Is this destiny?

Vanya stood at the door of the warehouse and paused at the sight of Aiden cradling Sarah in his arms.

From her angle, Vanya could not see Dusan's face, only his feet were visible from behind the big box, but she had an idea that Dusan is unconscious.

'Did we arrive too early? Did Aiden think that Dusan forced himself on Sarah and Aiden took care of Dusan?', Vanya wrecked her brain for possible scenarios. 'I was no more than ten seconds after Aiden...'

"You can't be serious…", Vanya said in an attempt to stir trouble. "Why are you comforting her? How can you stand being close to a woman who went with another man as soon as you gave her some space? Do you believe that she was not a willing participant?"

Aiden put his hand over Sarah's head and applied slight pressure so that she continues leaning on him.

"Let me handle her…", Aiden whispered.

Sarah's eyes sprang open and she saw Vanya.

"Why is she here?", Sarah asked angrily, but her voice was off because she was crying.

"She followed me here…", Aiden explained before repeating only for Sarah to hear: "Let me handle her."

Sarah exhaled and looked up at Aiden. "Why don't they leave us alone?"

"We will make them. I will take care of you, I promise…" Aiden kissed her forehead and tightened his hold on Sarah.

Aiden didn't care about Vanya or anyone else. Sarah was the only one on his mind and he regretted that he didn't think of Sarah's mental state when he agreed to this crazy mission. Well, he had no idea that pregnancy hormones will make Sarah this moody, but he didn't dislike it. Aiden knew that her moodiness is because she is carrying his child, and he cherished every moment of it. Ups and downs, it was all part of the process and he will never regret being by Sarah's side and witnessing all of it for himself.

Vanya could not believe that Aiden is looking at Sarah like she is the only woman in the world. Did Natalia really find him only one month ago? Either the rumors are false or that is some crazy-drug they are feeding him.

Vanya realized that this didn't go according to her plan, but she could not let it be. This is a golden opportunity, and she knew that there will be no other like it.

"Hey, Alex! Snap out of it!", Vanya called. "You met Olga only a few weeks ago and she is using some underhanded methods to keep you by her side! She does not deserve you. Don't you see the man lying on the ground? She was getting frisky with him only a few minutes ago! How can you be blind to the obvious? A man like you deserves better!"

Sarah had enough, and Aiden's comforting was not enough to calm her down. Not in front of such a blatant provocation. How dares Vanya talk like Sarah is not here?

"Do you want to say that he deserves you?", Sarah asked icily.

Vanya frowned. "I will not find another man as soon as he turns around. You went with Dusan because of the benefits, right? That only means that you will go with anyone who can give you more than Natalia."

Sarah sneered. "And why are you here? Don't tell me that it's only because of his good looks? Did you fall in love with… Alex? Are you ready to get married and have his children?"

Vanya's eyes darted aimlessly a few times before they settled back on Sarah. "What if I am?"

Sarah snorted and stood up, two steps away from Vanya.

"Say that again, but this time without blinking.", Sarah challenged her.

Vanya didn't understand. "What?"

"If you blink, you will miss how I am about to make a cripple out of you... If you are lucky to survive."

Sarah balled her left hand into a fist and only then Vanya realized that it's bloody.

Sarah licked her lips slowly, and her gaze was intense, like a hungry predator who is looking at its prey.

"You have no idea with whom you are messing with…", Sarah half-growled and Vanya's face contorted in horror when she realized that Sarah's eyes full of madness are turning red.

Normally, the color-change based on emotions is off, but Sarah turned it on for this occasion because she wanted Dusan (and now Vanya) to experience torment, fear included. After days of enduring people treating like a vase and avoiding to meet with them in order not to cause trouble, Sarah had enough.

Vanya snapped out of her shock after a second, realizing that it must be some trick because creatures like werewolves and vampires don't exist, right? RIGHT? But that does not change the fact that Dusan is on the ground, unmoving, and with every second Vanya imagined that his appearance is getting more gruesome. And also… her current situation does not look good because Sarah would not be that confident (and red-eyed) if she plans to let her go.

Vanya felt cold sweat slipping down her spine, and she took a step back. And another one. And another. Vanya was almost at the door and her hopes of leaving this place were getting higher with every inch of space between her and Sarah.

Vanya turned on her heel with an intention to dash out, only to bump into Hong. He is an older man, yet it felt like she hit a rock.

"Where do you think you are going, young lady?", Hong asked like he is bored.

Well, Hong was not bored, but he was tired of all the trouble and he felt that ulcer formed in his stomach from all the stress. He needed a long relaxing year away from all people... or at least away from Sarah and Aiden.

Vanya stepped back from Hong in horror. "You can't keep me here!"

"No one is going to keep you.", Sarah's icy voice sounded in the warehouse.

Sarah made a step toward Vanya and paused when Aiden's arm wrapped around her waist.

"Love, you should rest. Let me handle her… Please?" Aiden's breath caressed Sarah's ear and dispelling most of her fury. Most of it.

Sarah nodded in agreement and Vanya's eyes moved on Aiden.

"You will hit a woman?"

"No. I have no intention of hitting you. Get on your knees."

Vanya was confident that she misheard him. "What?"

"On. Your. Knees... Down. Now.", Aiden said slowly.

Vanya gulped a mouthful of air and went down on her knees.

She didn't know what Aiden is up to, but he said that he will not hit her, so that is fine, right? But she thought of reminding him: "A gentleman would never hurt a lady."

Vanya's mouth opened in a scream when Aiden stomped on her calf, creating an open fracture in the process, and before she was able to release a sound, Aiden kicked her in the face. Vanya plopped on the ground, unconscious.

Aiden sneered. "I said that I will not hit you because I didn't want to dirty my hands with you. Kicks are a different thing. You are not a lady... And I am a gentleman only toward one woman."

Sarah hugged Aiden from behind. "Why are you explaining? She can't hear you."

Aiden shrugged. "She might be a skunk, but I am a gentleman and as such, I will explain my actions in your presence."

Sarah moved to stand in front of Aiden and looked at him with a silly grin on her face. "You are a gentleman toward many women, but only I have a preferential treatment."

Aiden hummed in agreement. "That is because only you have me."

Sarah's smile widened.

Hong was still at the door. He massaged his temples due to the sudden headache. How can they be lovey-dovey and trouble-causing at the same time?

"What are we going to do with them?", Hong asked, breaking the heady atmosphere that swelled around Sarah and Aiden.

Sarah got from her belt two small ampules and injected Vanya and Dusan with one each.

"Anna created these while studying the medicine Natalia gave to Aiden, and she tested them on the prisoners from Natalia's base. For these two, the last hour will be fuzzy…"

While Sarah explained, Aiden dragged Vanya toward Dusan and after disheveling their clothes, he placed Vanya on top of Dusan.

"Like this, when they wake up, they will have no idea how they got here… but it will look like the two of them came for privacy, either to fight or to get frisky. Her leg is broken, and I shattered Dusan's right forearm. The two of them are out of this competition."

Sarah ended her explanation and looked at her bloodied hands.

"Let's get you washed and then rest until dinner…", Aiden suggested while putting his hand around Sarah's shoulders and leading her outside.

Sarah leaned onto Aiden and exhaled. "I'm sorry… I thought I am stronger than this. I shouldn't have left while you were competing."

"It's OK, love. Don't be hard on yourself. We are in this together. You don't need to shoulder everything on your own."

"I want to go home.", Sarah admitted.

"We can leave tomorrow, as soon as Aiden is done with the obstacle course.", Hong informed them before explaining what Zdravko told him.

Sarah smiled. At last... some good news.

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