He looks unsure probably because I look like a ghost. I felt the colour drain from my face as soon as I saw the building.
“Okay.” He inches the car forward as much as he can.
It’s enough. I open my window and swallow the bile that is resting at the back of my throat. My fingers press the code I was made to commit to memory and hope he hasn’t changed it.
The boom gate lifts, my breathing stops and the tires squeal as the driver rolls into the dark space. Automatic lights flick on and illuminate the ground level carpark and a man in a grey suit standing at my designated park.
“To him.” My voice is hoarse, thick with fear as I watch Milosh take a walkie talkie to his mouth.
“Um, ah, are you sure, Miss?” The poor driver can sense the tension in the air, probably why he is sweating buckets and shifting his eyes between the man waiting for us and me.
“Yes.” I say it harsher than I should, but I don’t think he is going to argue.
The car cruises forward and I take my last breath for strength, hoping there is someone watching down on me.
The car stops and my door opens. Milosh extends his hand for me to get out, like I never left. I hate they are so cocky, knowing I’m complicit and so easy to fold. But this time it’s different. This time, it’s on my terms and I am not alone. Ren will soon know I left and where I went. He will find me, he will. All I hope is I can get Amari out as quick as possible and pray I’m not too late to save her from this sick and twisted world I was wrapped into.
I follow Milosh to the elevator, and we ride up in silence. It feels like I’m in an out-of-body experience, but also so familiar like not a day has gone by. The elevator doors slide open to the penthouse and the panic hits my stomach like a brick as I take my first few steps back into hell.
The memories come flooding back, the colossal windows overlooking the city, the men surrounding the large open living area that’s cold and offers no warmth or comfort, just a showcase of wealth and power. And then I spot a mass of dark hair, sitting alone on the couch, and relief floods my body.
“Amari!” I can’t help it, I run.
She turns her head and all the blood drains from her face. Her eyes widen and she looks equally scared and shocked at the sight of me. I drop to my knees in front of her, and look her over, making sure not one hair is out of place.
“What are you doing here?” Her eyes dart around the room panicked. “Lilly, you can’t be here.”
“Are you ok? Did he hurt you?” My eyes well with tears so happy I am in time, but so scared of what’s to come. “It’s okay. Everything is okay. You need to go straight back to your brother’s house, okay?”
I don’t know who I’m trying to convince, her or me.
“What?” She takes both my hands in hers. “No, I’m not leaving you here.”
I feel his presence floating around, like he is watching us the whole time. I look around for him, but he’s not in sight. Time is short, so I turn back and pull Amari into a tight hug. Maybe the last one.
“Tell Ren I’m sorry,” I whisper into her ear, and suck back the tears and sorrow with a sharp inhale. “But tell him I will be fine and to go to Plan B.”
The plans for when Sergei has me.
I pull back and her face is ashen, her eyes wide and hands shaking.
“Lilly, I can’t be the reason he hurts you,” she whispers. “Ren… he will never forgive me. Please come with me.”
“There’s no way he’s letting us both walk out of here.”
It’s surprising he’s even letting us have this time alone, and no doubt this is him letting us say goodbye, his sick, twisted mind working. I squeeze her hand, mad that they left her so uninformed of what truly lies in this world to have her easily picked up by him.
“You’re not the reason. Ren will not blame you.” I glance behind me, not wanting him to hear his name from my lips, not needing the extra punishment that is no doubt waiting for me. Hopefully, Ren gets to me first. “It’s my choice. But your dad needs you back home. He isn’t doing well.”
Amari breaks down, just like her father, crying at the mention of a loved one in pain.
“He isn’t going to hurt me,” she shakes her head, and looks nervous to continue.
It’s probably the bullshit he fed her, it wouldn’t have been a lie because he would let his men hurt her in a heartbeat.
“He said things. Things he plans on doing to you.”
And even though I knew what I was walking into, hearing it out loud makes me pause and my stomach recoil. The urge to flee overwhelms me, but it’s too late.