Page 47 of Twisted Cage

Soft light fills the massive room. Okay, more than a room, this is one whole corner of a single story in a high-rise.

Floor-to-ceiling windows face the mirrored windows of the building next to us.

“Um, can they see us in here?” Faith asks.

“You can see out, but they can’t see in,” Konstantin assuresa her. “I’ll give you the tour after you get some sleep.”

He leads us to the first bedroom and pushes open the door. Lamps burn by the bedside. Light spills into the room from the en suite bathroom, illuminating the edge of a crib in the corner.

“Another crib will be here tomorrow as well as anything else you need. Will one do for tonight?”

Faith’s shoulders slump with relief. Her chin wobbles and her eyes fill with tears. “Uh, yes, um, thank you. So far they’ve always shared one crib so this is perfect.”

Side by side, we unbuckle Alex and Lexi from their seats. When we pick them up, they both do the same baby stretch where they arch their backs and stick their booties out.

I tuck Lexi into my elbow while she makes a suckling motion with her lips, just waiting to see if she will wake up, but with just a few brushes of my finger along her cheek, she settles into sleep once again.

My heart thunders in my chest the minute we get them down. There is no avoiding this anymore and Faith’s worried gaze only confirms she knows it too. She glances at Konstantin leaning against the doorway, his jacket over his forearm, his hands in his pockets, like this is the most normal thing in the world.

Her arms shoot around me, squeezing me tight. “You’ll be okay, right?” she whispers.

“I’ll be fine. I don’t know if he will be,” I say, pulling back. “I promise not to commit murder tonight. Well–another murder.”

“Nikoletta will be in the room at the end of the hall. Last door on the left.”

My shoulders go rigid and a fiery haze fills my vision.

He did that on purpose.

“So much for that promise to not commit another murder,” Faith mutters. “Just maim him a little maybe? I kinda like him.”

“Yeah, well, don’t get attached.”

I don’t meet his eyes as I pass by him in the doorway. If I did, I might just drag what nails I have down the side of his face.

18

NIKOLETTA

Without a word, he leads me down to the room at the end of the hall and pushes open the door. I resist sinking my elbow into his gut as I pass, but barely.

The door closes with a solid thud, but there is no way he is on the other side of it. Not a fucking chance.

Next comes the sound of the lock, the click so final, so ominous in the thick silence.

The harsh pounding of my heartbeat fills my head, but beyond it, I swear I can hear his too. Our unfinished business looms heavy between us, reducing the massive bedroom to a stifling cage.

I don’t want explanations or excuses. I want to go back in time and never give myself to him. To erase the truth revealed that day.

When I learned I was completely on my own.

Not one single person cares for me or loves me just for me. They all need me for something. I am a means to an end, nothing more.

With my mouth open, ready to unleash every bit of hurt I’ve turned to venom in our time apart, I spin on him.

He lunges, his fingers spearing through my hair, locking on both sides of my head. A growl rises in his throat, his forearms flexing like he is fighting to hold himself back. Pressing his forehead to mine, he sucks in a deep breath, his chest swelling wide.

No, no, no, no, no… damn him!

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