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Her shoulders round lower. “I understand. I just wish I could talk you out of it.”
“I know how frustrating it is to not be able to reason with people.” I smile sadly, thinking of Arsen. I speak clearly and calmly as I smile at Ulyana. But she doesn’t smile back. “Thank you for helping me. You should leave before Arsen returns and sees you here. He’ll have questions that are harder to dodge in person.”
“Then I suppose we’re back to sharing secrets.”
I cringe as new thorns prick my heart. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Just pray these secrets don’t cause more harm than good.” The frozen air invades the house when she opens the door. It swirls around me, but I’m already cold. A shiver runs through me; it’s erratic, and my teeth chatter.
Like she’s trying to warm me up, or perhaps because she’s afraid this is the last time we’ll speak, Ulyana grabs me in a solid hug. She rubs my back the way my mother used to.
“Good luck,” she whispers. “Galina Stepanovna.”
34
ARSEN
Winter has wrapped the world in its fist. Though no more storms have arrived, the weather has been stark. The kind of cold that steals the air from your lungs if you stand outside and take too deep of a breath. From the window of the back bedroom, I stare over the lake. Its ivory surface melds with the land. I only know it’s there because parts of the wooden dock are visible. The thick rope extends out before vanishing into the nothingness.
“I was patrolling one of the areas you gave me, pakhan,” Kostya says from my side. He arrived ten minutes ago with Mila. I wasted no time rushing them into this private place for some news. “We have a location on Yevgeniy.”
I twist around to stare at him with interest. “Well?” I demand.
“He was moving Katya and the boy, Ruslan, into a black vehicle. A Mercedes. They proceeded to drive west while I pursued. The place they stopped at is a house in another suburb, one that’s still under development, very secluded. Lightly defended too, at least currently. If we move now, we might be able to rescue Katya and kill Yevgeniy in one blow.”
I rub my hand over my jaw anxiously. “This is an incredible opportunity.”
“Exactly,” Mila agrees. She flashes me a wild grin. “We can’t delay.”
Nodding to myself, I pull out a map from a stack of papers on the desk by the window. “Show me the path they took and where they are now.”
Bending over the colorful spread, Kostya begins sketching lines with a pen. The black lines are clean, drawn without any hesitation. “If we circle in from this side of the street, there won’t be a way for him to slip out. We’ll have him cornered.”
Studying the map, I tap a few spots. “It should be easy to post snipers who can pick off any of his soldiers that try to provide backup.” This is perfect. We’ve got a real shot at ending this now!
“Arsen …” Mila warns in a dark hush, “your wife is listening to our conversation.” She looks pointedly at the door. I follow her gaze, my neck hairs prickling. Kostya straightens up as well.
Both of them eye me expectantly. Taking a calming breath, I push the door open, nearly running into Galina. She retreats with wide eyes. “What are you doing?” I demand.
The guilt in her face at being caught red-handed twists on itself. Narrowing her eyes, she jabs me in the chest with her finger. “Are you still going through with this?”
“I don’t have any choice.”
Her eyebrows arch as high as possible. “Of course you do! You always have a choice!”
I’m hyperaware of Mila and Kostya watching us. It’s almost worse than the last gathering with all my brigadiers, because now they know I’ve told Galina what I plan to do. She’s had everything laid out for her, been chastised for spying, and still, she rebels against me. I can’t look weak. With ice on my tongue, I speak in slow, pondering words meant to drive my point home. “I promise his death will be quick.”
Every last drop of blood drains from her face. She’s whiter than the snow outside. “You’re going to regret this.”
I was already on edge, but her warning triggers a new burst of paranoia. Goose bumps rise along my arms. She’s capable of interfering. She’s done it before. “Mila, confine Galina to her room.”
Galina’s eyes pop wide open. “Arsen!”
Turning away, I look directly at Mila. She stares back at me with dark curiosity. “I want her under lock and key until I return.”
“You can’t do this!” Galina argues.
Mila looks put out as she approaches Galina. “I’m not babysitting her. There’s no way I’m missing out on the action,” she says.
