Page 93 of Darkest Sin

“Is there anyway she can get us out of our rooms?”

“Well… Denis always has us come down for dinner. We eat as a family. That’s what he says, even though Mom keeps reminding him that we’re not a family.”

“So, there’s a moment where you’re not locked away.”

“Yes. We can also ask to use the bathroom.”

“Thank you.” I hurry to my door and start banging on it. I don’t stop until it’s eventually ripped open and one of Denis’s guards glares down at me.

“What?”

“I need to use the bathroom.”

“Tough luck.” He slams the door back in my face and locks it. I only start pounding on the door again. He opens it back up. “I said no. You just got here. You can wait.”

“But I really have to go. Please. Just let me go.”

“No. You can wait. And stop pounding on the door.” He shuts the door again and I continue to hit it, but this time, he ignores me.

Eventually, my hands get tired from smacking the door so I stop and slump onto my bed. They’re not going to let me out. Ihave no trust with Denis. He knows I want to run and I will find a way the moment I get a chance.

Hours pass.

Every second that goes by tells me Mikhail is one second closer to death if I don’t get out of here.

My door is finally reopened and Denis stands there, smirking. “I heard you had to use the bathroom. Well, you can go now. We’re going to have a family dinner and you will join.”

Slowly, I walk past him but before I can try to run, the guard grabs my arm and guides me into the bathroom and shuts the door. I know he’s waiting right outside so I do actually use the bathroom in case I don’t get a moment later. Then I open the medicine cabinet and search for anything that could be used as a weapon but there’s nothing. No razors. No scissors. Not even tweezers.

There is a small comb though. Maybe I can use that somehow. I slip it into my bra. The shape of it is a little visible and I just have to hope that Denis is blind enough not to see it.

With a deep breath, I knock on the door and the guard lets me out. Denis leads me down the hallway without looking at me. The guard has his eyes forward. Neither of them comment on the weird shape of the front of my dress.

When we enter the dining room, I almost lose myself. My mom is at one end of it, looking miserable. The sight of her makes tears well up in my eyes and I can’t hold them back.

She looks up at me and her eyes widen. “Natalya?” She rushes to my side and gives me the best hug I’ve ever had in my life. Tatiana Petrov was never one for giving a ton of hugs when I was growing up so to receive one now means the world to me.

“Mom,” I sob, hugging her back with everything I have.

“Enough,” Denis says, wrenching my arm away. “Sit down.” Slowly, we do as he says.

“Don’t touch my daughter.”

Denis scoffs as he stares my mom down. “She’s my daughter now and I can do what I want with her.”

“She’s a married woman. She belongs to her husband. When Mikhail finds out that you’ve taken her, you’re dead.”

“That’s funny you should say that. Because Natalya came to me. She needed help saving her precious husband. So… no. I don’t think Mikhail will be coming anytime soon to save her. And I don’t think I’ll be dead. I apologize if that bothers you, Tatiana.”

“It does bother me. You’re not my husband and you never will be.”

Denis places his hand on her shoulder and squeezes tight. My mom doesn’t even react. She knows how to make herself like stone.

I see his grip tighten and tighten and still Mom doesn’t react. Finally, Denis lets her go with a huff and turns to his guard. “Get the others.”

When Denis has his back turned and the guard is leaving the room, I grab the comb from my bra and shove it into my lap. Mom notices and gives me a small smile.

Her hand finds mine under the table, giving me a squeeze. She nods. She wants me to do something.