Page 81 of Devil’s Reign

“Hi,” I breathe out.

His lips twitch as if he might smile, but the expression disappears almost as soon as it appears. “I hear you tricked my men into giving you a tour of the building yesterday. And you had breakfast at Tavaria.”

My heart stops. I search his face, but if he was mad last night when he found out, none of it shows now. “I told you I no longer want to be locked up.”

“And I said I would consider it.” A pause. “You stole my elevator card?”

“Stole is a stretch.” I give him a sheepish smile. “It was sitting right there on your desk. I just… took it.”

“You can’t do that again, Melani. I already punished Boris last night, and he knows better now, but you have to stop.”

He punished Boris? My pulse quickens, a hollow pit opening in my stomach as I see my escape plan dissipating before my eyes. “I’m not going to remain your docile prisoner, Vanya,” I say firmly. “Yes, I left this suite yesterday, but I stayed inside the building. I didn’t run. That should count for something.”

“Be that as it may⁠—”

“I mean it, Ivan.” I let a fraction of my desperation show. “Either grant me free access to the building and I’ll remain patient with you for now, or keep me locked in this suite and prepare to see me try to hurt myself in different ways.”

He flinches back like I just slapped him. “What?”

I might have gone a bit too far with that, but I rally on. I had hoped tricking his men would impress him. That staying inside the building, even after tasting a sliver of freedom, would make him trust me more. But what if that backfired? I need that freedom. I need to be able to go to that meeting. I need to know, once and for all, if my brother was taken as part of this scheme against the Petrovs or if he left on his own.

“The bathtub is big enough. Thirty minutes underwater and I’d lose consciousness. A little longer than that and, well…” I trail off with a shrug.

The look on his face is unlike anything I’ve seen on him before. “Are you fucking threatening me right now?”

My lips tilt up sadly. “How is it a threat to you? It’s a threat to me.”

“I swear to fucking God, Melani⁠—”

“No, Ivan. I’m done. You hear me? Done!” Tears sting as I whirl away from him, but he grabs my arm with a low curse.

“I know you want freedom, and I am considering it. I will grant it. I just need more time,” he says tightly. “A few days.”

A few days. Enough time for him to execute whatever plans he has at that meeting. I tilt my chin up. “I don’t have a few days. I’m not asking to go to Central Park or the Hudson River or anywhere equally ridiculous. I just want free rein of this building. Is that really too much to ask?”

His jaw clenches, his fingers twitching around my arm. Then: “Fine,” he says at last, releasing me. “But my men will be watching you at all times.”

My heart stops as I stare up at him. Is he—? He sighs, dragging a hand over his face. “You can leave the suite. But stay inside the building. And don’t make me regret it or⁠—”

I squeal and launch myself at him before he can finish his words, and he staggers back with a grunt, his arms wrapping around my waist.

“Thank you.” I press my face into his chest, a bittersweet warmth settling low in my belly.

I’m close. So close to my escape. Close to the end of this.

When I walk out of the bedroom to the living area a while later, I see Boris and feel sick. The marks are unmistakable—livid red, in the shape of fingers.

“I’m so sorry,” the guilt tightening my chest so much I have to gasp.

He blinks, clearly not prepared for this, and his eyes go a little wide when he clocks the gloss building in mine. “It’s fine, miss.”

“It’s not.” He blurs momentarily as tears sting my eyes. “It was my fault. I put you in an impossible position, and you shouldn’t have⁠—"

“It’s–it’s really fine. Please don’t—” he repeats, sounding almost panicked.

But nothing can ease my guilt and the pain in my heart. Because I know this isn’t the end of it. When I slip out this weekend, he’ll be punished again. The thought makes my stomach churn. Maybe I could leave Vanya a note—ask him not to punish any of his men for it. Tell him that it’s not their fault, just something inevitable.

“Really, miss, you don’t need to cry.” He suddenly looks like he would rather be anywhere else. I blink rapidly until the tears subside and apologize again. Then I turn just in time to see Vanya stepping out of the room. I glare at him, but he only raises a brow, like he doesn’t understand the problem.