Chapter 146: Am I still your prisoner?

Sienna stood in front of the mirror for far longer than necessary. For once, she wasn’t checking whether someone was watching her. She wasn’t wondering where the nearest exit was. She wasn’t listening for footsteps behind her.

Today, she was going back to university. A real smile spread across her face. Fabio was dead. Whoever had sent him was gone, or at least that was what everyone believed. Whatever he had wanted from her had ended with him.

She wanted to believe that. More importantly, she wanted to stop living as though the next attack was waiting around every corner.

She grabbed her bag and walked downstairs. Viktor was waiting in the foyer. His expression immediately told her he had already found a problem. "No." Sienna stopped.

"I haven’t even said anything."

"I know where you’re going."

"The University."

"No." She crossed her arms. "Yes. Okay, fine if not me then..." "You’re taking security."

"No."

"Sienna Kessler."

"No guards." Viktor’s jaw tightened.

"It’s dangerous out there."

"I know."

"Then you understand why.."

"I don’t want men following me around all day."

"They won’t follow you."

"They’ll be standing outside my classroom."

"At a distance."

"I’ll still know they’re there." Viktor stared at her. Sienna stepped closer.

"I’ve spent weeks surrounded by armed men." Her voice softened. "Everywhere I look, there’s someone watching me." She shook her head.

"I don’t want that at university." Viktor remained silent. "I want to walk into class like everyone else."

"Sienna..."

"Am I still your prisoner?" The question stopped him. She watched his face carefully. "Because it still feels that way, you think I will run." His expression hardened, but not with anger. With something closer to guilt.

"No." The word came reluctantly. "You are not my prisoner, and if you run, I will find you like I always do."

"Right then, let me go." A long silence passed. Finally, Viktor exhaled. "Fine." Sienna blinked.

"Fine?"

"You go without visible security." Her eyes widened. "Really?"

"I said fine." A smile immediately broke across her face. "Thank you."

"But..."

"There it is."

"Don’t get too excited." She was already walking toward the door. "You’re impossible," Viktor muttered.

"And you’re controlling." She turned around, grinning. He couldn’t stop the smile that appeared on his face. She laughed and stepped outside.

For the first time, she walked toward one of Viktor’s cars without hesitation. A sleek sports car waited in the driveway. She stopped beside it.

"Can I take this?" Viktor raised an eyebrow. "You’ve never driven it."

"There’s a first time for everything." He tossed her the keys. "Try not to kill anyone." She caught them.

"No promises." The engine roared to life. Sienna slid behind the wheel, adjusted the seat, and looked at herself in the rearview mirror. The woman staring back at her looked different. Her long blond curls spilled over her shoulders.

She wore a fitted jacket, jeans, and boots instead of the oversized pullovers and sneakers she’d hidden behind for so long. She had money. More than enough.

She had earned much of it herself through trading and the work she’d done as the invisible Shadow Hacker. Yet she’d barely touched any of it.

Money had always felt dangerous to her. Attention was dangerous. Standing out was dangerous. So she’d made herself small. Simple clothes. Quiet colors. Nothing that made people look twice.

But hiding was getting harder. She had never been invisible. Not really. And now she didn’t want to be. Sienna smiled at her reflection. "Let’s see what I’ve been missing." She drove through the gates.

Viktor watched until the car disappeared down the road. His smile vanished. "Boss?" Marcus approached. Viktor didn’t turn around. "Keep her safe."

"You said no security."

"I said no visible security." Marcus nodded.

"Understood."

"Two cars behind her."

"Already arranged." Viktor finally looked toward the empty road. "If anyone approaches her, I want to know before they reach her." The driver nodded again.

Sienna could have her freedom. She could walk into university alone. She could believe she was finally outside Viktor’s shadow. But Viktor had no intention of leaving her unprotected.

Not after Fabio. Not after the blood he’d already spilled to get her back. And certainly not now. After their time together, she was his wife not only on paper but in real life as well.

–

The university looked smaller than Sienna remembered. Maybe it was because she’d changed.

Three years ago, she had walked through these gates with a backpack hanging from one shoulder, her head buried in books and her mind occupied with exams, assignments, and the future she thought she understood.

Now she stepped through the same gates as Mrs. Kessler. Well... Not officially. Not yet. She still hadn’t changed her name. And she wasn’t sure she was ready to.

Sienna stopped at the administration office first, completed the necessary paperwork, and collected her updated schedule. Her fingers trembled slightly when she held it. She was really back. A smile tugged at her lips.

She headed toward the faculty offices, remembering the corridors almost instinctively. Then she saw the name on the door. Dr. Duncan. Her smile widened.

She knocked lightly. "Come in." Sienna pushed the door open. "Hello, Professor Duncan." The older man looked up from his desk. For a second, he simply stared. Then his face broke into a warm smile.

"Sienna Vale." She laughed. "Or is it Sienna Kessler now?" She shook her head. "Still Sienna Vale." Dr. Duncan leaned back in his chair.

"Still?"

"I haven’t officially changed my name yet." She hesitated. "And it will probably stay that way for a while." He nodded, apparently accepting the answer without question. Then his smile grew.

"My goodness." He looked at her carefully. "You’ve changed."

"Hopefully in a good way."

"In a very good way." He chuckled. "I haven’t seen you in three years."

"I know."

"Where have you been?" Sienna’s smile faltered for half a second. "It’s a long story." Dr. Duncan studied her face, but thankfully didn’t press. "You look well."

"I am."

"Beautiful as ever, though." Sienna laughed softly. "You haven’t changed either."

"That’s a lie."

"Maybe a little." He gestured toward the chair opposite his desk. "Sit." Sienna sat. "I was actually just passing by to say hello."

"And I appreciate it." He reached for the small tea set on the side table. "You’ll have some tea before you leave."

"Professor, you don’t have to..."

"I insist."