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Forty minutes later, right around when the van departs, Galina scampers back into view. She takes the stairs two at a time toward the second level. I only get a single frame of her expression, but she looks nervous.
I rewind the video to the van again. I scrub through the timeline twice, until I get a good look at the faces of the people. One of them is indeed my chef, who I’d expect to oversee any deliveries, but the other, hovering nearby, furtively peering around, is Ulyana.
She never assists with this task.
I shove the phone back into Nikolai’s chest hard enough that he stumbles. “Bring Ulyana to my office. Now.” I don’t wait for him; I stride immediately in the direction of my mansion. The guards I pass give me interested looks. Probably wondering what Nikolai told me that pulled me off course from my planned trip.
What was Ulyana doing? I’ve always trusted her. That’s starting to change.
Entering my office, I settle myself in my chair. The leather creaks under my weight, the sound increasing as I shift from side to side. I want to get comfortable, but it’s impossible. My attention wanders to the floor. I picture the shards of glass that littered it after my drunken spiral. Ulyana swept the broken horses into the bin. With the evidence gone, no one but she and I know about my breakdown. I’d never let anyone else see me the way she did.
Ulyana was the single person I was sure would have my best interests at heart. I remember the video Nikolai just showed me and grimace. Is there anyone in the world not keeping secrets from me?
She better have a good explanation. Crushing the arms of my chair, I focus on my door. It’s not long before I hear footsteps, then a hard knock.
“Pakhan,” Nikolai says through the barrier.
“Come in,” I reply.
Ulyana enters first. She doesn’t look at her feet or hunch like she’s scared. She was born with a backbone made of iron. Staring right into my eyes, she waits quietly for me to speak first. I motion for Nikolai to leave. He shuts the door, leaving us alone.
Leaning sideways in my chair, I rest my cheek on my fist. “Tell me what you’ve done.”
“You must be more specific,” she replies.
I grit my teeth until my jaw hurts. “I saw the videos, Ulyana. What were you delivering in the van?”
Her shrug is cold. “You didn’t see me open anything, or you wouldn’t be asking.”
“Then you won’t tell me?”
“I do a lot of work in your home, Arsen. Remembering every little item that gets delivered is a big request.”
“Fine.” Shoving myself out of my chair, I start to walk by her. “I’ll ask Galina.”
Ulyana snatches my elbow with talon-like fingers. “Why?”
I stare down at her while my voice simmers with threatening energy. “It’s curious how she wandered in the exact direction where the deliveries were being made, then left as you were returning to the parked van with that same box.” I yank out of her grip. “I doubt she’ll be as good at keeping secrets as you are.”
My hand touches the brass knob of my office door.
“Don’t,” Ulyana whispers.
I don’t let go of my door, but I do look at her. “Last chance, Ulyana. Tell me what’s going on.”
She moves away from me. I don’t know what she’s doing until she bends down into my bar cart. Pouring two glasses full of whiskey, she brings them back to me. “Here, you’ll need this.”
“I hate whiskey,” I warn her.
“You shouldn’t drink something you like when getting the kind of news I’m about to give you.”
Releasing the door, I grab the glass with enough force that droplets of it slosh over the side. “I’m not in the mood for games.”
Tapping her glass to mine, she downs the entire thing in one go. That’s the moment I know what she’s going to tell me is terrible.
“Galina is leaving you.”
“Like hell she is!” I move toward the exit, ignoring how she grabs at my shirt.
