Page 97

CHARLOTTE

M inutes feel like hours.

Every punch, every kick, every slice inflicted on Drago I can almost feel.

I don’t know how much more he can take.

Drago tugs on the chains, screaming in pain as Vlad swipes the blade along his thigh, and I wince.

“Stop!” I scream.

I can’t watch this.

“Shut the fuck up,” Vlad snaps back.

The ringing starts up again, this is now the fifth time. Whoever is trying to contact him really isn’t letting up.

He mutters under his breath, cutting the call yet again.

There isn’t an inch of Drago that isn’t smeared in blood. It’s like witnessing a horror film. Both eyes are now closed up and purple. His blood soaks into the straw by our feet.

“Drago! Stay awake!” I cry.

He groans, moving his head as Vlad lands another punch.

The phone goes off again, this time, Vlad tips back his head, releasing a frustrated groan.

“With me,” he orders his lackey.

“I won’t be long, Charlotte. My sister is relentless. Although, I’ll start dropping some seeds about your murdering ways.” He winks at me and blows me a kiss, storming past me.

As the door slams shut, I let out a breath of relief.

“Drago!” I call out.

“Hmm?”

“Talk to me. Stay with me.”

The amount of blood he’s losing, he doesn’t have long. I need Declan.

“W-where is Isabella?” he grits out.

“Safe. With Declan. It’s okay.”

He nods. I swear I see a tear rolling down his cheek.

“How did you end up here?” I ask him.

I need to keep his mind active.

“Got caught. Trying to defuse the bomb,” he sputters, and blood flies out of his mouth.

His head drops and my own tears start to fall. As I erratically thrash in my ropes, it cuts deeper into my skin. He’s spent the last ten years being responsible for my safety. He put himself in that position. I became his problem to lighten the wrath of Vlad on me. That was the deal. He keeps me in line and trained to go on jobs, we all stay alive.

“Drago!” I scream at the top of my lungs.

“Do not fucking leave me here on my own. Fight, goddamn it. Fight, please. We need you.”

He grunts again.

“I’m sorry, Drago. I’m so sorry I landed you in this mess,” I sob.

He shakes his head.

“I’d do it again. No regrets. Not for you two. We did it, warrior.”

I shake my head.

“No. No. We both survive this.”

He coughs again, this time heaving for air.

“I’m proud of you, Charlotte.”

“Drago, don’t do this. Please.”

“It’s my time,” he says quietly.

The warm tears freefall down my face.

“Just hold on a while longer, Drago.”

“Tell Tatiana,” he hisses in pain and stops talking.

“Tell her what, Drago?”

“Remember who she is.” Is the last thing he says.

“What does that mean?”

Would that save me if it came down to it?

His body slumps forward against the chains. Fuck, he’s out.

I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping this is all one big nightmare and I’ll wake up when I open my eyes.

We can’t lose him.