Page 30 of Dark Embers

I don’t hesitate. I tell him exactly what I need.

“You got it, Rina,” he says with a smile in his voice. “Give me ten to fifteen minutes and I’ll let you know when it’s done.”

I end the call, feeling a little steadier. A little more confident as I stride into the Diamond Hotel lobby, fury in my veins and fire in my chest. I don’t even make it to the reception desk—Syd intercepts me near the elevators like a damn bodyguard.

“I’ll take her up,” she tells the receptionist before turning to me. “Sabrina—”

“Don’t you dare.” I spin on her. “Was it you? Are you and your boss proud of yourselves for setting me up? You thought you’d just destroy my name, my career, and I’d roll over?”

Syd blinks, stunned. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, come on.” I spit the words. “Don’t play dumb. You’re the one who probably planted the evidence in my dressing room.”

“Sabrina, I didn’t—”

“Save it.” I glare at her as the elevator doors open. “Let’s just get this over with.”

When the elevator reaches the penthouse, I don’t wait. I march out before the doors fully open and into the suite like a goddamn thunderstorm. My sneakers squeak across the marble as I zero in on the office.

Oleksi steps out before I can reach the door, his signature smug smile already in place.

“Well, well,” he says, all cool confidence. “I was wondering when you’d show up.”

I halt inches from him. “I hope you’re proud,” I snap. “You set me up to lose my job. Are you happy? Does it give you that Bratva thrill to ruin a single mom’s livelihood? Not just my dancing career, but probably my law career too. No one wants a lawyer who’s a ‘known thief.’”

“If you apologize,” he says smoothly, “you can come work for me.”

“And if I don’t?”

He shrugs like it’s nothing. “I’d have another think about that. What happens to your daughter if you go to prison? I’ll have no choice but to fire your mother too. And she’ll owe back the deposit for her two-year contract. Even though I’m Bratva, the law protects me too. You know that.”

I flinch. Not from fear—but from the wound slicing through my chest—now I know for sure how hard and fast I fell for a monster.

CHAPTER 14

Sabrina

“Why are you doing this?” My voice drops. I can’t stop the tremble. “Because I said no to your help with Tara? Is your ego that fragile?”

Something flickers in his eyes—but it’s gone too fast.

“You asked for my trust last night,” I continue, forcing the words out through the knot in my throat. “You told me you’d never hurt me. But I guess that promise only applied inside your precious pleasure zone. Out here in the real world, you’re someone else entirely—just like you warned me.”

He doesn’t deny it. His jaw is tight. Silent.

“But I’m not like you. I don’t have two versions of myself. I’m still Sabrina—whether I’m in the bedroom or not. I only have one heart. One soul. One trust. And you shattered it.”

I draw a breath, my voice breaking. “I’m not your toy to control. I’m a mother. A dancer. A woman with a mind and dreams. I’m not someone you get to break for fun.”

His eyes darken. But he doesn’t step back.

“All you have to do is apologize,” he says quietly, “and this will all go away. Then we can go into my office and discuss the terms of your new job. One where you can spend time with Elena, and never have to dance for strangers again.”

And there it is, he already sees me as his possession.

It was never about helping me. It was about owning me. Controlling me.

“No,” I whisper. Then louder. “No.” I watch his face twitch at the word. “There—I said it again. No.”

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