the perfect table.”

“Indeed,” Stacy plays along, jumping up to hug me. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” She looks me over. “That fucking perverted doctor I was forced to see told me she was seeing you after my appointment.”

I shudder thinking of Doctor Bimbo. “That woman was a disgrace to her profession.” I sit opposite Stacy.

“How was your doctor’s appointment?” Stacy asks me. “I mean, did you find out anything new?”

“Shit.” Sighing and rolling my eyes, I tell her. “I forgot to bring the picture to show you.” My heart skips a beat as I see Stacy staring at me expectantly. “I’m having twins.”

“You were right!” Stacy says, grinning and engulfing me with a bear hug. “Oh my word, Bella, that’s amazing.”

“How was your doctor’s appointment?” I ask Stacy.

“Besides the woman being a fucking perverted freak of a doctor who’s run some tests on me to find out if I can have children.” She shudders. “I found the way she looked, spoke, and touched me was inappropriate.”

“Yes, I felt like that too.”

Stacy shudders again. “What a fucking freak. Although, according to my guard, she’s one of the best fertility specialists in the world.”

My brows rise in surprise at the information Stacy got about Doctor Alder. “You mean she was ,“ I correct Stacy. “I wonder what she did to get her license revoked and have to work for the underworld, as she puts it.”

“She probably tried to rape one of her patients,” Stacy sneers. “But what she did tell me is that she doesn’t believe I can’t have children. If she weren’t such a freak and handsy, I’d actually like to know what she found.”

“She was the same way with me.” The shudder creeps up my spine. “But she seemed genuinely excited when she saw my babies. You know, like a normal OB-GYN and not some dominatrix whore bitch of one.”

“Where’s Lev?”

“He was here for a brief moment,” Stacy tells me. “But he just wanted to see me and know that I was okay. Lev was in pain from seeing that doctor who patched up his hip and is fixing his leg braces. He just wanted to take a plate of food and eat in his room.”

“You should’ve gone with him.”

“I don’t think that would be allowed.” Stacy smiles. “Besides, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

The dinner is surprisingly delicious and well prepared. If we weren’t being held at the lodge against our will, this would’ve been an enjoyable evening.

“Why do you think they’re giving us medical attention and taking such good care of us?”

“I was wondering that as well,” Stacy tells me. “I guess if we’re going to be held hostage anywhere, an old five-star hunting lodge that is well taken care of isn’t the worst place.”

“I’m working on a plan to get us out of here.” I lower my voice and lean closer to Stacy. “But I will need tomorrow to try and scout the place out better.”

“We’ll need to get word to Lev,” Stacy whispers back.

“Are his braces fixed, or is he still waiting for them?”

“He came to the dinner table with crutches, and when I asked, he said the person repairing them told him it would take a day or two,” Stacy replies.

“That will give me time to try and scout out the place,” I tell her. “Hopefully, they’ll keep letting us have meals together so I can keep you updated.”

“This time, I promise not to hijack your escape plan,” she teases and yawns. “Excuse me. I’ve been so beside myself worrying about you and Lev that I haven’t been sleeping.”

“I know. Same here.”

“Oh my God!” Stacy’s eyes widen. “What about Pavel?”

My heart squeezes, and a sickening feeling hits me in the gut when I remember him lying bleeding out on the floor. “I don’t know.” Reaching over the table and grabbing her hand, I tell her, “We’ve just got to keep positive. I’m sure a bullet isn’t going to stop that brute.”

Stacy gives me a tight smile. “You’re right.” She nods as our guards walk over to the table.

“Sorry, ladies, but if you’re finished eating, it’s time to get back to your rooms,” Stan informs us.

“You mean five-star prison cells.”

Stan sighs and shakes his head.

Stacy and I stand and then let the guards follow us out of the dining room. I freeze when I see the tall, good-looking man who’s walking down the stairs with Doctor Bimbo on his arm.

“No fucking way!” Stacy breathes, her eyes are as wide with disbelief as mine are. “Is that…”

I know my jaw is hanging open, but I can’t help it. As the man turns his head and his blue eyes connect with mine, they’re cool. He has a cut on his cheek and a bruise at the bottom of his one eye. My eyes fall on his hands, and his knuckles are blue like he’s been in a fight, but other than that, he looks like the ever-formidable Marco Moretti in his perfectly fitting suit.

“Stacy. Isabella.” He nods. “Are you being treated okay?”

I’m speechless for a few seconds as everything starts to make sense now. How well we’re being treated, the examinations, the five-star prison cells.

Doctor Bimbo gives me a smug look, tightening her grip possessively on my father’s arm.

“Dad!” I manage to splutter. Anger washes over me like a tidal wave. “This is all you !”

“Isabella…” Marco begins.

“You fucking bastard!” Before Stan or my father can react, I lunge at him and swing.

My knuckles land with precision in his solar plexus. Even though my father is in his early sixties, he’s still in excellent shape, and it’s like hitting a brick wall. I feel the pain reverberate through my arm.

“Mrs. Belov,” Stan barks and comes for me.

But I’m high on adrenaline and fuelled by a red, hazy anger. As my father buckles, my knee connects with his, right before I swirl as Stan pounces, and he misses me, sprawling over my father. While he’s down, I grab his weapon and aim it at the other guards who are about to come for me.

“Don’t!” I warn.

“I wouldn’t.” Stacy shakes her head at the man. “She’s an excellent shot.”

“You fucking little bitch,” Doctor Bimbo hisses. “Put that down now. What do you think you’re going to do?” She glances at the door. “There are at least fifteen…” She glances at the guard standing near Stacy with his hands up. “How many would you say Igor?”

“Twenty-two, mam,” Igor obliges her.

“Then there’s the fact that dense woods surround us,” Doctor Bimbo tells me. “Your only way out would be to try trudging through the forest on foot after trying to get around the electric fence.” She glances at my stomach. “I wouldn’t recommend that.” She glances toward the living room. “All the vehicles are in the garages, but you’d have to get through at least four or five guards.”

Something flickers in her eyes, and I frown at her as Stan and my father start to stand. I turn my weapon on them. “Stay down,” I warn them.

Did Doctor Bimbo just give me the layout of the lodge?

“Stan, do you have the keys to Lev’s room?”

Stan nods, now sitting cross-legged on the floor, holding his hands up.

“Wait!” Marco grimaces, holding his ribs.

My frown deepens as I see how much pain he’s in. Fuck! I didn’t hit him that hard. However, my hand is aching like mad.

“Shut the fuck up!” I hiss at him. “I know exactly who you are now!“ My eyes narrow in on him in disgust. “You’ve trapped me and my friends for the last time, you fucking asshole.”

“Bella, you don’t understand,” Marco gasps.

“She said shut it, Marco!” Stacy snarls, pulling the gun from her guard, Igor’s, belt and points it at the guard. “I feel like I’m robbing a bank.”

“No!” Igor tells her. “You’re making the biggest mistake of your life, Miss Thompson.”

“Maybe!” Stacy responds. “But right now, I’m with my friend.”

“Give me the keys to Lev’s room.” I hold my hand out to Stan.

“Don’t!” Marco stops Stan, who was about to give them to me. My father turns to me. “You’ll have to go without him.”

“We’re not leaving him!“ Stacy growls.

“By my calculations,” Doctor Bimbo tells us, “you have about five minutes to decide what you’re going to do.” She taps her wrist. “Tick-tock.” She glances at me. “If I were you, I’d leave the Belov. Trust me, he’s not worth saving.”

“Fuck you, you whore!” Stacy snarls at her.

“Bella, think over all the training you’ve had for situations like this,” Marco tells me.

I want to kick him in the face, but he has a point, and I turn to Stacy. “We’ll have to come back for Lev. I promise we’ll bring an army of Zhukov Special Forces.” I glare at my father. “You think Konstantin’s pissed with you now—imagine how pissed he’s going to be when he knows you kidnapped me and Stacy. Probably had Pavel killed and are holding his best friend hostage.”

“I’ll take my chances,” Marco tells me. “Now, what are you going to do Isabella? I need to get my ribs retaped and have some things I need to do.”

Jesus! My father really is the cold fucker I’ve recently learned he is.

“Like that whore?” Stacy sneers nastily.

Marco glances at her, but I don’t give him a chance to reply as I grab his attention.

“Oh!” I look at him. My fury still burns hot. “Are your ribs sore?” I lean down and look him in the eyes, and he just smiles at me. I get even angrier when I see pride flashing in his fucking eyes.

I stand, and before I can stop myself, I land a kick to his side, eliciting a grunt from him. The fucking bastard doesn’t even give me the satisfaction of a painful howl.

“Mrs. Belov…” Stan looks at me pleadingly. “Please, think about what you’re doing.”

“You’ve been really nice to me, Stan,” I tell him. “Please don’t make me blow your head off.”

I point my gun at Doctor Bimbo. “You’ll come with us and get us to the garage.” I look at Igor. “You—where can I find something to tie you fuckers up with?”

“Behind the reception desk, there are cable ties.” Igor points. “Do you want me to get them?”

“Because I was born yesterday!” I look at Stacy. “Go find them.”

Stacy does as she’s told and comes back with cable ties and an automatic weapon. “Seems Igor here was trying to find some heat to pack.”

I see something spark in Stacy’s eyes. She’s fucking enjoying this.

“Give me the weapons,” I order Stacy. “You’re going to tie them up.”

She nods and walks to me. She places the strap of the automatic weapon around my neck and hands me the other handgun. Now I am standing with two guns pointed at Igor, Marco, and Stan.

“What do you want me to do?” Stacy looks to me for direction.

“Sit on the floor,” I order Igor, and he glares at me. “Look, little girl,” his eyes darken with anger, “I’ve had enough of your games now.” He starts to come for me.

“Igor!” Doctor Bimbo shouts. “Stand down.”

But the big man lunges for me, and I shoot him in the leg. His eyes widen in surprise.

“Fuck!” I spit. I know the shot has now cut our time down. “You fucking prick. Now I have to change my plans because of you.”

I walk up to Igor, put the handguns in my waistband, take the automatic weapon from around my body, and use the butt to knock him out. I turn to Stan. “I’m sorry, big guy.” I knock him out as well and turn to Stacy. “We have to go now.”

“No!” Stacy shakes her head. “I’m not leaving without Lev.”

“Stacy, he’d want us to,” I tell her, my heart pounding. “Look, we’re about to be stormed by twenty-odd guards. We need to head to the garage.”

“I…” Stacy’s head turns toward the hallway. “But…”

“They won’t hurt him,” I try to assure her and glare at my father. “Or I’ll make sure Konstantin makes his death slow and painful.” I nod toward Marco.

“Tick-tock!” Doctor Bimbo taunts us once again.

“Shut up, you fucking whore bitch!” Stacy yells at her.

“Stacy!” I start pushing Doctor Bimbo toward the living room. “You’ll tell the guards you have to get us out of here.”

She shrugs. “It’s not my head that’s going to get blown off.”

Stacy gives one more look down the hall before spinning and running after me. We walk quickly down the passage that passes the doctor’s room I was in earlier. We get into the gym. I see the garage door beyond that.

“There are two guards in the garage,” Doctor Bimbo says and looks at the weapon in my hands. “I hope you’re serious about using that thing because they will shoot you.”

“Don’t worry about me.” I try to keep the panic from my voice. Shit, I’m turning into a fucking vigilante.

Before we step into the garage, I swing the weapon behind my back so all you see is the strap and take the two handguns, hiding them behind my back. “Move.”

As we enter the garage, the two guards are chatting. I’m surprised to hear the British accents. Their weapons are holstered, telling me they weren’t expecting any trouble, and I frown. At the same time, Igor and Stan may have been new recruits to my father’s small private army. I don’t think my father would hire British men who looked more like FBI than Italian mob types—he’s not fond of the British either.

They turn when they hear us, their hands going to their weapons.

“Dr. Alder?” The one man’s brows crease. “We weren’t expecting you.”

“I need to get our two prisoners to safety,” she lies to them. “Is the Land Cruiser ready to go?”

“Yes, mam!” The second man nods. “We can take you…’

“No!” Doctor Bimbo says too quickly, and the one man must’ve finally noticed the weapon peaking over my shoulder.

He goes for his gun, and before I can get in my head about it, I shoot him and the other man.

“Holy fuck!” Stacy breathes. “Jesus Bella.” She looks at me with fear shining in her eyes. “You just shot three people.”

“They were in our way. They also have bulletproof vests on, so they’ll be up in no time, so we have to move,” I reason, trying hard not to think about it and let the panic in. “Now get in the Land Cruiser.”

“You’ll have to go through the opening that leads to the forest,” Doctor Bimbo tells us. “Head east to the quarry. You’ll find tunnels. They’ll exit at the end of Grafton and then head north to Derby Line. It’s just a hop to Canada from there.”

“I wouldn’t do anything you told me!” I give her a scathing look. “You’re just leading us back into a trap.”

“Suit yourself.” Doctor Bimbo shrugs. “If I could escape, that’s the way I’d go.” She looks at me. “Now knock me out. I’m sure you’d love to.”

“I would!” Stacy growls, and before I can stop her, she punches Doctor Bimbo in the face, sending her reeling. “Ow!” She howls in pain. “Fuck!”

“You shouldn’t punch someone in the jaw.” I climb into the big vehicle, and I’m surprised to find the keycard on the dash. I start the car. The powerful engine roars to life. “Let’s go.”

Stacy hops into the passenger seat and buckles up, and I pull off, smashing through the garage door and leaving the lights off as I head toward what I’m hoping is the front gate. Not a fuck am I going to follow Doctor Bimbo’s advice.

The roar of the Land Cruiser’s engine echoes off the walls of the compound as I slam my foot down on the gas pedal. Stacy grips the edge of her seat, her knuckles white. The armored vehicle charges forward like a beast unleashed, and I barely register the men scattering in our path.

The compound’s layout is etched in my memory, and I aim for the front gate, hoping it’s not heavily guarded. Men in dark uniforms dart out of the way, some diving behind crates and others running for cover, shouting in confusion. They didn’t expect anyone to escape, especially not in such a dramatic fashion.

“Hold on!” I yell to Stacy as we near the gate. I can see it now, a towering barrier that stands between us and freedom. The guards stationed there are caught off guard, their weapons aimed but not yet firing. They hesitate, probably thinking we’re some of their own making a desperate run.

The men at the gate scramble, one of them reaching for the control panel. I don’t give him a chance. I steer the Land Cruiser straight at the gate, bracing for impact. The vehicle slams into the barrier with a deafening crash, and I hear metal groaning as the gate gives way under our weight.

We burst through to the other side, leaving chaos in our wake. The men who were supposed to keep us captive are left behind, stunned, and disorganized. For a moment, it feels surreal. We’re out, but we’re not safe yet.

Stacy turns to look back, her eyes wide. “Holy shit, Bella, we did it.”

I don’t allow myself to celebrate just yet. “We’re not out of the woods,” I say, steering the vehicle onto the forest path Doctor Bimbo mentioned, even though I plan to deviate from her advice soon. “We need to keep moving. They’ll be after us soon.”

As the forest swallows us, I feel a grim satisfaction. Whoever captured us—and I’m starting to doubt it was my father—won’t have an easy time catching up. We have a head start, and with any luck, we’ll make it to Boston before they figure out where we’ve gone.

But the questions linger in the back of my mind. If it wasn’t my father, then who? And why? The answers will have to wait. Right now, survival is all that matters.

“Why do you think your father kidnapped us?” Stacy asks.

“I don’t think it was my father.” I frown. “For some reason, I think he, Doctor Bimbo, Stan, and even Igor were trying to help us.”