Page 164 of Black Castle

The detective’s sharp eyes return to Vivienne. “Did you consent to the marriage?” one of them asks.

The room seems to shrink, pressing in on her. Her pulse pounds in her ears. She can feel Zev beside her, his presence electric as he waits for her next words.

Then she takes in a deep breath, voice barely above whispers. “No. He—he forced me.”

The silence that follows is deafening.

One of the detectives steps forward. “Then, you’ll be coming with us for now.”

Zev’s shoulder tense, almost imperceptible, but she catches it.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t take her.” His voice is cooperative and smooth. But there’s something lethal hidden beneath it. A warning.

“You have no legal grounds to keep her,” the other detective counters. “She’s leaving with us. You can join us later to prove your case in front of a judge.”

Zev steps forward, slow and deliberate, exuding an unshakable power that makes even armed men hesitate. “You’re in my country. Standing in my house. I can make you disappear.” His voice is low and filled with poison. “But of course, you can escort her back today. But don’t be so foolish and be mistaken. This isn’t over yet.”

A stalemate.

Vivienne staggers backward, her knees weakening as one of the officers comes to grab her by the arm, leading her out.

Zev shocks Vivienne. He doesn’t stop them. And when some of his soldiers charge forward with their guns, he raises a hand in protest against it.

But he follows Vivienne and the detectives out to the front door. He doesn’t step beyond the door. He just stands there, merely watching, cold, controlled…dangerous.

Kenji rushes to Vivienne’s side, grabbing her hand in his.

The further they head away, the more it dawns on Vivienne that Zev doesn’t have any intention of stopping them…stopping her.

He doesn’t need to.

Before she enters the black car the detectives brought, she glances over her shoulder. Their eyes meet.

This isn’t over. This is just the beginning.

Chapter Fifty-two

Vivienne

Vivienne stands by the window of Kenji’s house again—like she has been doing for three nights since they arrived in the States. The night outside is quiet and calm, the street bathing in the soft glow of the streetlights. Although there are no heavy black cars or shadows moving in the dark, she still can’t shake the feeling that Zev is coming.

“He’s not going to find you.” Kenji’s voice is gentle but firm, breaking through the silence. She doesn’t turn to acknowledge him. Instead, her fingers tighten around the windowsill, as if that is the only steady ground keeping her from spiraling into panic.

“You’re safe, Vee.” He continues, his step drawing closer, his soft cologne wafting through her nostrils, weaving a sense of comfort into her nerves. “Detectives are involved now. He’s smart enough to know not to come here.”

Kenji and the detectives all seem so sure. Their confidence is almost admirable, if not downright stupid. They’re underestimating Zev. They don’t know him like she knows him. He’s a psychopath who doesn’t answer to laws or yield to authority and humanity. He moves like a ghost, striking when no one expects him to.

This right here is a game. In fact, they have all unknowingly participated in Zev’s game the moment they took her out of his house and he didn’t protest. He wants them to believe he has been cornered, helpless, at a loss, and nowhere to run. He wants them to believe he is so unarmed and has gone into hiding. But little do they know they have all just become a pawn. He’s coming; on the night they all relax and let their guards down. He will creep in like a thief.

But this time…only this time…

Vivienne gasps.

She won’t be his target. This time, she won’t be Zev’s target.

Her breath hitches as realization grips her. The horror hits her so hard, she stumbles back from the window, her body trembling.

Zev warned her. Some weeks ago—’I won’t hurt him, you know. He’s basically like my brother-in-law now. Who knows what I’ll do to him if he tries to take you away from me?’

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