Page 44 of Owned By Shadows

“Why’s my Lamb giving you puppy dog eyes?” Rowan asks as he strolls into the room, clearly having been outside if the colour on his cheeks is any sign. Bastard.

“She wants to go outside and enjoy the fact that we’re on a beautiful tropical island, regardless of the fact that Sergi knows we’re near Bali.”

“Wait.” Roo holds his palm up, giving the guys a glare. “Who said she’s not allowed outside?”

Hunter heaves a sigh, Nik stiffening next to me. “We don’t know what sort of tech Sergi has access to aside from the satellites, which could definitely pick up Iris if they were looking and she was on the beach.” Nik’s tone is apologetic, begging me to understand why I’ve become a prisoner again.

“I understand,” I whisper past the sudden lump in my throat, getting up, not wanting to be touched by them even though it’s not their fault. I just fucking hate that this is my life. That I can’t enjoy spending time in this beautiful place because of one man’s obsession.

“Malyshka...” Nik’s voice carries pain as he reaches out for me, but I step away, wrapping my arms around myself and shaking my head.

“I get it, Nik, I do. I just need some space, please. Sergi has made me a prisoner once again and I just need a hot fucking second to get used to my new fucking cage.” Tears are streaming down my cheeks and I can’t stop them, so I turn and stride back towards the bedroom, which at least has a covered balcony I can go out on and feel the warm breeze on my damp cheeks.

They give me the space that I asked for, even if now I’m regretting it because I just want arms around me telling me that this isn’t forever. That this will pass and one day we will be free. I get my wish moments later, muscular arms covered in Russian symbols wrapping around me from behind seconds before the scent of juniper, black pepper, and vetiver envelops me.

“I know you asked for space,Solnishko, but I needed to hold you,” Nik whispers into my ear, and I lean back into his embrace, absorbing the comfort he’s giving. “I’m so sorry you are the victim in all this. I never wanted that, and if I could change it right now, I would.”

Sighing, I rest my head on his chest. “I know, Nik. I just fucking hate this. I just want to enjoy the feel of sand beneath my toes, the waves on my feet, but I can’t and I just...I fucking hate it so much.”

Tears slip from my eyes again, and he spins me, pulling me so close there is not a breath of air between us. He doesn’t say anything. After all, what can he say to make me feel better? So instead, he holds me until my quiet sobs subside.

“Lamb?” Rowan’s voice softly asks, and I look beyond Nik to find him, Roman, and Hunt in the doorway to our room. “Will you come with us, please?”

I bite my lip, frowning as I detect the slight excitement that Roman is clearly struggling to contain. “Okay.”

Stepping away from Nik, he takes my hand and we follow the guys through the house, stopping to put flip-flops on and head out of a side door.

“Where are we going?” I ask, my pulse picking up speed as we walk underneath the canopy. It’s stunning, the sounds of birds calling and the sea filling me up like a soothing balm. “Isn’t this dangerous?”

“The trees provide enough cover, Princess. So no satellite can see you,” Roman says, turning to walk backwards as he grins at me.

My lips pull up into a smile, my eyes darting around to take in the beautiful scenery around us. “It’s so stunning.”

“Wait a few moments until you see what’s beyond this turn,” Hunt calls from the front of our group. A sense of breathlessnessfills me as I do as he says, trying to peer beyond the three of them, Nik behind me, to what he is hinting at.

Suddenly, we turn the corner and I stop, my eyes wide as my mouth gapes at the paradise before me. It’s a small cove, but the palm trees go right up to the sea, so the whole thing is covered and no one could see us from above.

“I’m sorry we didn’t see how trapped you were feeling, Peaches,” Hunt says, coming up and cupping my face in his hands. “We should have made getting you out a priority. All I can say is we were so worried about keeping you and the baby safe that we didn’t see it until you just pointed it out to us.” His tone is soft, full of his apology, and his emerald eyes are begging for forgiveness.

“This is...” I have no words, just dart a glance beyond him to the space that they found for me so I can enjoy our time here safely. “Thank you.”

“It’s our job to make you happy, baby, and I’m just sorry we didn’t do that sooner,” he admits, kissing my lips lightly before taking my other hand in his.

“You do make me happy, so happy. It was the situation, the feeling of being trapped just like when I was in that mansion, and even before then really,” I tell them, looking at each of them. “I’m just realising that since that day I came home, I’ve spent most of my time locked in one cage or another because of Sergi, and I guess that lack of freedom became too much.”

“And we swear to you it won’t be like that forever,Solnishko,” Nik states from beside me, his fingers grasping my chin and turning me to face him. “Just give us some time and forgive us when we mess up.”

“There’s no need to forgive you, you didn’t do anything—” My words are cut off with a shriek as Roman grabs me up in his arms and runs down the short beach into the warm sea. “Roman!”

The fucker just laughs, only going as far as the cover allows, but he sits down so the water rushes over us both, soaking the vest top and bikini briefs I was wearing. “I needed to see that beautiful smile of yours, Princess.”

I narrow my gaze at him, though the smile he’s talking about doesn’t leave my lips. In a split second move, I push him down so he falls backwards into the sea, the water flowing over his face, and he comes up spluttering as the others laugh and jeer from their place on the sand.

“That was mean, Princess,” he mock scolds, shaking the water from his hair and getting it all over me.

“I could make it up to you,” I say, my voice low as I stare into those laughing brown eyes of his that have captivated me from the very first moment I met them.

“Yeah?” he replies, his hands landing on my waist and squeezing. “How’s that?”

---