Running from hell isnʼt easy. Especially when thereʼs someone dragging you back down into it.
Belligerent, brash and always in shades of black, Freya is hardly a lady. Hidden away by her father, sheʼs lived a normal life despite being born into the...
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I’M NERVOUS. I’m also pissed. Because if my suspicions are true, it means that Rune Volkov is a lying, two-timing piece of shit. It means that he holds no loyalty to anyone but himself.
After Luca, Torren and Rune disappear through the hallway, the ball continues after the brief intrusion. Around us, some people are still whispering about Rune’s appearance.
I’m not going to be here forever.
Yes, you are.
He knew. The whole time, Torren knew I was planning to run to Russia under Bratva protection. So he invited Rune. And made a public show of it.
My gaze trains on the hallway. I cling to the hope that maybe, just maybe Rune’s appearance has nothing to do with me. That he’s here for some other business.
Irritation and curiosity blooming in my chest, I’m about to storm down the hallway and find out myself, when someone grasps my arm, stopping me.
Papa. He shakes his head, his face wan.
“Freya,” he says, gently, like he knows I’m a ticking time bomb.
I pull out of his hold, turning an accusatory look his way. “What’s going on? You said Rune agreed, right? You said he needed something from you.”
Papa shifts uncomfortably. “He did.”
“And you gave him what he wanted?”
“I assured him I would.”
My brows knit as I gesture to the hallway. “So why is he in there having a meeting with Torren?”
He’s silent, a deep disappointment in his gaze.
“What were you feeding me this whole time, then?” I press. “False hope?”
My father shakes his head. “He was going to agree, lisenok. I swear to you, he was going to agree. I don’t know how the boy found out.”
“So what do you want me to do now?”
“Stay put,” my father says, holding out a hand. “I’ll take care of it.”
Before I can ask him about his cryptic answer, his phone rings. He flips it out of his pocket, heading away. Across the room, Ana passes me a worried look with Mama’s hand wrapped around her arm, rooting her to the spot.
Hushed sounds fill the air once again. Like he was summoned, Rune walks out of the hallway back into the ballroom, followed by Torren and a disgruntled Luca. Rune looks satisfied, Torren’s tie is loose, and Luca is sporting a bloody nose and black eye.
When Torren looks my way, there’s something electric in the air.
