Chapter 5 A Damsel In Distress

• NIKOLAI
• I saw her and my heart stopped.
• Even after five years it still beats for her. I shouldn't have returned to Russia. But my father was dying and being the only son, I had no choice but it still makes me look like I left because I was too weak.
• imagine how heartbroken I was when I returned only to hear that she had married that bastard Damien Gavrilov.
• A man who rules with emotions. Has no sense of loyalty and can't keep his territory in check.
• I placed the cup of whiskey back on my table and sat behind my wooden table.
• A knock on the door alerted me it was Luca. My enforcer and right hand.
• “Don.” He bowed slightly.
• “Luca.” I acknowledged, “Did she get home safe?”
• He paused. Debating. I knew that look on his face. It was a look that told me I wouldn't like what he would say but he knew holding onto it any second longer drove me even more mad.
• “Spit it out.” I growled.
• “She witnessed a gruesome scene. It seems like she couldn't stand it and wanted to leave. But Damien had his men lock her in.”
• My blood boiled. And a growl that wasn't human escaped my throat.
• “Explain.”
• “I think you should watch this instead.” He walked over to me and placed the video in front of me.
• Being the most powerful man meant resources were at our disposal too. Luca must have used a drone to get inside and take the video without being noticed.
• I knew Aria and Damien had a trip coming but I didn't think much about it because I thought they were just going on a vacation like every happily married couple.
• I respect marriage and I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that and I would have stayed away and hidden had I not heard about the return of his childhood sweetheart Katherine Jackson.
• I didn't know the full story but I hoped my butterfly would remain unharmed because I was going to burn them all to the fucking ground if they hurt even a strand of hair from her head.
• “Prepare the men. We have a trip tomorrow morning.” I said to Luca who nodded and walked out.
• ARIA
• My eyes fluttered open and my back felt so fucking sore. I groaned as I struggled to stand.
• I fell asleep on the cold hard floor and could barely feel my ass.
• Standing, I tried to open the door and it unlocked. A frown formed on my face as I wondered if this was Damien’s sick game.
• Stepping out, I found his men positioned outside.
• “Good morning, Mrs. Gravilov.”
• “Hi.” I responded in a clipped tone. The bastard was the one who dragged me to that room and now he's all sunshine and fucking rainbows?
• I walked to our bedroom but found it empty. I checked the kitchen and it was the same. It looked like a mess but it was empty.
• “Where is my husband?” I turned to Simon.
• “He has gone ahead with Miss Jackson for the trip.” He responded.
• My frown deepened just when I saw a phone vibrate. I looked up and saw Simon speak into the phone for a second before giving it to me.
• I hesitated.
• “It's your husband.”
• Looking at him with suspicion, I grabbed the phone and placed it at my ear with hesitation.
• “Damien-”
• “Oh my beautiful wife is finally awake. I asked Simon to print your train ticket. If you start off now you can catch up with us within 36 hours.” He said, without a care about how he made me sleep without anything to cover or lay my head on.
• He wanted to take me for a fool?
• Fine.
• Two can play this game.
• Faking a smile, I responded coolly, “Okay.”
• “Good girl. I knew you'd come around. Oh Ask Simon to give you the luggage we left behind too. Since the flight has a limit, you can come with them on the train.”
• “No problem.” I responded.
• He was going to get the shock of his life.
• “Great. See you soon. Oh, Aria?”
• “Yes.”
• “Clean The kitchen before you start off. Katherine was in a rush so she couldn't clean after breakfast. You can give Simon the phone. Yours is in the drawer.”
• “Okay. See you soon.” I lied.
• I turned to Simon and gave him the phone.
• He placed it on his ear for a few seconds before hanging up.
• “We need to go and take care of something. The luggage is already in the living room.” He said and walked away with the others following behind.
• I was finally alone.
• I glanced at the disaster left behind on the counters and table, the mess staring back at me in mockery.
• Kate left this behind to spite me.
• I knew it and my fingers itched to destroy every trace of it, to shatter the dishes and make him regret treating me like this. But no, that would be too easy.
• A better idea hit me like a fucking light bulb.