Page 62 of Sinful Wrath
I’m well aware of the threat to my life and yet, I still snuck out, and for what? To spend the night at a club with friends who pretty much ignored me the whole night.
Is that really worth my life?
The thought hits me out of nowhere and suddenly, tears start to stream down my cheeks.
I got away, yes. But next time, I might not be so lucky.
I sink down onto the iron step of the fire escape to catch my breath.
My body is trembling, and the last thing I should be doing is leaping across a five-foot gap, but I don’t have a choice.
Mikhail is going to be home any minute, so with one last deep breath, I get to my feet, grip my heels in my left hand and lean over the edge of the railing.
With one swift jump, I throw myself at the railing of my tiny balcony and quickly swing my body over.
I’m frozen to the core, but I’ll take that over the alternative ending to this night.
I’m so caught up in the fact that I managed to make it back alive as I step through the window that it takes me a second to notice that I’m not alone.
15
LUCIA
“Mikhail!”I drop my shoes and stumble back against the wall. “You scared the crap out of me!”
Mikhail’s sitting on the edge of my bed, dressed in the same clothes that had littered my bedroom floor only a few hours earlier. He’s rolled his sleeves up to his elbows and his dark hair is more disheveled than usual, as if he’s been running his fingers through it over and over. His face is like stone as he stares at me, his jaw set, and his mouth pressed together in a thin line.
To say he looks pissed is an understatement. I’ve never seen Mikhail look this angry, even after he caught me sneaking out the first time.
He gets to his feet without saying a word, his face like a mask of cold fury as he approaches me.
My hand goes to my heart as it begins to pound in my chest, and a rush of fear courses through me.
“Mikhail—”
He slams the window shut and pulls a padlock out of his pocket.
“No, Mikhail, please don’t do this.” I reach for his arm, but he shakes me off.
“You don’t give me much choice.” His eyes flash with anger. “You break my trust, so I take away your freedom. It’s that fucking simple, Lucia. I thought you had learned that the first time, but I guess not.”
I fight back a sob as my knees threaten to buckle. I wrap my arms around my body as every emotion I’ve been pushing down threatens to bubble over.
“Do you want to end up dead? Is that it?” Mikhail yells. “Because if it is, just tell me so I can stop going to all this trouble to try and keep you safe.”
“Mikhail,” I sob, my voice cracking as I look up at him. “Please.”
“I’m fucking done.” He turns his back on me and walks over to the door, and I know he’s going to lock that too.
“I-I had no choice!”
He turns around. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Please, I promise I won’t ever sneak out again. Mikhail?—”
“I’ve heard that all before, Lucia, and I won’t fucking fall for it again.”
The hope of him understanding is slipping away, but I’m not ready to reveal to him the truth behind my nightmares, even if it would help him understand why I betrayed his trust.