A Dance with Danger

chapter Seventy-One

**Estelle’s POV**

The sound of the door creaking open snapped my attention toward it. I expected to see more of Cesare’s men, maybe even one of his familiar lackeys—but instead, my gaze met the terrified eyes of a small child, no older than seven. He was skinny, pale, and shaking as if he’d seen something that had shattered his innocence in an instant.

My heart clenched painfully. I hadn’t seen a child in years—especially not one so small, so vulnerable. I didn’t even think about it. I didn’t hesitate. My instincts kicked in. I sprang up from the chair, nearly tripping over my own feet, and rushed to the boy.

The moment I wrapped my arms around him, he collapsed against me, sobbing uncontrollably. I could feel the tiny tremors running through his body, and my heart broke for him.

“Hey, sweets, it’s okay. You’re safe now,” I whispered softly, holding him tight. “What’s your name?”

His tiny body shook in my arms as he cried. “Madox Ambrose,” he gasped out between sobs. His little hands clung to me like I was the only thing keeping him from falling into some dark abyss.

“Okay, Madox. We’re gonna get you out of here. I promise,” I reassured him gently, brushing his hair away from his face. His crying slowed, but I could feel the fear still clinging to him, his small body stiff with terror.

Just then, the door slammed shut behind me, and I froze.

A cold, calculated voice sneered from behind me. “So, you’ve finally decided to show some compassion, Estelle.”

I turned slowly, my heart already sinking in recognition of the voice. There he was—the monster that I had spent years running from: Roman. My father’s trusted henchman. The man who had been my tormentor. And standing beside him, looking just as smug, was none other than Archibald. The sadistic bastard who had caused me more pain than I could ever describe.

I could feel the bile rising in my throat at the sight of them. My hands instinctively curled into fists as my mind flashed back to the hell they had put me through. To the days of endless pain, of being broken down until I was nothing more than a shell of a person.

Roman’s lips curled into a twisted grin as he took a step closer, his eyes flicking from Madox to me with amusement. “You see, Estelle, this little boy here is the price of your rebellion. His parents didn’t do what I asked, so I made sure they’d pay. And now, Madox here is going to be the perfect leverage to make you see reason.”

I could feel my breath quickening. My heart was hammering against my ribcage, but I kept my voice steady. I wasn’t going to let him intimidate me anymore.

“Leverage?” I spat out the word as if it was poison. “You really think I care about what happens to this kid? You couldn’t be more wrong.”

Roman’s smirk widened, and he took another step forward, as if daring me to back down. “Oh, I know you care, Estelle. You always did have a soft spot for the helpless. It’s one of the many things I’ve always liked about you—your weakness.”

I felt a rage building in my chest, hot and blinding. But I wasn’t going to let it control me. Not this time.

I held Madox closer, shielding him from the monsters standing before me. “I’m not weak,” I said quietly, my voice icy and firm. “I’m stronger than you’ll ever understand.”

Roman laughed darkly, the sound reverberating in the room. “You were always so deluded, Estelle. But it’s cute. You still think you can fight me. You’ll never be strong enough to stand against me.”

I wasn’t about to let him get away with that. I lifted my chin, eyes narrowed. “You don’t know me, Roman. You don’t know the half of what I’ve survived. And you sure as hell don’t know what I’m willing to do to protect him.”

I gestured toward Madox, who was clinging to me in fear, but I could see the way his small eyes were trying to look up at me with admiration. I wasn’t going to let this boy suffer the same fate I had. I wasn’t going to let Roman get away with this—no matter what it took.

Roman’s gaze hardened, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. His voice dropped to a low growl. “You think you can protect him? You think you can save him from me?”

I stepped forward, my eyes never leaving his. “I know you, Roman. And I know exactly how you work. You think you can break people with fear. You think you can control them by hurting others. But you’re wrong. You’ll never break me. You’ll never break him either.”

He scoffed, clearly annoyed by my defiance. “You really do think you’re the hero, don’t you?” he sneered. “Well, you’re wrong. This little boy is mine now. You don’t have a say in it.”

I felt the heat of my anger rising, threatening to spill over. But I kept my voice steady, my gaze never leaving Roman’s eyes. “I would rather marry Lucifer than bow to you, Roman. You’re nothing more than a pawn in a game you’ll never win.”

Roman’s face twisted into a mask of fury at my words, and for a moment, I thought he might lash out at me. But before he could respond, Archibald stepped forward, his hand resting on Roman’s shoulder.

“Roman,” Archibald said in his smooth, condescending voice, “there’s no need to get worked up. Estelle’s just trying to show how strong she is. We’ve been through this before, haven’t we?” He looked at me, his eyes filled with disgust and pity, the kind of look that made me feel like I was nothing more than a broken toy in their hands.

I couldn’t stop the disgust that rose in me at the sound of his voice. He was the last person I wanted to hear from right now. Archibald had always been cruel, always relished in tormenting me, and I would never forget the way he had enjoyed watching me suffer for his amusement.

“You don’t get to talk to me,” I shot back, my words dripping with venom. “You don’t get to say a single fucking word. You’ve done enough damage already, haven’t you? Leave this kid out of it.”

Roman, still seething, threw a glance at Archibald before focusing on me again. “You still don’t get it, do you, Estelle? You’ve always been my property. And now you’ll see—no one can escape me. Not even you.”

I stood tall, my posture proud, even as the weight of the situation pressed heavily on me. I wasn’t going to break. Not now. Not ever again.

“I’ll die before I ever become yours again, Roman,” I declared, the words heavy with finality. “I’m done with you. And if you think you’re going to control me or anyone else, you’re sorely mistaken.”

Roman’s hands balled into fists, his knuckles whitening. He took a step toward me, but before he could reach me, Archibald stepped in, his voice smooth and cold.

“Roman, let it go. She’s not worth it.”

But I could see it in Roman’s eyes—the rage, the desire to break me. I wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction.

“We’re leaving,” Roman growled, his voice full of irritation. “This is far from over, Estelle. You’ll regret this.”

I watched as he turned and stormed toward the door, Archibald following behind him, casting one last, contemptuous glance at me.

The moment the door slammed shut, I exhaled, my entire body sagging with relief. Madox was still in my arms, his small hands still clinging to me as if I was his only lifeline.

“You’re safe now,” I whispered softly, brushing his hair back from his forehead. “They’re gone, and they’re not coming back.”

I couldn’t promise him everything would be okay, but I could promise him one thing: I would fight like hell to make sure he didn’t suffer the same fate I had.

No one, no matter how twisted or evil, was going to take him from me. Not while I still had breath in my lungs.

I would protect him—just like I’d protect myself