<b>Chapter </b><b>175 </b>


    Elena’s POV:


    “Put that gun down.” That’s the first thing I said to Lazar, my voice low. I took a step forward. The biggest issue here <b>was </b>that I wasn’t sure if Lazar was telling the truth. How was I supposed to believe him? What was his true purpose foring here? His question had made it seem like he was trying to help me. But his stance and behavior showed the opposite. It was like his real reason toe here was to torment me.


    At this point, going back up to my room was out of the question. As much as I hated to risk my life, knowing full well that had my son to care for, I was selfish. I really was. Because only at this point, as my heart beat faster and louder than ever before, did I realize… if something happened to Niki, if I never got to see him again, then….I would rather die.


    It made me selfish, didn’t it? I was a horrible mother to think like this. But how could I live without Niki now? Now that<b>! </b>was so used to him, sopletely and irrevocably in love with him? He was my home, my safe ce, my everything.


    I only felt regret. My biggest regret was that I hadn’t shown it enough. I had only said “I love you” a handful of times. I hadn’t even gotten a chance to repay my debt to him. The debt wasn’t the mary one. It was worse. It was the kind of debt I felt like I could never repay. The debt for him risking his life for me, the debt for loving me so much, for doing so much for me. I had to go. I had to save him. The thought of losing him was a far greater fear than any I had ever felt before.


    Lazar only scoffed, not putting away the gun, but that was something I’d expected. Someone like him? It would only be more suspicious if he listened and actually heeded my words.


    “How am I I


    Supposed to believe anything you’re saying?” I questioned him, my voice a quiet whisper.


    His eyes turned to me, his mocking smile still in ce. Then his smile widened, a cold, predatory grin. “You already do… you just need a little push.” He paused then, the silence a tense, terrifying thing, before he added, “How about you do this… call daddy dearest and see?”


    I frowned. “Why would he….” I trailed off, and then the realization hit me. If what Lazar said was right, if he had taken Niki because of me, then wasn’t Sergei just waiting for me to contact him? Even just his greeting would be enough for me to know if he was lying or not.


    My hands trembled, but I didn’t waste a second, pulling out my phone to dial Sergei’s number. I felt a fear, a bone–deep, chilling fear even worse than I had when I had plunged into deep waters, when I had found the basement. Because this fear was of losing Niki. It was a cold, terrifying emptiness that was worse than any pain I had ever felt.


    He picked up on the first ring. I swallowed and put the phone to my ear, staying silent, listening to the static on the line. ! heard a low chuckle, a soft, sadistic sound that sent shivers down my spine. “Finally decided to call? It took you so long… his voice rang out, a low, purring sound, and a pang resonated in my chest.


    Why did I feel so hurt? Just this one line, and I felt like I had been betrayed. So badly. Only now did I realize that


    somewhere along the way, I had actually started trusting Sergei.


    “Where… is he? Did you hurt him?” I asked softly, feeling my legs go slightly wobbly, but I made sure not to <b>show </b><b>my </b><b>fear </b>as much as I could. I had to be strong. I had to be brave. For him.


    “Not yet…. however. My next action depends entirely on what you do.” he said, the words <b>a </b>direct<b>, </b><b>brutal </b><b>threat</b>.


    I swallowed the lump in my throat. “What do you


    want mn


    to do?”


    “Come to my estate after all…Why do you think I sent Lazar there?” he questioned, and I shot a dirty look at Lazar He <b>just </b>smiled, an unsettling smile that made my stomach churn.


    I paused then… a realization dawning on me. My hands around my phone clenched.


    Of course, how I hadn’t I realized this earlier? I should have as soon as Sergei began speaking.


    “And if I listened to you, would you let Niki go?” I questioned, my voice a little louder now, a little more confident. First<b>, </b>I needed to make sure of something.


    “Of course, Elena. All I need is for you to follow Lazar. And I will let him go.” he finished, his voice a low, soothing sound that was more terrifying than any scream.


    I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. “Let me talk to him.” I said, the words a demand, not a request. He let out a soft chuckle.


    “Of course…” A few minutes passed by, and I heard background noise like he was climbing down somece, the faint sound of footsteps on a hard surface. And then I heard a wheeze, a soft, strangled sound. “Your wife is on the line…“1 heard Sergei’s mocking voice.


    “Elena… don’t listen to him.” Niki’s voice came through. I took in a sharp inhale, a sudden, desperate sob escaping my lips as I blinked the tears away. He was fine. He was alive.


    <i>me </i>here. I’ll be fine. I promise… don’te here.” he said, the words a low, frantic plea. I remained silent, “Please don’t not answering, my heart a fractured, bleeding thing in my chest.


    “<i>You </i>know full well that no intruders can enter this fortress <i>of </i>mine. So unless I permit, there is no way he can go out either<i>.</i><i>” </i>Sergei said.


    “Shut the fuck up!” I heard Niki shout, his <i>voice </i>a roar of fury and defiance. “Elena. Don’t you daree here. You need <i>to </i>listen to me.” he said.


    “I can’t.” I finally said. It was <i>just </i>two very quiet words. But they were the truth. I really couldn’t. Because <i>if </i>I did. <i>if</i><i>! </i>listened and stayed. Then I might never <i>see </i>him again.