Chapter 5: Child’s play
1294 Words
Evangeline’s POV:
I made my way down to the ground floor, using the side elevator to avoid drawing attention, though I knew that even then, the security cameras would track my every move.
Within minutes, I reached the clinic on the ground floor and knocked lightly on the door.
A voice—smooth, deep, and unmistakably young—called out from inside.
“Who is it?”
My heart skipped a beat.
This was it.
Dr. Alexei Sokolov.
The only person who’d be willing to help me in my predicament.
After all, an enemy of an enemy was a friend, right?
And Alexei Sokolov’s enemy just so happened to be my oh-so-dear husband.
“It’s me… Evangeline. May I come in, please?” I said, keeping my voice steady.
There was shuffling. Then, after a brief pause, the door cracked open, revealing a tall, slim-built man in a pristine white coat.
Blond, well-styled hair. Piercing green eyes.
Even without the deceptive charm, he looked exactly as I remembered.
Deadly. Dangerous. And right now? Crucial to my escape.
He smiled, stepping aside. “Please, come in. How may I help you, little Mrs. Volkovitch?”
I almost glowered at him.
Little Mrs. Volkovitch?
The condescension in his tone was irritating.
But I forced myself to school my expression, keeping my voice light.
“Just Evangeline is fine,” I murmured, stepping inside and shutting the door behind me.
I hesitated before meeting his gaze. “I… I actually wanted to talk to you about something private.”
He paused. “Something private?”
I pretended to blush, casting my gaze downward like I was embarrassed.
Then, slowly, I looked up at him through my lashes.
“I feel a little shy about saying it out loud… Would it be okay if I whispered it in your ear?”
His brow furrowed slightly, clearly thrown off.
For a moment, he looked genuinely confused—which was cute.
Still, after a brief hesitation, he bent down, tilting his head toward me.
I leaned in, brushing my lips close to his ear, and whispered,
“I have a deal for you.”
His body went completely rigid.
Then, as if struck by realization, his expression morphed into pure amusement.
A low, mocking chuckle escaped him. “I think there must be some mistake—”
Before he could pull away, I gripped his collar, yanking him closer, my lips hovering just over his ear as I murmured,
“Ne sei sicuro, signor De Luca?”
Alexei stiffened.
His entire demeanor shifted in an instant.
I watched, satisfied, as his eyes widened slightly in shock—but only for a fraction of a second.
Then, just as quickly, his expression darkened.
That’s right.
This handsome doctor wasn’t just a mere physician.
He was a traitor.
In my past life, he would go on to betray my so-called husband.
He would attempt to kill Orion.
Of course, Orion survived—and Alexei De Luca did not.
Only in his last moments did his true identity come to light.
A De Luca.
A family that had served the Rossi Mafia Family for centuries—Orion’s greatest rivals.
And now, I was about to hand them exactly what they wanted.
The perfect opportunity to destroy the Volkovitch Empire.
A chill settled over the room.
Alexei exhaled sharply and pulled out his phone.
I didn’t even have to look—I knew he was putting the security cameras on a loop.
Good.
As he tapped away, I let my gaze drift across the room.
Nothing particularly stood out.
Except one thing.
A framed photograph sitting on his desk.
I moved toward it, my fingers hovering just above the frame.
A little girl and a beautiful woman stood beside him, smiling softly at the camera.
In my previous life, I had asked him once, “Who are they?”
His answer had been simple.
“My sister and niece.”
But what I didn’t know at the time was that one of them was dead and one missing.
Just as I reached for the frame, a strong hand gripped my wrist, twisting it behind my back.
I winced as he pinned me against the desk.
The scent of mint and antiseptic chemicals filled my lungs.
His voice was low, dangerous.
“Do you… have any idea what you just said, little girl?”
I scoffed, tilting my head back to meet his gaze.
“Pretty sure I do.”
A slow, calculated smile curved my lips.
“So… is that a yes?”
Alexei’s nostrils flared.
His expression remained eerily blank, but I could feel his rage simmering beneath the surface.
His grip tightened.
“I could kill you right here,” he murmured. “And then there would be no need for a deal.”
I smirked.
“You won’t dare.”
His grip faltered slightly.
Good.
I continued, my voice a low whisper.
“Before I came here, I told Hugo where I was going. Not to mention the CCTV footage outside.”
His entire body went still.
I pressed on.
“If anything happens to me, you’ll be the first suspect.”
My heart was hammering violently.
I wasn’t some badass.
I was f*****g terrified.
If this man wanted, he could snap my neck in an instant.
And inwardly I knew Orion wouldn’t even care.
But I had to stay composed.
I let out a slow breath. “And once they check my room and find my diary… they’ll know exactly who you are. And where you came from.”
A long, tense silence filled the air.
I knew the truth—
There was no diary.
But he didn’t know that.
And more importantly…
He couldn’t check right away.
After all, he didn’t have access to the third floor.
His green eyes darkened.
“Stai giocando un gioco pericoloso,” he muttered.
You’re playing a dangerous game.
Then, finally—
He let go of me.
I exhaled in relief, though I masked my fear as I casually settled into the chair across from his desk.
I gestured toward him.
“Take a seat.”
He clenched his jaw but complied, lowering himself into his chair.
“What kind of deal?” he asked.
I leaned forward, my voice steady.
“I want something from you.”
I held his gaze.
“And in return, I’ll give you access to the third floor for one night.”
He froze.
His eyes flickered with shock.
But after a moment, he shook his head.
“How am I supposed to trust you?” he asked. “For all I know, this could be a trap. You could run to your husband at any moment.”
I nodded in understanding. “Your concerns are valid. But wouldn’t you like to know what I want first?”
He narrowed his eyes. “What?”
I took a slow, deliberate breath.
Then, I said it.
“I want to get out of here.”
He starts chuckling, “Do you think this is child’s play? That marriage is like playing house? Especially within the Mafia.”
My smile drops, “It’s exactly because I know the severity of it, that I need to leave. I’m not joking around, Mr. De Luca, I need to escape to a faraway place where Orion or his family can never find me.”
He pauses, looking at me intensely. After a long bout of silence, he speaks while shaking his head, “Not possible. You’ll never escape him,” he pauses, then adds, “Alphas don’t let go of what’s theirs.”
Even as my heart jolts at his threat, I smile reassuringly. “I will, and you’ll help me.”
- Writer
