Page 7 of Savage Boss

He’d done his level best to make sure the bunker was comfortable, but that there was nothing Jane could use to escape. Of course, Jane was extremely resourceful. Along with her stubborn tenacity, it was this quality that had made her a good cop and an even better private detective.

Vlad made his way past the wine cellar to the door of Jane’s prison. There was a small barred window in the door. Jane was standing with her back to the door, studiously ignoring everyone on the other side.

Vlad banged on the window and shouted, “Jane, you turn around right now and look at me.”

To his surprise, she did. When he saw the smug expression on her face, he was glad he was standing on the other side of a very thick door which was now locked from the inside. The whole thing would have been laughable if it wasn’t so deadly serious. His stubborn wife was determined to make her stand; freedom or nothing.

“You unlock this door right fucking now,” he snarled.

She lifted a brow and then glanced down at her fingernails as though she were bored. She sat on the edge of the bed, crossed her legs, placed her hands on her knees and looked calmly into space.

Vlad turned to Leo and snapped, “Get me through this door. Do whatever it takes, just get me the fuck in that room.”

“Yes, boss,” Leo said quickly then turned around and took off at a run.

Vlad supposed Leo was going after some equipment to get the door open. Frustrated with how much time it would take before he could set hands on Jane once more, Vlad paced away from the door, then back. He banged on the window with a fist, but she didn’t even flinch let alone look at him.

So, it was going to be like that, was it? Well, two could play her game. If she wanted extreme, he would give her extreme. Checking the angle to make damn sure he wouldn’t accidentally hurt his wife, Vlad pulled his gun from the holster under his jacket. He held it up to the corner of the small glass window. He was done talking through glass. If he couldn’t stand in the same room as her, she would at least hear his voice loud and clear.

Vlad dipped his head into the corner of his elbow, pressing his arm tight against his ears as he pulled the trigger. The sound was deafening in the small space and for a moment Vlad was forced to stand still as the ringing in his ears subsided.

“Vlad!” Jane screamed as she leapt off the bed and rushed to the window. “Vlad, talk to me, are you okay?”

He was surprised to see her small face pop up as she gripped the edge of the door where the glass used to be and frantically looked out the portal for him. Relief flooded her lovely brown eyes as she spotted him. Despite his anger, Vlad was elated that she still cared enough for him to make sure he wasn’t hurt.

As soon as she made sure he was okay, she started shouting. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Did you know for sure the glass would shatter? What if your men put bulletproof glass in? That bullet could’ve rebounded and hit you. God, you are so fucking dense sometimes.”

She stalked furiously away from the window, back to completely pissed off. She flounced on the edge of the bed, refusing to look at Vlad.

Bulletproof glass. Vlad now wished he’d thought of that when he’d had the door installed. The bunker hadn’t originally been meant as a prison for Jane, but as a safe room in case the family ever came under attack. He should’ve consulted her on ways to make it more impenetrable.

Taking a deep breath, Vlad tried to calm himself down. “Jane, malysh, I need you to open the door for me. I promise I will not yell.”

She pretended to examine her nails again. “Couldn’t even if I wanted to.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Vlad demanded.

She sighed heavily and rolled her eyes but still refused to look at him. “I jammed a fork in the door lock and then hit it with the heel of my shoe until the handle broke off. The knob is useless now.”

Vlad shook his head. He should’ve guessed she would use one of the utensils given to her every day to escape her prison. He’d figured she would try to attack a guard or something, so he made sure everyone knew not to approach her directly when the door was open. He didn’t care much about his staff getting hurt, but he didn’t want Jane trying to fight while she was pregnant.

He was also relieved that she’d only fucked with the doorknob. Once they got it off, all he had to do was have it replaced with something that didn’t have access to the lock on the inside. He was just thinking that they’d have the door open in no time and he could strangle his wife properly when she let out a sharp cry.

Vlad looked through the portal. Jane was still sitting on the edge of the bed but now she was doubled over clutching her stomach. Ice flooded through Vlad’s veins, leaving him feeling as though he’d just been submerged in frigid water.

“Jane, speak to me, what’s happening?”

“I don’t know, Vlad,” she groaned. “M-my stomach hurts.”

Vlad tried the doorknob again as if sheer strength might get the door open. It wouldn’t. He’d made certain the door was solid. He rattled the knob frantically, his eyes never leaving his wife. “Is this part of your ploy? Don’t you dare fucking pretend with me right now, Jane.”

She flipped her head up, her ponytail bouncing against her neck and glared at him. Her expression quickly melted from anger to fear and then pain. “I’m not pretending!” she snarled, clutching at her middle.

Vlad hit the door with his fist then looked down at the knob. It was just the knob that’d been damaged. If he could knock it off the door, he might be able to get inside.

“Stay calm, Jane.” He strode into the wide cellar and grabbed the first bottle he saw.

Holding it in both hands, he slammed the heel of the bottle down onto the knob. It creaked but otherwise nothing happened. He lifted the bottle again but was interrupted when Jane let out a scream of pain.

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