I hardly slept the past two days.
At first, I was totally consumed by Viktor. With every kiss and touch, I fell hopelessly in love with him.
I’m sore as hell from all the sex.
I’m still packing when Viktor says, “My men will pack the rest. You need to come with me.”
Every second it’s becoming harder to deny him anything. I take his outstretched hand and let him lead me to his office.
Every screen is filled with a different apartment. I frown at Viktor. “What’s this?”
“Choose which one you want,” he orders.
I gape at him. “You’re not buying me an apartment.”
“They already belong to me. You can stay in whichever one you want.”
I shake my head. “No. I want to get my own place.”
“Then I’ll transfer it onto your name.” He tilts his head, his eyes narrowing on me. “I need to know you’re not living in a dump.”
“Viktor.” Moving closer, I lift my hand and rest my palm against his jaw. He turns his head and presses a kiss to my skin.
God, he’s making this so hard for me.
I give him a pleading look. “I need to do this on my own. Once I leave this house, you’ll have no say in my life.”
Pain tightens his features. “I’m not going to let you leave here empty-handed.” He walks to his desk, and I watch as he types on his laptop. New screens open up on the monitors, then he points at the middle one. “That’s your bank account. I’ve already transferred funds for you to use.”
When I start to shake my head, he snaps, “It’s not up for discussion.”
In shock, I look at the large sum.
Fifty million. Viktor’s insane!
Knowing he’s going to fight me on this, I brace myself. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll take enough to last me six months. It will give me time to get a job, and I’ll be able to enroll at college.”
His features tighten until it looks like he’s going to be sick. “Let me take care of everything. Why would you want to study at a college if I can pay for an elite university?”
It feels weird being the strong one. I’ve never seen Viktor like this, and it’s breaking my heart.
“Please stop,” I beg. “You’ve had three years to look after me. Against my will. I want to experience life on my own. I need this, Viktor.”
I have to find out who I am without Viktor. Without my family. I have to search my emotions and make sure what I feel for Viktor isn’t Stockholm syndrome. I have to deal with the grief and guilt.
I have to do this for myself.
I point at the monitor. “Only leave thirty thousand dollars in the account. Ten thousand for every year I spent here.”
“Fuck no,” he snaps. “That’s nothing! At least take twenty-five million. It’s half.”
“No. Thirty thousand is enough,” I argue, standing my ground. When he opens his mouth, I dart forward and press my fingers to his lips. “Stop, Viktor. I’m begging you. Let me go on my own terms, and I promise, if things don’t work out and I need you, I’ll call.”
He stares at me for a long moment before he nods. “But you’re taking the phone I got you. It’s not negotiable. It has my number on it.”
I give him a trembling smile. “Okay.”
He gives me a pleading look. “Please, just take Joseph to guard you.”
“We had this discussion yesterday. I’m not taking guards. It will feel like I’m still a captive.”
“Blyadʹ,” Viktor curses. “I’m really regretting my promise to let you go.”
“I kept mine,” I remind him. “I gave you two days. Give me my freedom.”
He shakes his head as he takes the device and charger out of his drawer and hands them to me. “I have one more thing.”
I watch as he pulls a slender black case from the drawer. When I open it with trembling fingers, I stare at the necklace and a rose pendant.
My throat closes up as I say, “It’s beautiful.”
“I had it made for you.” Viktor lifts the chain out of the case and moves behind me.
I gather my hair, and when he places the platinum necklace around my neck, tears threaten to fall.
Why does it feel wrong leaving him?
God, I’m so messed up.
Viktor wraps his arms around me and presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Happy birthday, moya Malen’kaya Roza.”
I grip hold of his forearms, and my shoulders shudder under the strain of the heartache.
“Boss, everything is ready,” I hear Joseph say.
I feel Viktor nod, but he doesn’t let go of me. Instead, his hold on me tightens, and he presses kisses to the side of my neck and face.
“You don’t mind taking care of Luna until I send for her?” I ask, my voice quivering. I need to settle down before I can bring her to New York.
“At least I’ll have one of you for a little longer.”
God. My heart.
“I have to go,” I plead.
Or I won’t leave at all.
I feel a tremor rake through his body before he lowers his arms. I turn around and rush to the door, but Viktor’s hoarse voice stops me. “Rosalie.”
I don’t turn back to face him. “Yes.”
“Tell me one last lie.”
My body starts to shudder as tears spill down my cheeks. “I hate you, Viktor.” A sob escapes me, and the rest of my words come out strained. “I won’t miss you at all.”
I dart out of the room and flee from the house that’s been my prison for three years.
I have so many mixed feelings about my captivity. There were bad and good days. I lost so much, but I also gained.
Sobs burst from me when I hear Luna bark. I quickly climb into the backseat of the SUV, and when Joseph drives toward the gates, I glance out the back window. Seeing Viktor standing next to Luna, my heart shatters into a million pieces.
Tears stream down my face, and it takes the last of my strength not to ask Joseph to stop the car and run back to them.
You have to do this, Rosalie. For yourself.
Don’t look back.
You have to deal with the sorrow, the guilt, and the love that stole your heart.
You have to figure out what is real and what isn’t.
Don’t look back.
I close my eyes and cover my face with my hands as I weep while Joseph drives me to the private jet that’s standing ready to take me to New York.
