Page 111 of Sapphire

“Shh, it’s going to be okay. Let it all out, all of it. You’ll have to dig deep to find whatever inner strength you have left to get through tonight.”

“I’m just so tired, so, so tired.”

Her soft hand rubs my back, and her gentle fingers brush my hair. “Looks like he had to get in one last lesson before he lets you go.” She touches my aching cheeks, which makes me burst out crying again, remembering what happened last night. “I hate to ask this, but are you okay down there?”

It takes me a while to work out exactly what she is talking about. I shake my head. “I’m too scared to look.” Because it does hurt.

“Look, I know we aren’t close, but do you want me to have a look?”

“What happens if there is damage? What happens if they didn’t use protection? I hope my contraceptive implant is still current.”

“Calm down, Sapphire, it’s going to be okay. Come, move up onto the bed where it is more comfortable.” She helps me up onto my shaking legs and across to the bed.

I shuffle back till my back hits the bedhead.

“Do you know what happened?” I can see the concern on her face.

“I got in a fight with Nikolai. You were right—he saw through my pathetic attempt at manipulation. Why did I think I could take on a man like him?” I feel utterly helpless and pathetic.

“Don’t you fucking dare feel sorry for yourself. You stood up for yourself for months even when death was staring you in the face. You sacrificed yourself for your sister. You have tried everything to get out of this shithole while the rest of us rock in the fucking corner every day wishing we could be as strong as you. I kept to myself because that was the only way I could cope. I shut down, but seeing you come back and fight your way through this hell has given me strength. I’m with you—fuck these fuckers and fuck being submissive. I’m going to hope and pray that I get someone either stupid or kind to buy me so I have a chance.”

This makes me smile. “We are not going to be stuck in this life forever. There will be a time when we can escape, and we must take it, no matter how long we are away or wherever we are. We never give up,” I say through tears.

“I promise, Saffy, I promise.” She gives me a blinding smile, the first one I have seen in the months I’ve been around her. “Now that we are friends, I need to check your pussy.”

I know I shouldn’t laugh because the situation is all kinds of fucked up, but I do, we do, and neither of us can stop.

I’m thankful for Citrine saving me today. I don’t think I would be here otherwise, there was a point where I considered ending it all. What is the point of going on? But she gave me the strength and the courage to fight, and that is what I’m going to do. Nikolai is expecting me to be a shell of myself, he is counting on it, but I will not give him the satisfaction. Fuck him, I can’t wait to get far, far, far away.

I’m dressed in a red minidress, my boobs are almost falling out of the top, and my ass is barely covered. My blonde hair is pulled up into a ponytail, and my makeup has been made to look au natural.

We are all huddled in a small room together. All of us—the famous Bratva Jewels. Fear radiates off the girls as we all wait for whatever fate has in store for us.

One by one the girls are called, and we say our tearful goodbyes knowing we will never see each other again. Saying goodbye to Citrine was hard after everything we have been through especially in the last twenty-four hours. I felt a special bond and kinship with her. We are both a mess and Dmitri must pry us apart. We vow to find each other again and to stick to the plan.

It is now just Ruby and me, the last two jewels left.

“I’m so scared,” she whispers to me.

“Me too.”

“I’m so thankful I got to know you, Saffy.”

I pull her in for a big hug as we cry. “It’s going to be okay. Just know I’m going to find you, okay? No matter what happens tonight, I’m going to hunt each and every one of you down and get you home.”

“Even when the story is coming to an end, you’re still fighting.” Ruby gives me a weak smile.

“I’m going to get out of this, and I swear, Rubes. I’m going to find you, and we are going to seek justice for your sister.”

“And you know what? I believe you, Zoe.”

My breath hitches when she uses my real name.

“You have two men looking for you and I don’t think they are going to stop.”

“No, I don’t think they are either.”

“Ruby, your turn,” Dmitri snarls from the door.

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