Chapter 34: The Masked Shadow
[Janet's POV]
A dull ache pulsed in Janet's head. Her vision blurred, the scent of strong cologne and aged wood filling her nostrils. She blinked, adjusting to the dim light. The room was grand—dark velvet curtains, chandeliers, Persian carpets, and a fire flickering in a marble hearth.
Where am I?
She tried to sit up, but her limbs felt weak. Her dress was wrinkled, her lipstick smudged. She remembered... the party, the drinks, the man near the pool—
Then she saw him.
A tall figure sat in the armchair across from her, blade dancing in his fingers. His face was partially covered by a silver mask. Only his smirking mouth and intense eyes were visible.
"You're awake," he said smoothly. "You don't remember me, do you?"
Janet stared, fear crawling up her spine.
He stood, walking slowly toward her. "You should. High school. A confession. A rejection. A little humiliation. And now... here we are."
Her eyes widened.
"You—"
"Dmitri," he said softly, pleased she remembered.
She pulled the blanket closer to her chest, trying to push herself farther back. "Why have you brought me here?"
"To finish what you interrupted all those years ago," he whispered. "And maybe, finally, let me have what's mine."
He reached toward her face, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. She recoiled instantly.
"I can be gentle, Janet," he said, kneeling beside her on the bed. "But only if you stop running."
---
[Luca's POV]
Luca stormed into the mansion, eyes blazing. Janet was gone. No one had seen her leave. His guards were clueless, the driver unaware.
His fists clenched.
Then, his phone buzzed.
"Sir," his informant said, "We just reviewed the CCTV footage from the nearby building."
"And?"
"A black SUV picked her up. It belongs to... Dmitri Ivanov."
Silence.
Luca's breath halted.
His worst suspicion confirmed.
"Send me the coordinates," Luca growled, his voice like a storm about to break. "And tell everyone—no one leaves that estate alive unless it's her."
---
[Janet's POV]
"You know, you've only grown more beautiful," Dmitri said, circling her like a predator. "That night in high school... you don't know how much I dreamed of finishing what I started."
Janet's body trembled, her voice breaking. "You're insane... I'll scream—"
"No one will hear," he murmured, running his hand along her bare arm. "This entire place is mine."
He leaned in close, his lips hovering near her ear. "But I don't want to hurt you, Janet. Not if you behave."
His hand brushed her shoulder.
She flinched.
Luca... please come...
But Luca wouldn't be coming yet.
And Dmitri knew that.