Page 89 of Morally Corrupt

I only make it to the back garden before Vlad catches up with me.

"Please don't stop me, Vlad," I plead with him. I must look a fright, and I feel my fingers trembling on the trigger of the pistol in my hand.

"Put the gun down,malyshka,you can't shoot shit right now, and you know it." He smiles at me and cocks his head. I raise my hand and try to point it at Vlad and the guys behind him.

"You don't want to do this," he continues and removes his cell phone from his pocket, dangling it in front of me.

"Please, Vlad. You don't get it. I can't do this!" I don't recognize my own voice when I'm speaking.

Vlad just shrugs at me and dials a number, showing me he's putting it on speaker.

"Hastings here," the voice says on the other end, and my eyes widen in surprise.

"No…"

"Mr. Hastings, just the man I wanted to talk to." Vlad smiles, and I take a step towards him, whisperingnoagain.

"What is it, Vlad?" my husband asks in a clipped manner.

"I have something of yours." He looks at me. "Although, she's a little damaged."

"No…" I keep shaking my head.

"What are you on about, Vlad?" Theo asks, and Vlad winks at me.

"Bianca, do you want to say something to your husband?"

"Theo…" I say his name, the hand holding the gun coming down on its own.

I take a step towards the phone, my focus suddenly changing from dope to Theo. I don't make it though. At some point, while in motion, I feel a figure sneak behind my back and a needle poking my skin.

I almost fall to the ground before someone catches me, but I manage to yell one more time at the top of my lungs.

"Theoooo!"

33

ADRIAN

It's been three days. Three days since Bianca's left the apartment and hasn't picked up any of her things. Three days in which Bianca hasn't as much as called or left a message.

I should be glad—cutting the ties so efficiently.

But I can't.

I miss her.

I can't sleep. I can barely eat. And when I'm at home, all I do is look at photos of us.

Pathetic, I know.

She never loved you.I try to tell myself.She's not capable of it.

No matter how much I try to come to terms with it, I can't.

I'm in my car, heading to a meeting, when my cell rings.

"Hastings here," I activate my Bluetooth headpiece and answer.

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