Caius POV:

I stepped out of the elevator exhaling a sigh of relief that the night of torture was over but, I wasn't prepared for what I saw close to the end of the hallway.

Bria lay crumpled on the floor, her body limp, her dress soaked in blood. Beside her, Anya's body was sprawled out, eyes wide and vacant, her chest a grotesque mess of torn flesh, the knife lying discarded on the marble floor, its blade smeared red.

For a moment, I forze , my mind refusing to process what I was seeing. Then, as if waking from a nightmare, my body jolted into action.

"Bria!", my voice was raw, broken, as I fell to my knees beside her, my hands shaking as I reached for her. Her skin was cold, too cold, and the blood, God, there was so much blood.

My fingers fumbled at her neck, desperate to find a pulse. My heart stopped, my vision blurring, the world tilting beneath me as I pressed my fingers to her skin. For a horrifying second, I felt nothing, only the coldness of her flesh.

Then, a flutter. Faint, fragile, but there. Her pulse was weak, but steady. She was alive.

A sound I didn't recognize escaped my throat, a broken, strangled gasp of relief as my body sagged over hers.

My forehead pressed to hers, my breath shuddering as I whispered,

" fuck! Bria baby, hold on for me ".

My relief was short-lived as I took in the deep wound on her shoulder, the blood still seeping from the gash. She needed help. Now.

I moved quickly, my mind snapping into focus. I slid my arms beneath her, lifting her limp body with a gentleness I didn't know I possessed. Her head fell against my chest, her blood soaking into my shirt, but I didn't care. All that mattered was getting her help.

My eyes flicked to Anya's body, cold and lifeless, her chest torn apart, her blood pooling around her. My jaw tightened, my teeth grinding. She'd done this. She'd attacked Bria. She'd tried to take her from me . Had I left with Bria the moment she had said she was leaving, this would not have happened.

My lips curled into a snarl, my eyes narrowing as I spat,

" Чёртова сука. Я должен был перерезать тебе горло, когда у меня была возможность".

(You fucking bitch, I should have slit your throat when I had the chance)

Turning away, I cradled Bria closer, my voice cold and sharp as I called out to the guards stationed down the hall. They had been specifically appointed for this evening event , just in case there was any sign of danger and I planned on ordering their execution for having not heard what had transpired and did there duty in protecting her .Within moments, they were there, their faces pale as they took in the scene, they already knew their fate after this.

"Get one of the cars", I ordered, my voice low and lethal.

"We're going to the private hospital. And make sure no one knows about this . No one . They will hear it only from me ".

One of the guards nodded, rushing off to carry out my orders. The other hesitated, his eyes lingering on Anya's body.

My gaze followed, my expression hardening. " cut her head off and send her body to her father's house. Let him bury his daughter. But make it clear she was nothing to me".

The guard swallowed, nodding quickly before stepping back. I didn't wait to see what happened next. I turned, carrying Bria down the hall which lead to a discreet exit down the stairs and out to the back of the mansion, my heart pounding as I whispered,

"Hold on, Bria. Just... hold on".

The ride to the Romanov private hospital was swift as I held Bria close, my hands stained with her blood, my heart thundering as I watched her pale face, her eyes closed, her breathing shallow.

I had never been more terrified in my life. Not when Ivan had locked me in the ice-cold freezer, not when I had been beaten within an inch of my life, not even when I had faced death head-on.

This was worse. So much worse. Because I couldn't lose her. I couldn't.

The car skidded to a halt, and I was out the door before the driver could open it. Doctors and nurses rushed out to meet us, their faces a mix of shock and urgency as they took Bria from my arms, wheeling her away on a stretcher.

I tried to follow, but a nurse stepped in my path, her hands firm on my chest. "Please you need to wait here, sir".

I almost snapped, almost shoved her out of the way but, the look in her eyes stopped me and I knew that fighting would do no good.

I stood there in the waiting area, my hands clenched into fists, my jaw tight as I watched them disappear down the hall to the emergency section, Bria's blood still warm on my skin.

I had never felt so helpless. So useless. All I could do was wait and I fucking hated it.My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out, my voice cold as I answered. "Is it done?"

"Yes, sir", the guard replied.

"The body is on its way to Anya's father's estate. No one knows what happened, just as you ordered".

I closed my eyes, my shoulders sagging as I exhaled.

"Good. Make sure it stays that way".

I hung up and then called Sergei who picked up immediately. I relayed the entirety of all that had happened and then ordered the execution of the guards for their ignorance and ended the call as he stated that it would be done . Shoving the phone back into my pocket , I fixed my eyes on the double doors at the end of the hall.

Bria was in there, fighting for her life because of me and fucking slut thay didn't understand her place and because I had brought her into my world.

A world filled with violence and hatred. A world that had almost taken her from me.

My hands trembled, my heart aching as I whispered, " Mi swear, Bria... I'll never let anyone hurt you again".

But the promise felt hollow, even to myself because deep down, I knew the truth.I was the danger. I was the reason she'd been hurt, and no matter how hard I tried, I could never fully escape who I was.

Half an hour of waiting went by and my phone rang . I pulled it out of my pocket, my jaw tightening when I saw the name flashing on the screen. Darya. She was the last person I wanted to speak to, especially now. I was about to silence the call when a thought struck me, Darya never called unless she wanted something , and if she was calling now, it was important.

I answered, my voice cold, detached. "What do you want?"

Her voice came through the line, low and serious.

"Caius, you need to listen to me".

My eyes shifted to the emergency doors again waiting for any sign of someone coming out.

"I don't have time for your games, Darya".

"This isn't a game", Her voice was tight, urgent. "It's about Anya... and your girl".

My body went rigid, my grip tightening on the phone. "What about them?"

"I know who sent Anya after her".

There was a hesitation, a crack in her voice. "It was Father".

The world seemed to stop, the air in my lungs turning to ice. "What?"

"I overheard him earlier during the celebration. I was on my way to see him in his study, but he was speaking to Anya in the adjoining room". Her voice wavered, but she continued.

"He told her that if she got rid of Bria, he'd make sure you'd go back to her. He wanted Bria out of the picture. You know that he would never accept you with anyone who isn't of benefit to the Romanov empire ".

My jaw clenched so hard my teeth hurt. It felt like my blood had turned to fire, coursing through my veins with a blinding fury.

"You expect me to believe that? After everything you've done?"

Darya's voice broke, a rare show of vulnerability. "I don't care if you believe me or not, Caius. But it's the truth. And if you don't listen, Bria's life will be in danger again. You know how Father is. He won't stop until he gets what he wants and he needs the alliance that comes with you married to Anya".

" why are you telling me this ? Anya was your closest friend ", I asked her and she chuckled but, it was dry and humorless.

" she wasn't my friend.  In order to get things done you must utilise the resources available to you Caius and that's all she was to me . A resource and she fucking failed at that and lead you straight to me dearest brother , do what you will with this information or risk losing your little heartstring".

I gripped the phone so hard I heard the plastic crack. Ivan had ordered the attack.  He had nearly taken Bria from me and all to keep me under his thumb, to control me , to manipulate me.

My heart thudded violently, a cold sweat breaking out across his skin.

"If you're lying to me...",

"I'm not," Darya whispered. "I swear it".

I was silent for a long moment as I thought about Bria . The scene of her laying unconscious in her own blood flashing through my mind. The way her skin had felt against my palm , cold and clammy like she was already dead .

My voice was deadly calm, a chilling contrast to the storm raging inside me. "This ends now."

Darya hesitated. "Caius what are yo...." but, I had already hung up, my mind racing with cold, calculated purpose.

The emergency doors open a male doctor emerged a clipboard in his hand as he headed straight for me .

" is she ok? Can I see her?" I asked looking behind him towards the emergency section and he nodded.

" she will be fine. We have done all the necessary procedures and gave her some stitches to close up the wound as well as some blood transfer to replace all the blood she had lost. You can go see her now but, she will fall asleep soon as we have given her some sedatives to help with the pain", he stated and lead me through the emergency section and to the room Bria was in .

He pushed opened the door and I entered , hearing it clicked shut behind me .

" Caius?", her voice came out a bit weak as she called my name and I walked over to her bedside and held her hand.

" mi deh yah Bria . Mi sorry this happened but, mi swear mi aguh deal wid it . Just rest", I said and she looked at me in the semi darkness of the room as the lights inside the room had been dimmed .

" Anya..", she started and I kissed her lips silencing her as I said ,

" Mi know , mi deal wid that a ready but, mi have sumuh else fi deal wid but, as soon as mi done mi aguh come back fi yuh , just please rest Bria and try fi nuh move to much ", I said and her eyes searched mine weakly before they eventually fluttered close as the sedatives kicked in .

I looked at her one last time, memorizing her face, the delicate lines of her features. Then I turned and walked out of the hospital room, my footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Ivan had made his last move and now it was my turn.It was time to end this. Once and for all.