Page 52 of Captured By the Russian Wolf

I clenched my fists, my mind a storm of conflicting emotions. Every instinct told me to end him, to rid the world of the man who had caused so much pain and suffering. But I couldn't ignore the truth of what he was offering. If he left quietly, if he truly disappeared, it would solve everything without the need for violence. It would give Lily the closure she needed, without dragging her deeper into the darkness of my world.

But there was still one thing I needed to know.

"What guarantee do I have that you'll keep your word?" I asked, my voice sharp. "That you won't come back, that you won't try to use this against me?"

Nicholas smiled faintly. "I have no interest in coming back, Nikita. I'm not a fool. I know what happens if I cross you again. This is my only way out. You have my word."

His word wasn't worth much, and we both knew it. But as much as I hated the idea of letting him walk away, I hated the idea of Lily being caught in the crossfire even more.

I stepped closer, my face inches from his, my voice a low growl. "If you cross me again, if I ever hear your name, see your face, or even catch a whisper that you're still breathing in my world, I'll end you. No hesitation. No second chances."

Nicholas's smile didn't reach his eyes, but he nodded slowly. "Understood."

I took a step back, the tension still thick in the air. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to end it here, to finish what I'd started. But I couldn't. Not like this.

"Leave," I said, my voice cold and final. "And never come back."

Nicholas gave a small nod, his smile fading as he turned and walked toward the door. I watched him go, every muscle in my body coiled tight, ready for him to make a wrong move. But he didn't. He walked out of the warehouse, his footsteps fading into the night.

I stood there for a long moment, the silence pressing down on me, the weight of the decision heavy on my shoulders. I had let him go. And for now, that was the right call.

CHAPTER 20

Lily

Ihadn't been able to leave the bed. I had been just staring out the large bedroom window that overlooked the grounds, trying to process everything that had happened over the last few days. Nikita was out for the day again, so there was nothing better for me to do.

The revelations, the lies, the confrontations—they were all swirling in my head, leaving me feeling more lost than ever. But somewhere deep inside me, there was a growing resolve, a sense of clarity that I hadn't felt before.

My father was never going to leave us alone. That much was clear. Nikita had driven to his estate, brought his men, and surrounded him. I knew my father too well. He wouldn't take that insult sitting down. Not when he had tried so hard to have Nikita killed in the first place. He would still try to hold onto whatever power he thought he had left. And after everything, I realized that if I didn't stop him, this would never end.

The buzzing of my phone broke through my thoughts, and I glanced down at the screen, my heart skipping a beat when I saw the message. It was from my father.

How will it feel to lose another husband? You should be begging for my mercy.

The knot of dread tightened in my stomach, but with it came a spark of anger. No, not anger—fury. He was still playing his games, still trying to manipulate me, to use me. But I was done being his pawn. I wasn't that naive girl anymore, the one who had believed every lie he had told me. I wasn't going to let him control my life, my decisions, or my future.

I rolled out of bed, my hands trembling as I typed out a response.

Where do you want me to go?

I stared at the message for a moment before hitting send, my breath catching in my throat as I waited for his reply. It didn't take long.

Meet me at the old warehouse. Tonight. Tell no one.

My chest tightened, a surge of adrenaline rushing through me. The old warehouse. It had been the site of so many of my father's "business" dealings, a place where he'd conducted his dirty work out of sight. And now, it would be the place where I confronted him. One last time.

I knew I was walking into something dangerous. I knew this wouldn't be a simple conversation. But I couldn't let Nikita handle this. This was my fight, my father. And I needed to face him, to end this once and for all.

I grabbed my coat, the cool fabric brushing against my skin as I moved through the house, my heart pounding in my chest. I could still feel the warmth of Nikita's presence in the room, his strength, his protection. But I couldn't drag him into this. Not this time. This was something I needed to do on my own.

As I walked toward the door, my phone buzzed again.

Come alone, or you'll regret it. I'll be waiting.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. This was it. The final confrontation. The moment I'd been building toward my entire life—only now, I wasn't sure if I was ready. But I had no choice. If I didn't end this, if I didn't stop my father, he would never stop coming after us. And I couldn't let him destroy what I had with Nikita.

Not after everything.

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