Page 6 of Deadly Vows

“Do you like that?” he asked as if I was going to answer him. I turned my face away from him, not wanting to feel his hot, sticky breath on my cheek. Shoving my legs apart, he stood in between them, his hard cock pressing against the front of his pants. “I should show you what a real man feels like,” he threatened, pushing his cock against my pussy. His fingers tugged slightly at the waistband of my leggings. I closed my eyes, preparing for the worst, when he suddenly stopped, grabbing my chin roughly and forcing my face to his.

“Look at me!” he thundered. I opened my eyes and saw a madman looming over me. “You belong tomenow, Talia,“ he growled through clenched teeth. “I’m going to fuck you every day and night until I brand every part of you.”

Standing upright, he tossed my bra and sweater at me. “Get dressed,” he ordered, calling his associate, Rick, into the kitchen.

“Take her upstairs and make sure she stays put.” He stomped out of the kitchen, leaving Rick and me alone.

I slowly got off the table and got dressed. Rick’s eyes were glued to me the entire time, making me want to vomit all over the floor. When I was finished, he grabbed my arm and led me out of the kitchen.

As I climbed the stairs, I forced myself to take deep breaths to calm the storm inside me. I had to be strong for Sasha, Maxim, and the baby I carried. I couldn’t let Vic see my fear.

When I entered the room, Maxim looked up, relief flooding his face. “Are you okay, Talia?”

I nodded, kneeling beside him. “I’m fine. We need to keep working on the window,” I whispered. “We don’t have much time.”

Maxim nodded, his hands trembling but determined. Together, we continued to work on the boards, each creak and groan of the wood a testament to our desperation. Sasha sat in the corner of the room, her eyes wide and frightened.

This will work.It has to.I continued to work on the boards, determined to get us out of here and to safety. When this was all over, I’d make sure Vic got what he deserved.

Chapter 4

Talia

Finally, the last board came loose, and a stream of cold air rushed into the room. I peered out, my heart lifting as I saw the tree within reach. “We can do this,” I whispered. “We can get out of here.”

I could hear the sound of my breath, rapid and shallow, along with the rustling of the autumn leaves. The sky was colored orange and pink, signaling the approach of evening. Maxim had been my partner in this desperate plan with his sharp mind and quick reflexes. Sasha, younger and more fragile, clung to me, her hands grasping my shirt. They were Aleksandr’s blood, and that made them targets. I had to get them out of here.

My hand instinctively rested on my abdomen, a reminder of the life growing inside me. I was nearly four months pregnant, and the fatigue was hitting me hard. I didn’t have the luxury of rest, though. We had to escape.

“Maxim,” I whispered. “Are you ready?”

He nodded, his face set in a determined frown. We had been working for hours to loosen the boards that covered the window, using anything we could find in the room—a rusty nail, a broken piece of wood, even our bare hands. Finally, the last board gave way with a creak, revealing a small opening that led to the tree outside.

“Okay, Sasha,” I said softly. “You’re going to climb out first. Just like we practiced, remember?”

Sasha nodded, her eyes wide with fear but filled with trust. I helped her through the window, holding my breath as she reached for the nearest branch. The old oak tree with thick, gnarled branches was our lifeline. Slowly, she began to climb down, her movements cautious but steady.

“That’s it,” I whispered, my heart pounding. “You’re doing great.”

Maxim went next, his movements quicker and more confident. He paused once to look back at me, his blue eyes bright with determination. I gave him a reassuring nod before he continued his descent.

Finally, it was my turn. I squeezed through the window, feeling the rough bark against my hands as I gripped the branch. The descent was slow and nerve-wracking, every rustle of leaves sounding like a gunshot in the stillness of the evening. But wemade it, all three of us, our feet finally touching the hard ground below.

I took a deep breath, my heart gripped with fear and relief. The guards were stationed at the front and back of the house, but the tree had been our salvation, allowing us to escape unnoticed. We crouched low, moving silently through the underbrush, the forest our only cover.

We moved quickly but carefully, every snap of a twig underfoot making my heart leap into my throat. The forest was dense, shadows growing longer as the sun set below the horizon. We didn’t stop, not even for a moment, the urgency of our situation pushing us forward.

My strength was waning, my steps growing heavier with each passing minute. The strain of the pregnancy was taking its toll. Just when I thought I might collapse, Maxim turned back, his eyes filled with concern.

“Talia, are you okay?” he whispered, his hand gripping mine tightly.

I nodded, forcing a weak smile. “I’m fine, Maxim. We’re almost there.” The footsteps behind us sent a jolt of fear through my body. I turned and saw one of Vic’s men emerging from the shadows.

“Run!” I screamed, pushing Maxim and Sasha ahead of me. “Run!”

We bolted, the adrenaline pumping through my veins, but I knew we couldn’t outrun them forever. I had to think of some way to keep the kids safe. The trees blurred around us as we ran, the ground uneven and treacherous.

Suddenly, Maxim stumbled, and I caught him before he fell. “Keep going,” I urged, my voice breathless. “Don’t stop.”

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