Artem remained silent by the bed, watching Liana's sleeping face. His eyes, usually cold and calculating, softened as they traced every inch of her skin. His fingers twitched slightly as his gaze traveled down her neck, following the line of her collarbone until it reached her dreadful black dress. It was simple, yet it highlighted her curves provocatively.
He found himself staring at her chest longer than he should, the gentle rise and fall of her breathing clouding his thoughts. Artem clenched his jaw and forced himself to look away, silently scolding himself.
"Damn it," he reprimanded himself, reminding himself to keep a cool head and stop having thoughts about Liana. "I need to make an appointment with Céline when we get to Chicago."
However, his eyes drifted back to her once more, unable to resist. Just then, a firm knock sounded on the door, abruptly pulling him out of his trance. Artem drew his weapon in a quick, precise motion, aiming at the door.
"Who is it?" he asked in a deep, controlled voice.
"It's me, boss." The voice of one of his men came from the other side of the door. "Everything's been cleared, and Victor's men have been neutralized. But we have little time to leave."
Artem sighed, holstering his weapon, and cast one last glance at Liana. That's when he noticed the blood staining her clothes. He cursed under his breath.
"Give me a few minutes," he ordered, heading to the nearest closet.
He quickly searched through the clothes but only found nun outfits. He grimaced in disgust and muttered to himself, "I'm going to have to buy her a damn new wardrobe."
Finally, he pulled out a simple nightgown and approached Liana, ready to change her clothes. As he undressed her, his hands slowed down. He couldn't help but notice how the softness of her skin under his fingers excited him more than he wanted to admit.
He growled in frustration, looking at his crotch as if it were the culprit of it all.
"I told you to calm down, but it seems you have other plans, don't you?"
Just then, there was another knock on the door, interrupting his thoughts.
"What is it now?" he asked irritably.
"We need to hurry, boss," the subordinate replied from the other side. "One of the nuns has called the police."
He walked to the door and swung it open, and his subordinate looked at him with respect but couldn't help his eyes from drifting toward the bed, where Liana's legs were partially uncovered.
Artem raised an eyebrow in warning.
"If you want to lose those eyes, keep looking."
The man, immediately pale, shook his head quickly, diverting his gaze to the floor.
"We need to go, sir."
"Fine, but first, go get some of her things and do it quickly."
The subordinate nodded, not daring to look in Liana's direction again. Artem, satisfied, focused on dressing Liana in the nightgown. Once she was ready, he lifted her in his arms with ease, noting how her body fit perfectly against his.
When they got into the car, he carefully settled her in his lap. His body was tense, trying to maintain control over himself, but he couldn't help his breathing from quickening when Liana, unconscious, turned her head toward his neck and pressed her nose against his shoulder, as if seeking his warmth.
The contact was unexpected, and the proximity of her body caused an involuntary shiver. The softness of her skin against his, the subtle fragrance emanating from her hair, everything about her seemed to conspire against him, challenging his self-control. He felt his desire reignite, running down his spine like a slow, persistent fire. His body reacted, no matter how much he tried to resist, no matter how much he tried to keep his mind cool and focused on the mission.
"Shit," he thought as he cleared his throat, forcing himself to regain control.
"Start the car," he ordered the driver, his voice sounding rougher than he intended.
Before the vehicle started, Artem glanced at one of his bodyguards.
"Has Alexei made contact?"
"Yes, boss," the man replied. "He's informed us of the situation and expects to meet you as soon as we arrive in Chicago."
He nodded, satisfied with the response, and then leaned his head back against the seat, closing his eyes for a moment. The sensation of Liana's body against his remained, making it impossible to ignore the intensity of the desire he felt.
"How the hell am I going to live with her?" he wondered, aware of how complicated it would be to resist what he was feeling. He knew that keeping his distance was the right thing to do, that getting emotionally or physically involved with her would only complicate things further. But every time he was near her, his resolve wavered. "This is going to be a damn trial by fire," he thought, clenching his jaw, determined to maintain control even though his body seemed to have other plans.
Living with Liana, having her so close, was like putting a flame next to gunpowder. And Artem knew that sooner or later, something was going to explode.
HOURS LATER...
Liana opened her eyes slowly, and a sharp pain in her head hit her hard, making her groan silently. The recent events began to pass one by one in her mind: her father's death, the lawyer's arrival, Artem's sudden appearance, the gunshots, and then, the prick on her neck. Everything was a confusing whirlwind of images and sounds that overwhelmed her.
With a groan, she tried to get up, but the pain pierced her skull like a sharp knife, making her stagger.
"Damn it..." she murmured, bringing a hand to her neck, to the exact spot where Artem had pricked her.
Suddenly, a male voice broke the silence.
"I brought medicine for your headache."
The familiar sound of that voice made fear invade her immediately. Liana gasped, horrified, when she saw Artem standing at the entrance, with a smile that, although soft, held a threatening undertone. Her heart pounded in her chest, beating uncontrollably.
"I'm glad you're finally awake. I was starting to worry."
Despite the throbbing pain in her temples, Liana quickly sat up, only to realize two things: she was half-naked, and she couldn't stand. Her frantic gaze scanned the room, and her breath caught when she saw they were no longer in the convent. The room was unfamiliar, luxurious, but oppressive.
"Where are we?" she asked, almost in a whisper.
Artem began to walk toward her calmly, but Liana backed away until her back hit the wall. He seemed to notice her fear, and with a gesture of patience, he placed the glass of water and the pill on the nearby table, raising his hands in a sign of peace.
"We're in a hotel near the border. Tomorrow we'll fly to Chicago."
Liana's eyes widened with disbelief and fear.
"To Chicago?"
"Yes," Artem replied, with a calm firmness. "As I told you, our marriage is a fact, Liana. By this time tomorrow, you'll be Mrs. Vasiliev."
The weight of his words fell on her like a slab. The reality of what was happening hit her hard, increasing the panic she felt. She was trapped, with no way out, in the hands of a man who, although he was her only protection, was also her greatest threat. Her mind desperately searched for a way out, but every option seemed more terrifying than the last.
"Please... let me go," she managed to say, her voice barely a whisper.
Artem looked at her intently, his jaw clenched, his emotions hidden behind a mask of coldness. When he spoke, his voice was low, but each word was charged with an intensity that cut like a blade.
"Don't think this is something I want, Liana," he said relentlessly. "Like you, I don't want this marriage either. But I've given my word, and in our world, that's everything. It's not just about a ring or a title; it's about revenge, about justice. This marriage is the key to achieving it, and I won't let you ruin it."
Artem's words hit Liana like a sledgehammer. Their rawness and coldness made the fear mix with the anger in her chest, creating a tangle of emotions she could barely control. She looked at him in disbelief, unable to believe he could be so cruel, so insensitive to what she was feeling.
Artem's gaze then slid to Liana's robe, which was slightly open, exposing part of her body. It was a fleeting moment, but enough for her to feel panic begin to take hold of her. Her mind filled with terrifying questions, remembering that before losing consciousness, she was fully dressed, and now she was only wearing a nightgown.
"What did he do to me?" The question echoed in her mind, and fear pierced her like a lightning bolt. "Did he take advantage of her while she was unconscious?"
Artem, as if he could read her thoughts, looked at her with icy coldness and said sharply.
"You can rest assured. Your virtue is intact, and it will remain so."
His words left her stunned, almost breathless. She didn't know what to say or how to react to the coldness with which he had dismissed her fears. And before she could articulate any response, Artem turned around, heading for the door.
"Rest," he said, with the same impersonal voice. "Tomorrow we have a long trip home."
And with that, he left, closing the door behind him.
Liana stood paralyzed for a moment, her mind spinning in circles. The silence that remained in the room was deafening, and the sense of loneliness hit her hard. She quickly reacted; she ran to the door and tried to open it, but it was locked. Desperate, she pulled on the handle with all her strength, but there was no response. She looked around, trying to find a phone, some way to call for help, but there was nothing. Everything was carefully planned to keep her imprisoned.
And soon she would have to marry a man who didn't even love her.