Page 94 of Thorns of Love
With each of Adrian’s answers, Nikita’s grip lessened. Not wasting a single minute, I elbowed Nikita with all my strength, then sprinted forward, ignoring the probable frostbite on my feet. Adrian shouted at me to stop, but I ignored him. I kept going, putting my all into it.
It was stupid, I knew it. There was nothing around for miles. But I had to try. I had to get away.
Suddenly, I was lifted off my feet. “Let me go!” I screamed, trying to wrestle free and kicking my bare feet.
“Stop it.” Adrian’s voice suffocated me, his grip firm on me. I swung my head back and headbutted him. Stars swam in my vision. Pain shot through my brain, but I ignored it. “Stop it, or I’ll shoot you right now,” Adrian hissed, his tone furious.
I inhaled a deep breath, then exhaled, trying to calm my racing heart and adrenaline ringing in my ears.
“You calm?” he gritted. I was anything but calm, but I nodded nonetheless. He put me down and I turned around to see Adrian rubbing his nose. “Fuck, Tatiana. I think you broke my nose.”
I narrowed my eyes on him. “And you fucking broke my heart. I doubt that we are remotely close to even.”
He rolled his eyes. “Stop being dramatic.”
Now that my heart rate slowed, the cold rushed through me. Goddamn it! Maybe I should have jogged a bit more.
“Adrian, I don’t have any shoes.” I shot Adrian pleading glances.
Nikita jerked my arm hard and I heard a pop in my shoulder. I clenched my teeth to stop a whimper from escaping me.
“You won’t need them,” Nikita gritted. “This road leads you to a cold, dark grave anyhow.”
“You fucking–”
“Don’t make this harder, Tatiana.” Adrian’s voice was deceptively calm and soft, but a vein thundered in his temple. He was pissed off, although it remained to be seen whether it was at me, Nikita, or the mysterious Sofia Volkov.
“Welcome to your gravesite,” Nikita drawled. “Same place where Adrian’s parents were murdered.”
My eyes flickered to Adrian. He avoided looking at me, his gaze trailing over the white landscape. White as far as your eye could see. Nothing but snow surrounded us, tainted only by our feet. But it was unmistakable where we were. The same howling wind. The same barren landscape. The same ghosts.
Goosebumps rose on my skin.
I bit my lip as I watched with horror the same parking lot he brought me to dance all those years ago. For our fucking honeymoon.
It was a different time. Different man. Different life.
“I’m sorry it couldn’t be different,” Adrian muttered and he looked like he meant it. “I mean it. I love you.”
Fury shot through me, warming my insides. It was better than cold fear. “I mean it too, Adrian. This is the final line. You shouldn’t cross it,” I hissed.
“We’ll make it fast,” Nikita spat, shoving me to my knees. The cold snow soaked through the hem of my dress and into my knees. The chill in my bones sent shudders through me. “You won’t feel… much.”
My gaze fleeted from Adrian to Nikita, then back to Adrian.No, no, no.
I couldn’t die this way.
There was so much left to do, say, see. I was too young. My babies needed to see the light. Their mama and papa. Have a beautiful, happy life. They deserved that.
“Or maybe we should drag it out,” Nikita snickered.
“Shut up,” Adrian snapped at him. His gaze darted to me and darkened. Maybe a flicker of regret stared back at me. So I tried to appeal to his good sense. For anything he might have felt for me. He said he loved me.
“Adrian, please, don’t do this,” I begged, my eyes burning from tears and the cold. My nose tingled and I brought my tied wrists up my front to rub it. I sniffled, a lonely tear escaping and rolling down my icy cheek. The cold froze my skin to the point of numbness. “Please,” I sniffled. “I’ve known you my whole life.”
“You fucked Konstantin,” he snapped, his voice worse than a whip against the sensitive skin. “I even used that fucking cologne you raved about. Overpriced and smelly.” I stared at him, gritting my teeth.Fake.Everything with him was fake. “Any last words?”
“You’re not going to win,” I told him defiantly, although deep down I shook with fear. “Illias will find you and he’ll end you. Once and for all.”
