Page 95 of Savage Reign

I close my eyes, shame washing over me in hot waves. How can I explain that somewhere along the way, in between the threats, the mind games, and the tattoos, I've fallen in love with my captor? My husband.

Wait… love? Is that what this is?

“I’m safe,” I assure her, trying to keep this conversation on track. “But I need you to listen. Just let me talk because this is not easy to explain.”

I swallow hard and grip the phone tight. “When this started, I was Niko’s captive, yes, and I didn’t want to be here. But he never hurt me—never abused me or treated me the way you think he did. He wanted everyone to believe I was being tortured, and miserable but that was never the case. In fact, it was the opposite.”

She’s quiet on the other end, but I can practically feel her disbelief. “Is he there with you right now? Is he making you say this?”

“No, he doesn’t know I’m making this call. I stole this phone a while ago. He has no idea. But I need you to hear me out.”

She lets out a sharp breath. “I don’t understand. None of this makes sense.”

I tip my head and look at the ceiling. “It doesn’t make sense to me either, but things… changed between us. He’s shown me parts of myself I didn’t know existed, given me faith in myself I never had before.”

“Do you even hear what you’re saying?” she says, her voice breaking slightly, raw with emotion. “You’re defending the man who abducted you and forced you into marriage. Tell me you see how insane this is?”

“What he did was wrong; it was savage. I get that,” I say, the words catching in my throat. “But he’s shown me a different side to him. He bought me a dance school for kids in need. Something I can run, that’s mine to do with as I see fit. He’s made me feel like I can do something good. I can be more than just someone who’s been through hell.”

“Roman offered him a deal. The Syndicate agreed to every one of his demands, and he still turned them down. This is the man you want to be with?”

“He had his reasons, Lizka. That doesn’t change how I feel about him. I don’t want him killed. I don’t want anyone killed—or for this to spiral out of control.”

When she speaks again, there’s a note of desperation in her voice. “Sofiya, we know where you are. The information you gave us about Koporye Fortress and the estate of Catherine the Great’s niece checked out. Roman’s tech guys pinpointed your location. If you can get to a safe place, Roman and his men can get you out.”

My stomach drops, and my hands go clammy. I feel like I’m betraying my sister with what I’m about to say, but if I leave him, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.

“I’m so sorry, Lizka. I know how hard this must be for you to understand, but I want to be with him. I’m in love with Niko, and I think he feels the same.” My voice cracks, and I swallow hard. I know he feels the same. “He’s going to make amends with the Syndicate and show you how serious he is about me. About us. But for now, you have to promise me the Syndicate won’t attack.”

“This is crazy, Sofiya,” she pleads. “I don’t know what to tell you. The Syndicate isn’t just Roman. Pavel and Maxim—Nikolai crossed them too. He betrayed their trust in a way he can’t fix.”

Tears prick at my eyes as I press my palm to my forehead, trying to clear the chaos in my head. “You don’t understand… If something happens to you, Roman, or anyone I love, I’d be devastated, but…” My voice grows husky. “If something happens to him… I’d feel the same.”

“I need to see you,” she says after a beat. “I need to see for myself if this is real. If you’re really okay, or if…” She trails off, but the unspoken words sit between us. Or if he’s broken you.

I nod, even though she can’t see me. “That’s fair.” I don’t know how we’ll manage it, but I owe her that.

“Give me a day. I’ll talk to Roman and the others. But Sofiya, I can’t make any guarantees.”

“I know.”

“I miss you so damn much,” Liza says, voice thick. “And I just want you to come home.”

“I miss you too,” I breathe. “And I’m sorry for what this is doing to you. I know it’s tearing you apart.” I try to smile through the ache in my chest. “It’s funny, isn’t it? I wanted to escape bratva life, and now I’m more entrenched in it than ever.”

A long pause stretches between us before Liza says, “I love you, Sofiya.”

“Love you, Lizka,” I reply, blinking back tears.

The line goes dead, and I sit there, the full weight of what I’ve set in motion crashing over me.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-SIX

NIKOLAI

Igor crouchesover one of his bushes, snipping at a stray stem with a pair of shears as I approach. He shades his eyes with one hand and looks up at me.

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