CHAPTER 5
1116 Words
“Your father wants you back.”
The words froze me.
The hand around my waist tightened.
I tried to scream, but the stranger covered my mouth.
“Stay quiet.”
His voice was cold.
I bit his hand.
Hard.
He cursed and released me.
I turned and slapped him.
“Don't touch me!”
He stumbled back.
Adrian rushed toward me.
“Are you okay?”
I nodded quickly.
Then I saw the stranger.
He stood near the dining room window, dressed in black.
A mask covered half his face.
Roman raised his gun.
“Who sent you?”
The stranger smiled.
“Your old friend.”
Roman's expression changed.
“Victor?”
The stranger laughed.
“Ask him yourself.”
He pulled something from his pocket and threw it onto the table.
A small phone.
Then he jumped through the open window.
Roman ran after him.
“Roman!”
He stopped.
Outside, there was nothing.
The man was gone.
I stood frozen.
Adrian came beside me.
“You're shaking.”
“I know.”
He gently placed a hand on my shoulder.
I didn't pull away this time.
“I thought he was going to kill me.”
“I know.”
My voice broke.
“Why is my father doing this?”
Adrian didn't answer.
I looked at Roman.
“Why?”
Roman lowered his gun.
“We don't know what Victor wants.”
“He called me.”
All three men looked at me.
“What?”
I swallowed.
“He called me before we came here.”
Roman stepped closer.
“What did he say?”
“He called me his little girl.”
Something changed in Roman's face.
I saw it.
Pain.
Guilt.
Maybe fear.
“You knew him well,” I whispered.
Roman looked away.
“How well?”
He didn't answer.
I grabbed his arm.
“How well did you know my father?”
Roman looked down at my hand.
Then back at me.
“Better than anyone should.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“Then tell me what happened.”
He stayed silent.
“Please.”
My voice cracked.
“I've spent seven years wondering what happened to him.”
I wiped my cheek.
“Do you know what it feels like to lose someone and never get answers?”
Roman's eyes softened.
“Yes.”
“Then help me.”
He looked like he wanted to say something.
But Nikolai interrupted.
“We need to check the phone.”
Roman nodded.
Adrian picked it up.
“It's locked.”
“Give it to me,” Nikolai said.
He took the phone and examined it.
A few seconds later, the screen lit up.
Everyone stared.
A video had opened by itself.
I heard a man's voice.
My father's voice.
“Elena.”
My knees nearly gave out.
I grabbed the table.
The video showed a dark room.
Victor sat in a chair.
But it wasn't the father I remembered.
His face was different.
His jaw was sharper.
His hair was darker.
There was a scar near his left eyebrow.
I stared at the screen.
“That isn't him.”
Roman said nothing.
I stepped closer.
“Dad?”
Victor smiled.
That smile.
I remembered it.
The way he used to smile when I was little.
“You've grown into a beautiful woman.”
Tears rolled down my face.
“Why did you leave me?”
The video continued.
“I had no choice.”
“You always had a choice!”
My voice echoed through the room.
Adrian looked at me sadly.
Victor continued.
“I needed to protect you.”
“From what?”
The video suddenly went black.
Then one sentence appeared.
FROM THE THREE MEN YOU NOW TRUST.
I turned slowly.
Roman.
Adrian.
Nikolai.
All three stood behind me.
My heart shattered.
“What does that mean?”
Nobody answered.
I backed away.
“You knew.”
Roman stepped forward.
“Elena, listen to me.”
“No!”
I raised my hand.
“Don't come closer.”
He stopped.
My tears wouldn't stop.
“My father says I need protection from you.”
Roman's voice was low.
“Your father lies.”
I laughed through my tears.
“Then who am I supposed to believe?”
“Me.”
“Why?”
“Because I would never hurt you.”
“That's what every dangerous man says before he does.”
Adrian winced.
“Ouch.”
I glared at him.
“Not helping.”
“Sorry.”
Nikolai looked at the phone.
“There is more.”
Roman turned.
“What?”
Nikolai pressed the screen.
Another video appeared.
This one was older.
My father stood in a large room.
Three young men stood behind him.
Roman.
Adrian.
Nikolai.
They looked much younger.
Victor spoke to them.
“One day, she will come looking for me.”
The younger Roman nodded.
“What should we do?”
Victor smiled.
“Protect her.”
I stared at the screen.
My breath caught.
Then Victor said something that made my blood run cold.
“But if she ever discovers the truth...”
The video stopped.
I looked at Roman.
“What truth?”
He didn't answer.
“Roman!”
He closed his eyes.
“The truth is that your father didn't disappear because he was afraid of his enemies.”
My heart pounded.
“Then why?”
Roman opened his eyes.
“Because he betrayed the wrong person.”
“Who?”
Roman looked at Nikolai.
Nikolai's face was pale.
Then the lights suddenly flickered.
Once.
Twice.
The front door slammed shut.
Everyone turned.
A woman's scream came from upstairs.
My blood ran cold.
Adrian reached for his gun.
“Was that—”
Another scream.
This time, louder.
Roman grabbed my hand.
“Stay with me.”
We ran upstairs.
The hallway was empty.
But my bedroom door was open.
Roman pushed it wide.
The room was dark.
My bed was untouched.
My belongings were still there.
Then I saw the mirror.
Written across it in red were five words.
YOUR FATHER IS WATCHING YOU.
I stopped breathing.
Adrian whispered,
“How did they get inside?”
Nikolai walked toward the mirror.
His face changed.
“That's not all.”
I looked at him.
He pointed at the floor.
A trail of wet footprints led from my bedroom window...
straight to my bed.
And beside the pillow was a fresh red rose.
I slowly reached for it.
A tiny piece of paper was tied around the stem.
I unfolded it.
My hands trembled.
Only one sentence was written there.
I NEVER LEFT YOU, ELENA.
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