"You call this drama?" I snap, my voice rising. "You kidnapped me on the day I buried my mother, locked me up in this mansion—sorry, prison—and you’re calling me dramatic?"
"Please sit down," he repeats, his voice firm but quieter this time.
"I want to go home," I counter, crossing my arms over my chest.
"You can’t go home. It’s not safe."
"Why not?" I demand, my voice shaking with a mixture of anger and frustration.
"Because I’m in the middle of an investigation," Viktor replies, his tone clipped. "And until I find my answers, you’re a walking target because you’re carrying my child."
His words land like a punch to the gut, their weight settling heavily in the room. I glance at Alina, searching her face for confirmation. She gives a small nod, her expression grim.
The enormity of my situation crashes over me like a tidal wave. I sink into the nearest chair, my legs unable to hold me up any longer. Tears blur my vision, and I swipe at them angrily, hating the vulnerability that’s overtaking me in front of these people.
"Chalk it up to pregnancy hormones," I mutter to no one in particular, my voice cracking. But the truth is, it’s more than that. It’s the grief, the fear, the anger—all of it boiling over and spilling out.
For the first time since I buried my Mom, I let myself cry, the sound filling the room like a storm breaking after too much pressure. And for a moment, no one speaks, the weight of my tears saying everything I can’t.
Through the blur of my tears, I see Yelena lean toward Alina and whisper, “She got kidnapped the same day she buried her mom? Men, she’s got guts to still be standing.”
It’s subtle, but her voice carries a note of approval that surprises me. I glance up, catching the faint smirk playing on her lips. Alina nudges her twin with a look that seems to say, Now’s not the time.
Their quiet exchange pulls me out of my downward spiral for a moment. These women—powerful, confident, and unapologetically themselves—are watching me with something that feels uncomfortable. It’s as if they’re testing me, waiting to see how I’ll handle myself in their world.
I swipe at my tears, straightening in my chair. If they think I’m weak, they’re wrong. I’ve survived too much to crumble now.
Viktor leans back in his chair, his massive frame casting a shadow across the room. His piercing gaze locks onto mine, and for a moment I swear the air around us shifts.
"This isn’t about keeping you here for the sake of control. It’s about keeping you alive."
"Alive?" I echo, incredulous. "Do you even hear yourself? You kidnapped me. You’ve locked me in this house with no explanation, and now you’re telling me it’s for my safety?"
His jaw tightens, and I can see the tension rippling through his shoulders. "Yes," he says simply. "Because the people who killed my father won’t hesitate to come after you. You and the child you’re carrying are a threat to them."
The weight of his words presses down on me, suffocating and undeniable. But I refuse to let him see how much it shakes me. "And whose fault is that?" I ask, my voice trembling with anger. "You dragged me into your world, Viktor. I didn’t ask for any of this."
"No, you didn’t," he admits, his tone softer but no less intense. "But now you’re here, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Whether you like it or not."
I turn to Alina, desperate for some kind of validation. "Is he serious?" I ask, my voice cracking. "Am I really in that much danger?"
Alina’s expression softens, and she nods. "He’s telling the truth, “She says gently. "It’s not just about you anymore, Scarlett. It’s about the baby too."
Yelena adds, "This isn’t just Viktor being overbearing. If he says you’re a target, you are. Our enemies will exploit any weakness, and right now, they see you as one."
"I didn’t ask for this," I say, my voice muffled by my hands. "I didn’t ask for any of this."
The room falls silent, the weight of my breakdown settling over us all. I feel raw, exposed, and utterly drained. But as the storm of my emotions subsides, a strange clarity begins to emerge.
I think about my mother, her strength, and her love. She always told me to fight for what mattered and to never let life’s hardships define me. And now, even in this impossible situation, I can feel her presence, urging me to stand tall.
I lift my head, meeting Viktor’s gaze. His expression is unreadable, but there’s something in his eyes—a flicker of guilt, maybe even regret.
Alina reaches out, placing a comforting hand on mine. "You’re not alone in this, Scarlett," she says, her voice filled with quietdetermination. "We’re family now, whether you like it or not. And we take care of our own."
Her words are a balm to my frayed nerves, and for the first time I feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I can survive this.
As my thoughts begin to clear, I’m left with my thoughts. My gaze drifts to Viktor, who remains seated, his eyes still locked on me. There’s so much I want to say to him, so much I need to understand.