~Madelyn ~

The entire day passed in a blur. It was currently 4pm as I sat on my bed staring at the wall. Today was it. I had to escape. I couldn't spend another day here.

My mind echoed in the silent room wandering back to breakfast this morning. I sat with Lorenzo and ate in silence just like every other morning.

Taking a sip of coffee I looked up at him. He sat on the other side of the table and it felt like having a meal with a ghost.

"I'm done eating can I go?" I asked as my mind raced.

He didn't respond he just looked me up and down before nodding and I stood up walking towards my room. When I passed his seat I stopped next to him and he looked at me.

"Will I ever leave here , Lorenzo?" I asked and he looked at me.

"Maybe." He said and I sighed tiredly.

"I can't live my life on a maybe." I said trying to make him understand.

He held eye contact with me for a while. A million emotions were swirling in his eyes and I'd pay any amount to know what he was thinking. Then , without another word, he stood up and walked away.

Sitting here now I meant what I had said. I couldn't live my life on a maybe. I need my life back. I needed control.

I pulled the dagger out of my drawer and tucked it safely into my pocket. I took a deep breath before standing up and opening my door. As expected Kai was on the other side.

"I want to go outside." I told him as I walked ahead of him.

"Why?" He asked following behind me.

"I'm bored." I said and he nodded.

We walked into the garden in the back of the house that Lorenzo and I had once had a date in. That day he had told me that no matter where I went , he would find me and now I prayed that that wasn't true.

I walked ahead of Kai leading him deeper into the trees. That's when I caught sight of my freedom. A wire fence . I could cut it.

I walked faster and Kai caught the back of my shirt.

"What are you in such a rush for?" He asked and I bit my bottom lip.

"I guess I just missed the outside world a bit." I said teasingly hoping that he wouldn't be suspicious.

"Whatever." He rolled his eyes before taking the lead and walking ahead of me.

I watched his back as he walked ahead of me and took deep breaths. It's now or never Madelyn.

"Sorry about this Kai." I said and stuck the knife into his back before he could turn around.

Yep it was official. I was a literal backstabber.

"Fuck." He yelled and I pulled the knife out before stabbing him again near the first spot.

"I'm sorry." I said with teary eyes and he turned around to look at me before his legs gave up and he fell to the ground.

I immediately grabbed the knife and made my way to the fence. Hearing security footsteps approaching I cut at the fence with all my strength.

When there was finally a big enough hole ,for me to squeeze through, I wasted no time. I dropped the knife before crawling through the fence.

Then I ran. I ran for my life not having a clue where I was going. I could hear Lorenzo's men behind me and I ran faster. I looked back to see some of his men chasing me.

I took a turn onto a part of the city as I kept running and they followed me. I looked back to see that they were still on my trail and I sped up while thinking. If I gave up I would be a prisoner again. I couldn't live that way.

I ran and ran but they didn't stop chasing me. I turned my head back seeing that they weren't giving up any time soon and the hope inside me died. This was my city but Lorenzo owned it. There was no where to go.

Before I could turn my attention back to the front of me someone grabbed my arm pulling me sideways into a dark alley. I tried to scream but it was cut off by a hand over my mouth. The person slammed my back against the wall and I looked up trying to make out who it was. When I did I tried to scream but the hand over my mouth tightened.

"Shh it's ok you're ok." Leo whispered and I grabbed his hand trying to remove it from my mouth.

"Now..." He whispered looking around. "I'm going to remove my hand and you're not going to scream ok?"

I took in a few heavy breaths before nodding. He removed his hand and I let out a heavy breath.

"Are you going to take me back?" I asked him breathless and he shook his head.

"No Madelyn I'm not going to take you back." He said and I sighed in relief. " I'm so happy you listened to me about the garden. I thought you missed it for a second."

He had mentioned the garden on purpose.

"Why are you helping me?" I asked looking at him.

"Because I don't work for Lorenzo." He said looking around.

"Who do you work for?" I said but it came out in a whisper.

"Your father." He said and I sucked in a sharp breath.

"Is that where you're taking me?" I asked nervously. "To my father?"

"It's your choice." He said and I raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah right when have I ever had a choice." I muttered and he let out a small smile.

"Right now." He said smiling down at me before he turned around and started walking out of the alley clearly giving me the choice to follow him. I watched his back before taking a deep breath and running after him.

"Where are we going?" I asked and he smiled at me.

"We're going home." Is all he said and I followed him mindlessly.

He opened the door to a black range rover gesturing for me to get in and I did. I know it was dumb but standing out here and waiting for Lorenzo to find me wasn't better.

He got into the car and sped down the street as I sat there lost on thought.

"Where are we going now?" I asked him playing with my hands anxiously.

"The airport. We have a plane waiting."

"Hey Leo?" I said and he turned his attention to me.

"Yes Madelyn?" He asked and I thought for a minute.

"What's your name?" I asked and he smiled at me.

"You know my name." He said with a charming smile and I scrunched my eyebrows.

"Your name is Leo?" I asked and he laughed under his breath.

"Come on think harder." He said and I bit my lip. "The name I gave you when we first met."

"Your name is Alex?" I finally said remembering the night they kidnapped me.

"Yep. Well Aleksander." He said and a slight russian accent peaked out. "But Aleks is fine."

I studied him as we kept driving and something in his face felt comforting.

"Aleks." I muttered to myself before looking at him. "I like it."

I gave him a small smile and he returned it with a bigger one.

________________________________________________________

Heyy guyss

Sooo what do we think about Leo? I mean Aleks;)

SLAY

Anyways I'm going to try updating as much as I can because Oml this book is taking really long. I'm sorry guys for the slow updates but life is crazy yk.

Also I LOVE YOU GUYS' COMMENTS LIKE THEY MAKE ME SO HAPPY AND I LOVE LOVE LOVEEE THE FEEDBACK. I HOPE Y'ALL KNOW I READ EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM LIKE A PSYCHO STALKER🤭 Sorry if that sounds creepy

Anywaysss I love y'all MWAH 💋