Page 124 of Sinful Promise

“Danil!”

Silence.

I knew he was a heavy sleeper, but this is ridiculo?—

Wait!

We never made it to Danil’s apartment.

It all comes flooding back to me, playing through my mind like some kind of horror film.

The last thing I remember is being in the park, wrapped in Danil’s jacket and looking up at his handsome face as Danil worked up the courage to finally tell me he loved me.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt so happy as I did at that moment.

I remember feeling almost giddy with excitement at the prospect of finally saying it back. To finally tell him I love him too, more than anything.

And now I may never get that chance.

“Oh god.”

Is Danil even still alive?

I move to cover my mouth with my hand to help muffle the sounds of my sobs, but I can’t move my arms.

What the hell?

I try again, but the movement has me wincing in pain as something burns my skin.

It’s rope.

I’m tied up.

“Danil!”

I sob as I try pulling against the rope, hoping to weaken the knot.

I cry out as the friction causes the rope to burn my skin from being tied so tightly. Whoever tied me up knew what they were doing as there’s no way I’m going to wriggle my wrists free of these restraints.

They must have knocked me out too because I don’t remember being brought here, whereverhereis.

All I remember is a terrible cracking sound and watching as Danil fell to the ground. I remember trying to scream, but hands were on me, covering my mouth to silence me.

But after that, I remember nothing.

For all I know, the blow to Danil’s head could have been fatal, and they left him in the park for dead.

The thought has a sob building in my throat, but before I can start screaming, I catch the sound of heavy footsteps nearby, and I slam my mouth shut and try to contain my emotions.

My heartbeat pounds in my ears and if I wasn’t so dehydrated, I’m sure I would have emptied my bladder all over the floor from fright. If my hands weren’t tied up so tightly, they would be shaking too.

This is it.

I’m about to stare death in the face because even if I could free my hands from the restraints, there’s no way I would be able to fight off whoever is waiting for me on the other side of the door.

My sister has faced a similar situation, and I remember her telling me how terrified she was. Though it was even worse forher as she had been pregnant with the twins, and she thought she was going to lose her babies.

She warned me to be careful. She and Dimitri have gone out of their way to try and keep me safe, even going so far as to let me move in with them despite having their hands full with the twins and now a new baby.

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