Page 91

CHARLOTTE

" I s she outside?" I ask, my voice raw and scraping against my throat.

Declan chews his lip, the tension in his jaw pulsing. "We have no sightings, baby. We gotta go out there."

This is exactly what the bastard wanted. Sending his men in was never the plan, just another way to stir the pot, to rattle us, to test the waters. A distraction. A twisted little appetizer before the main course of his chaos. This isn’t even close to how dark Vlad’s mind runs.

"Remember what you promised me, Declan," I whisper, more steel than plea. "He came here for me."

He rubs the back of his neck, eyes clouded, darker than I’ve seen them in days.

"I’m not letting you go without a fight, heartbreaker."

A chill rides down my spine. He laces our fingers together, grounding me, and presses a cool, heavy gun into my palm. I stare into his eyes—those eyes that have seen too much but still look at me like I’m something worth saving. A heat blooms in my chest, fierce and aching.

He is my safety. He is my future. But I’d give it all up, this love, this fierce devotion, for one thing. My daughter.

He can be her protector now. He’s already proven himself worthy of that.

We walk to the doors in silence, the only sound our joined breaths. Declan cracks the door open, sunlight slashing across the dusty floor like a blade. He leads, positioning his body as a barrier between me and the world.

The distant echo of slow and deliberate claps pulls my heart into my throat.

My fate is already sealed. It was the second I left that compound five years ago.

Vlad always has something else up his sleeve. He always plays the long game.

Declan stops suddenly, his breath catching. I step beside him, heart thundering.

"Wasn’t that a bit of fun?" Vlad’s voice slithers into the air, thick with mockery.

A growl rips from Declan’s chest.

"Yes, very," Declan bites out. "Although I’m not sure why you’re so amused that your army is dropping like flies, Vlad."

Vlad shrugs, his smugness unshakable. "It’s easy to regrow an army, Mr. Quinn. The world is a lot bigger than that tiny island you crawled from."

He pushes off the black truck, like a villain in an old western. Declan lifts his gun in response, steady and cold.

"Doesn’t my wife look beautiful today?" Vlad coos, gesturing to me like I’m a prize at an auction.

Declan’s jaw ticks, the tendons twitching under the skin.

"Oh, come on, Declan. I can call you that, right? Since you and I are on such friendly terms now." Vlad smirks, teeth flashing like a wolf.

I shift closer to Declan, my voice low. "He’s up to something. Keep your cool."

"Declan is fine," he replies stiffly.

A sudden gust of cold wind lashes my face, sending goosebumps down my arms.

"Where is my daughter?" Declan demands, voice gravel.

"Patience," Vlad croons. "Pleasure first. Then business. Move over and let me see my pretty wife."

Vlad waves at Declan like he’s instructing a waiter, arrogant to his core. Declan doesn’t move.

"Do it," I whisper. "I think she’s in the van."

"Listen to the whore. She’s quite bright," Vlad mutters, tapping his temple like he’s making some grand gesture of admiration.

Declan steps slightly to the side, exposing me fully to Vlad’s gaze.

"That’s close enough, Vlad," Declan growls.

"Oh, look at you," Vlad sighs. "Fresh-faced and glowing. So happy. So in love." He wipes imaginary dirt off his pristine shirt. "I’m itching to get my hands on you, printessa."

A violent shiver crawls up my spine. Declan inches closer, sensing it.

"Fuck you. Give us our daughter, and I won’t shoot you," I snap at him, and he laughs.

"That wasn’t the deal," Vlad hits back, his jaw clenching.

"Give. Me. My. Wife. Back." He spits on the ground between us.

Disgust crawls over my skin.

"Not until I see my daughter," Declan bites out.

Vlad shifts his gaze to Declan, a twisted grin forming on his face. "You think you’ve won, don’t you? With your snipers, your Russian friends, and what’s this… a little Italian flavor?"

He steps closer. Declan doesn’t flinch.

"Wow. Déjà vu, right, princess?"

He pulls a small black device from his pocket. My stomach knots.

"I don’t need games anymore," Vlad sneers. "No chocolate factories. No riddles. I’ve got the one thing that still makes her kneel locked in that van."

His lips curl, finger twirling in the air like he’s spinning fate itself. "Rigged to explode. I press this button, it all goes boom. Then you two can share what’s left of her."

"You motherfucker," I scream, lunging at him, but Declan’s arm shoots out, steel-strong, holding me back.

"And if I kill you?" Declan challenges. "What good are your bombs then?"

Vlad chuckles, the sound pure poison. "Emil’s got a switch, too. Eyes on everything. One wrong move, she’s ash. But I’m reasonable. Let’s make a clean trade. I get my wife, you get your daughter. No one else dies."

I clench my fists behind my back to hide the tremble.

"Let me see my daughter," I say, voice calm, razor-sharp. My insides quake. But he ignores me, setting his sights only on Declan.

"Declan, do we have an agreement?"

I look up at him. His throat bobs as he swallows hard. His eyes meet mine, I can see he’s torn. He doesn’t want to do this. But he knows what needs to happen. So do I.

"Please, Declan. Our promise." My voice breaks.

Vlad will sleep just fine if he murders Isabella. I won’t survive that.

Declan closes his eyes and inhales slowly. I can tell it’s cutting him apart.

"Thermal confirms she’s there, baby," he whispers.

"Do it, Declan."

"This isn’t how our story ends, heartbreaker," he whispers.

I slide my hand into his and squeeze tight.

"I know," I whisper. "The prince is coming to save the queen."

His brow furrows in confusion.

"Ask Isabella to tell you the story."

One last squeeze, and I let go. The worst kind of letting go.

I turn to Vlad with fury in my eyes. I will never let him see my fear.

"Well?" he barks.

"Yes, deal," Declan replies.

"Enzo can’t cut Emil’s feed. Can’t trace him," Declan mutters, leaning into me.

"Fuck." My breath hitches.

"This is how we do it," Vlad declares. "Charlotte walks into the van. Isabella walks out. We’re both within blast range, so you know I’m not bluffing."

Declan nods, jaw like iron. "Fine."

Vlad gestures, his smirk a brand on my soul. I force my feet forward, my rage a leash that keeps me from launching at him.

He opens the van doors, and my world shatters.

There she is.

Isabella, curled into the corner, arms wrapped around her legs, sobs shaking her tiny frame. My heart dies a little more.

"Baby," I croak. "It’s Mommy."

She lifts her head, those blue eyes just like Declan’s, locking on mine.

"I need you to go to Daddy. He’s here to save you, baby. Just like in the story. He’ll keep you safe."

She shakes her head, tears slipping silently.

"Awww. Sweet little reunion. I gave you a minute. I’m generous like that," Vlad mocks.

"Fuck you," I hiss.

He wags a finger in my face and I want to bite it clean off.

"I’m going to have so much fun with you, princess."

I turn away from him, bile rising.

"In the truck you go. Get your brat out here." He clicks his fingers like she’s nothing.

I climb in, arms wrapping around Isabella. She clings to me like I’m her whole world, just as she is to me. The reality sets in that this could be our last time. We never anticipated a van rigged with explosives. We’re off track now, and I have to find a way to keep myself alive.

"Shhh, baby, it’s okay," I whisper, my voice cracking. "Daddy’s going to save you. And then, just like in our story, come back and save the Queen. He’s my prince, remember?"

Tears fall, and so do mine.

"Declan," I choke, "please… take her."

Even if it tears me in half.

Even if I never see the sun again.

Her life over mine. Always.