Page 20 of The Russian's Kidnapped Bride
After exchanging a mutual goodbye, we end the call, and I sit in silence for a moment longer.
But in that quiet, I hear the weight of panic that had been in Lily’s voice last night. The sense of betrayal at knowing the truth.
It would be easier if she were just another name to wipe off the list. If she were just another goon to disappear.
But she isn’t. I have too many ties to her, and that’s a problem in itself.
Knowing just how innocent she had been before only makes that guilt stronger in my chest. She seemed honest and like she was just trying her best.
But now, she’s caught in a dangerous situation, and I can’t bring myself to let her go. I certainly can’t stop myself from wanting to protect her.
Then, I hear it through the penthouse.
Three heavy bangs in the distance catch my attention, bringing me to my feet without hesitation.
Leaving the office, I head upstairs and move down the hall, hearing noise coming from the spare bedroom.
My steps quicken, but just before I can reach the door, Lily’s voice comes through, somewhat panicked and irritated.
“Mikhail! Open the door!”
Exhaling, able to relax just enough, knowing that she’s still living and breathing in there, regardless of how disruptive she’s being, I take my time walking up.
Her fists continue to slam against the door when I turn the doorknob that wasn’t even locked. She didn’t even try it.
Assuming the worst of me, I see.
Opening it slowly, Lily stops and takes a step back.
The second I see her face, I catch just how red and wild her eyes are. Her skin is flushed, her hair’s a mess, and she’s breathing harder than necessary.
Even so, she still looks beautiful to me—more than she should.
“Lily,” I begin, trying to school my concern. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I need to go,” she blurts out, voice unsteady. “Please, Mikhail…you can’t keep me here. I’m a med student, and I have class on Monday. People are damn well going to notice if I vanish out of thin air.”
She isn’t wrong. If a dedicated student suddenly falls off the face of the earth, someone will notice, and someone will start digging. But there are ways to get around that, of course.
Leaning against the doorframe, I look down at her, not letting my expression betray my thoughts. “You’ve mentioned that a few times now.”
“You don’t care,” she says through grit teeth, not afraid to be upfront with me now. “You’re trying to ruin my life because of something I don’t even understand. I swear, I won’t say anything. Just let me go. Please.”
Those big brown eyes look even bigger now while she pleads, and as much as I try to keep it down, it stirs something in me. The thing I’ve been trying to ignore since she fell back into my life.
I’m used to people scheming and trying to play an angle. But she isn’t. I know she isn’t.
No, she’s desperate.
And I can certainly work with that.
Pushing off the frame, I take a few measured steps into the bedroom, letting the gears turn in my head.
Lily backs up instinctively, but that doesn’t stop me from taking up more of that space.
When I’m close enough, I reach out and gently brush back a strand of dark hair from her face. My fingertips just barely ghost across her cheek.
“Answer something honestly for me,” I murmur, keeping my eyes on hers and creating an intimate space between us. “If I were to offer you a way out—something legal and clean for both of us—would you take it?”
