Escaping The Mafia King

Chapter 43: 43- Alone

No! There was no way she could let him go. He was turning away from her again, walking away. He was going to end up just as she'd assumed he was all this time. She wrenched her arm out of Marco's grip and ran to Varys.

He must have heard her steps because he turned as she barreled into him and hugged her tight to his chest. His heart beat against her ear, and while it was comforting, it didn't make the fear dissipate. "Varys, you can't die on me."

"I'm not going to die, Hope. I'm not leaving you after finding you. We're going to spend the rest of our life together, and maybe I'll share you with a brat or two, we'll see. But you already agreed to be mine, why would I ever risk not coming back to you?"

"But Ethan-"

"Hope, listen to me." Varys took his forefingers and tilted her chin up so she was staring up at him. "Look into my eyes, Hope. Do I look like I'm lying to you?"

No, he looked beyond capable. But still, how could she forget what she'd lived? What she'd seen with her own eyes? "No, but-"

"No, Hope. There is no buts. When I'm through with him, he's going to be nothing more than a bad nightmare you once had. You don't need to stay afraid of someone like him. He's nothing, and will always be nothing. I will take care of you, I promise. We're together, now, you and me, and your battle against him is now mine. Let me end this for you."

"Varys, I won't be able to go on without you. I believe in you, but be careful. Don't give him an opening, and watch out for his cheap shots. Please, come back to me."

Varys smiled. "Those are close to the words I want to hear, but I know you can do better, Hope."

His eyes twinkled and Marco openly stared at him. If Hope hadn't been so angry, she'd have laughed. Even still, her lips twitched as she contained it. "Varys," she growled at him.

"Say it, Hope, it'll make you feel better, I promise." He hadn't let go of her chin this entire time, just staring into her eyes and making her insides melt and knot together at the same time.

"I love you, Varys," she whispered.

"I love you, Hope," he answered before he grabbed her off balance and tipped her back. His lips covered hers, questing, demanding, and oh so persuasive. The heat that flowed through her was taken away a moment later. "See you soon."

This time as he walked away, Hope didn't go after him. She just stood in that spot and watched until he was out of sight.

"Ready?" Marco demanded. "You know the Boss is going to skin me alive for you getting away like that."

"I'll talk to him," Hope assured. But would Varys even listen to her? Was this the right thing to do?

The question plagued her on all sides.

She could have been happy with Max. If she'd never discovered Varys was alive again, she would have fallen completely under his thrall. Even now, there was a spot soft she couldn't deny for the man. Even if she couldn't have him, she wanted nothing more than him to be happy.

"Come on," Marco barked again and grabbed her arm, leading her away.

Hope thought about complaining, but bit it down. The man was only following orders, and she had just made his life worse.

As they got to her new room she winced. This one looked far closer to a prison, and underground one at that. "In there?"

"Yeah, I'm locking you inside too. You'll be safest there, that way no one else can get to you either." NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

"You aren't staying inside?"

Marco shook his head so hard his jowls flopped. "No way. My job is to keep you alive, not risk my life. Alone with you in a private space like that? Boss would skin me alive and use me for a punching bag. Now get in."

Hope sighed but entered the room and winced as the metal door slammed behind her. Marco locked the door and shut the barrier that allowed her to look out.

Great, the man didn't even want to talk to her. At least the room had plenty of blankets so she wouldn't freeze. There was already a chill to the room. She grabbed one of the fluffiest comforters and settled down on a chair in the corner.

There was some light down here, but not much. And now she couldn't even see what was going on. Marco wasn't about to keep her informed so it was just going to be Hope and her worry, her endless worry.

She had to trust Max, if she couldn't, the worry was going to eat her alive.

But Ethan.

If she closed her eyes she could see his mocking face. He would take his time in torturing Varys, even more so when he learned of their past. And Max? He'd use Max to punish her for ever leaving him. Hope's fist clenched in the covers. This was a mistake. All a horrible mistake.

But throwing herself at the door would do no good. Marco wouldn't let her free, there was no doubt about that. He wasn't willing to upset Varys, even if all she wanted was to run to him.

Giving up wasn't even an option. Ethan would never let her have leverage over him. She'd likely be beat within an inch of her life if he ever got hold of her. There would be no pity, just revenge.

Hope sighed again. Nothing was going to get done in here, besides her driving herself insane. She crawled onto the bed with the cover clenched tight and pulled it up to her chin. For now she would force herself to rest, to count a million sheep if she needed to.

Whatever was going to happen was out of her reach. She'd only know about it in two ways. When it was all over, or when Ethan opened that door to start her nightmare afresh.

No, if Ethan was the one that came for her she'd never give him that satisfaction, she'd just take herself out of the equation, no matter what it took.