Chapter 16

"Are you coming or not?" he asked when I stopped. Nodding, I followed him to the stairs as he led me to my room.

"Go take a shower and sleep," he said.

"Thank you," I whispered, looking down as I hid my tears from him.I walked inside and he closed the door behind me. Blindly looking for the light switch, I turned it on and the room was instantly illuminated in light.I was tired, weak, hungry, sleepy, and numb. All I wanted to do was sleep and never wake up.

Quickly shedding my clothes, I got into the shower. The warm water cascaded around me and I felt the warmth cover my cold body. My teeth chattered as I washed myself. Silent tears streamed down my cheeks. Tears of relief. I sank on the shower floor and cried while letting the warm water fall over my weak body. I didn't know how long I stayed in the shower, but when my body felt fully warmed and my tears had finally dried, I got up and walked out.

After putting my black pajamas on, I felt myself smile. I would sleep and forget everything. But that smile turned into a gasp of horror when I saw Alex sitting on my bed. Staggering back, I curled into myself, fear spreading through my body.He hastily got up from the bed when he saw me cowering behind the door. "Shhh, don't be scared. I'm not here to hurt you. I'm not going to hurt you."

My eyes widened in surprise at his tone, which was gentle and soft.I have lost my mind. I must be dreaming.

I shook my head and sputtered. "You…you…I…"

My head grew dizzy when I saw him giving me a sweet smile. My legs gave out, but before I could fall on the floor, he rushed forward and grabbed onto my arms, pulling me into him. He cradled me to his chest, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck and held on, scared he would let me go.

"It's okay. I got you," he whispered, walking to my bed and gently placing me down.

He sat on the mattress, and that was when I noticed the first aid kit on the bed. Alex pulled it onto his lap and removed some bandages and a bag of antiseptic wipes. He looked up and our gazes met. I froze when I saw his eyes glistening with emotion.Leaning forward, Alex gently grabbed my hands and placed them on his knees. He took the wipes out of the packet and gently rubbed my raw wrists. I hissed and he quickly mumbled, "Sorry."

Did he really say that?

Bending down, he blew on my wrists and continued cleaning the small wound. It stung, but with him gently blowing on the burning skin, the pain slowly started to diminish.My eyes were closed when he wrapped the bandages around my wrists.

"There. All done," he whispered, slowly rubbing his finger on the bandage.

I opened my eyes and stared at him. Why was he doing this? My heart stuttered when he brought my wrists up and placed a single kiss on each of them. My mouth hung open. This wasn't actually happening, right? "I'm sorry, Alina," Alex said against my wrist. I stopped breathing for a second. He apologized to me. The Russian mafia boss, Alex Ivanshov, a man who probably never uttered the word sorry to anyone, had just apologized to me.

I was in a state of shock. My heart was beating wildly in my chest and I fought to breathe. He looked up at me and my body started to warm up under his soft gaze.This is not possible. Alex couldn't be sitting in front of me right now and apologizing. He couldn't be this…gentle.

"I shouldn't have treated you like that. I can't apologize enough. But please know that I am so very sorry," he continued as he placed my hands on his knees again. Bringing his hand up to my face, he moved my hair behind my ears, letting his fingers linger on my cheek. "I believe you," Alex added.

I gasped, then gulped hard, and continued to stare at him, my eyes wide. I didn't say anything. I couldn't.

"Please forgive me for my horrible actions. This won't happen again. You are safe here. Nobody will ever mistreat you again," he muttered, his voice a little rough but still gentle.

He stared at me for a few more seconds, his blue eyes twinkling with something I couldn't quite pinpoint. Alex was always rude, arrogant, mean, vulgar, and menacing.

But this side of Alex was strange, and against my own resolve, my heart did a flip. His kindness and softness was unnatural, but my heart grasped onto it and held it tight.For a man like him to apologize, it meant something, right?

Suddenly, he drew away, but then his lips tilted upward in a small smile. "There's food here." He nodded toward my nightstand where a tray of food sat.I looked back at him when he continued. "Please eat. You must be feeling weak. I will tell Lena that you are not going to work tomorrow. You need rest."

I nodded, still looking into his eyes, trying to find any sign of deception or trickery. But I only saw honest feelings. He really did feel guilty.Still confused at the new turn of events, I stayed speechless. Alex sighed when I didn't say anything. Moving away, he stood up and stared down at me.

"Goodnight," he said in the same smooth voice.

His expression was sad and dejected. Almost mournful.My heart constricted and my eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Why was I feeling sad for him? He deserved to feel the guilt and sorrow over causing me unnecessary pain. But why did I feel bad for him?

As I tried to understand my own feelings over this whole ordeal, he gave me a final look and turned around. Without saying anything else, Alex walked out of my bedroom and closed the door behind him.I was left on my bed, speechless and confused.

Who was this new Alex?

I looked at the tray of food and my stomach growled.But then I looked back at the closed door, my heart hammering as I expected Alex to barge in and drag me back into the basement.When none of that happened, I leaned against my headboard and looked down at my bandaged wrist.

He had bandaged my wrist, brought me food, and apologized. My feelings were all over the place. I was scared, but his kindness had warmed my heart. Was he being genuine?Oh God, I hope so.

Rubbing my thumb over my wrist, I thought about how he kissed my wrists gently, almost like he was scared of hurting me. I never thought him capable of being gentle, but he proved me wrong.

His eyes had shown guilt and remorse. Looking back at the door, my heart constricted.Either he really meant his apology or he was a really good actor.There were so many uncertainties running through my head and none of them were helpful. They all led to the same conclusion.

Alex was unpredictable.

I couldn't trust him, not after the way he had treated me. Not when I knew the type of man he was. I felt vulnerable, and sometimes I could be gullible, but I wasn't that stupid.But for now, I was still alive. And that was all that mattered.Closing my eyes, I took in a deep breath and felt my muscles relaxing.I was hungry, sore, and tired. My gaze went to the tray and my stomach growled again. I leaned over and brought the tray to my lap. My muscles protested with the movement and I groaned.I ate until my stomach felt like it would burst. Eggs, rice, curry, fruits.

I sighed, feeling content. Sometimes this new life felt better than my old life—my life with Alberto. After placing the tray back in its original spot, I pulled the covers over me and snuggled deeper into the softness.I stared at the door, blinking several times when my vision became hazy. Sleepiness took over my body and I had no desire to fight it. My body was languid and my eyes drifted shut.When I couldn't hold them open any longer, I gave the door a final glance and then closed my eyes, slowly surrendering myself to exhaustion. Before I succumbed to the darkness, a strange thought ran through my head.Don't fall for him.But I never had a chance to analyze it. Sleep had already taken over my body.

Alberto

"We haven't found her yet."

"Fuck!" I roared before throwing my phone across the room.

Pushing my chair away from my desk, I stood up and paced my office. That bitch. One week. One week since she fucking escaped.One week since she tricked everyone and left. And all this time, I had been looking for her. I had dozens of men looking for her. Day and night. But no one found her yet.

Where the fuck could she be?

Punching the wall in rage, I felt my control slowly snapping. She would pay for leaving me.

She was mine, only mine.

She belonged to me. Her place was in my bed, with her legs spread, waiting for me.

Since she was seven, her fate had been entwined with mine. When I saw her for the first time, I knew I had to have her. She was meant for me.But she left.And I would make her bleed for leaving me. She would regret ever stepping a foot outside my estate.When the door opened, I swiveled around to see Alfredo coming in.

"Have they found her yet?" he asked.

I shook my head, leaning back against the wall, watching him pace.

"Where could she be? How is it possible that none of our men have found her yet? They are the best trackers we have," he growled, raking his hand through his hair.