Arranged To Be|18+✔️

37'

I had been laying in bed for the last few hours. It was finally night time and the house was quiet. After I had left out of the basement, it took me a while to pull myself together, but when I finally did, I headed up the stairs and took a shower. Afterward, I climbed in bed and hadn't left it since.

I didn't know where Czar was. I hadn't heard him and didn't want to leave the room to check up on him. I felt numb and powerless. Drained. I grabbed my phone off the nightstand and looked through the photos my mother had sent me while my family was away on vacation. I sent her a goodnight text, telling her that I loved her and missed her and hopefully I would visit soon.

Hopefully.

I heard the door open and placed my phone down, looking up. It was only Czar. His eyes had bags under them, and he looked stressed. He walked toward the bathroom and didn't say anything as he shut the door behind him. I heard the water start, and I sank further into bed, sighing heavily as I rolled onto my side.

I wondered how different my life would be right now if I hadn't come home from college. If I would've just stayed away. Or if my dad didn't gamble so much, maybe I would be in a different situation. Maybe I wouldn't be so scared to lose my life to a guy I hardly knew.

A part of me felt bad for Liam, for all he experienced and what he had gone through at such a young age. However, I still couldn't believe he was willing to take my life to get back at Czar. I felt like a pawn in their petty game. I deserved more than this. I deserved to be happy and to live my life to the fullest and to be able to go out in public without worrying about anyone trying to harm me.

The shower stopped.

I pulled the sheet over my head and pretended to be asleep when I heard the door open. I could hear Czar walking around the room, I assumed he was getting dressed.

Finally, I felt the bed dip and heard him sigh as he got under the sheets.

"I know you're awake," he said as he pulled the sheet off my head.

"I wish I wasn't," I sighed.

"What's on your mind?" he asked, his blue eyes wide and alert.

"He's going to kill me, Czar. He's going to kill us all," I said without looking at him.

"I won't let that happen."

"How are you supposed to stop him when we can't even figure out where he is?" I asked.

Czar didn't say anything. Instead, he just wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to his chest.

"I was always so afraid to get close to someone. To allow myself to fall in love or even feel alive. For this exact reason. I hate to admit it, Zariah, but if something was to happen to you because of me, I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

I turned to face him and placed a hand on his cheek. "What are we going to do?"

"We're going to get to him before he gets to us," he said. "Tomorrow morning, we're taking Annika to Alina."

"But Liam will follow her," I said.

"That's the point. We'll get him right where we want him. And we end this, for good," Czar explained. "And after this is all done... if you wish to no longer be married to me... I will allow you to leave."

"Really?" I asked, shocked.

"Yes, really. I know I'm not what you pictured your future husband to be. And I can't force you to love me. No matter how much I care for you, I know you may never be able to return those feelings."

I had nothing to say. Was Czar telling me that he loved me? Did I love him back? Did I want to love him back? He was offering me my freedom. Was I going to throw it all away? Did I really want to take that chance?

I didn't know what to say or what to do, so instead, I closed my eyes and turned back onto my side. Czar brought me back to his chest and placed a kiss on the back of my head. He mumbled something under his breath, but I couldn't make out the words. His hand gently grazed up and down my thigh and I grew tired.

"I'll do whatever it takes," he whispered in my ear.

Eventually, I allowed sleep to overtake me. And that night, I dreamed about a blue-eyed child.

~*~

Here is another update, short and sweet. My goal is to have chapter 40 posted by the end of this week so next week I can work on the last ten chapter of this book. No, this book will not be turned into a series I do have a new Series out at the moment called the "Sinful" series.  I want to really focus on that series for just a while before I start any other books. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I hope you all peeped the foreshadowing. I'm kinda sad that the series will be coming to an end soon I love Zariah and Czar. Don't forget to comment, vote, share and follow. Until next time my lovelies!!!