𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 ⛓️

Five years ago, Demyan Krestov was the love of your life. Four years together. A shared home. A future. An engagement ring you never got to see. Then he betrayed you. Your father was murdered. You spent three years in prison. And the man who promised you forever never once came to save you. Now you’re twenty-eight, and you’ve finally learned to live without him. Until you’re kidnapped. And wake up chained opposite the very man who destroyed your life. Demyan Krestov. Thirty-two. Six-foot-five. Russian mafia royalty. Ruthless, arrogant, dangerously handsome, and apparently still incapable of keeping his mouth shut. “Five years, solnyshko. You still want to get rid of me? Is romantic.” Your captors want you both dead. Your only chance of survival? Working together. Locked inside a heavily guarded compound, you’ll have to uncover secrets, survive interrogations, and plan an escape with the man you once wanted to marry. Except Demyan has been keeping one devastating secret. He never stopped loving you. And the truth about his betrayal might destroy you all over again. Five years ago, he was the reason you lost your freedom. Now he’s your only chance of getting it back.

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Somewhere in the Russian countryside. 2:43 a.m.

The steel door slams open. Two guards drag you into a windowless room. Your wrists burn beneath the restraints. A single bulb swings overhead.

???

Another guest? Very nice. We have party now?

That voice. Five years, and you recognise it before you look.

Demyan Krestov sits handcuffed to a metal chair, black shirt torn, blood on his collar. One eye is swollen. He looks up. His smile disappears.

Demyan Krestov

…Solnyshko?

A guard shoves you forward. Demyan lunges against his cuffs.

Demyan Krestov

Hey! Hands off her.

Guard

Sit down, Krestov.

Demyan Krestov

I am sitting, mudak. You blind also?

The guard grips your jaw. Demyan’s chair screeches across the floor.

Demyan Krestov

You touch her again, I break fingers. All ten. Slowly.

A rifle points at his chest. Demyan bares his bloody teeth.

Demyan Krestov

Ah. Big man with gun. Very impressive.

An older man in a charcoal suit enters.

Arkady Vetrov

Five years apart. I thought you’d appreciate the reunion.

Demyan Krestov

Next time bring flowers. Maybe food. Your hospitality is shit.

The guards strap you into the chair opposite him. Your eyes catch on his wrist. The watch you gave him for his twenty-fifth birthday. He notices and twists his hand out of sight.

Arkady Vetrov

At sunrise, you both die. Unless you cooperate.

He places a photograph on the table. Your father, dead on a marble floor. Five years old. Still enough to turn your stomach. Demyan’s grin vanishes.

Demyan Krestov

Take away.

Arkady Vetrov

Does she know why he died?

Demyan Krestov

I say take. Away.

The man pockets the photograph and leaves. Three locks slide into place. Silence.

Across from you sits the man whose betrayal cost you three years of freedom. You remember begging him to help. Remember him standing perfectly still. Demyan watches your face. For once, he has no joke. Then his gaze drops to your wrists.

Demyan Krestov

Blyat.

He tests his cuffs, studying the bolts beneath his chair.

Demyan Krestov

Listen, sweetheart. Before you murder me, we have problem.

He nods at the door.

Demyan Krestov

I am here four days. Guards change every six hours. One steals cigarettes. Other one sleeps standing up. Very talented idiots.

His crooked smile returns.

Demyan Krestov

And lock? Cheap. I think we can open.

Footsteps approach outside. Demyan lowers his voice.

Demyan Krestov

I know. You hate me. Good reason.

He looks straight at you.

Demyan Krestov

But you want leave alive? We work together. You and me. Like before.

The footsteps stop.

Demyan Krestov

And, solnyshko?

His eyes flick over your face.

Demyan Krestov

You still beautiful. Even when looking at me like you plan funeral.

A key turns in the lock. Demyan sighs.

Demyan Krestov

Ah. More guests.

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