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I wish I could forget.
Because breaking Arsen’s one rule was a mistake.
16
GALINA
I wake up thinking about the nursery.
Pulling my blanket over my head, I hold my breath, trying to push the thoughts away. Why is that room abandoned? There’s no other way to look at it. The layer of dust on every surface screamed neglect. Why would Arsen have a place like that in his home? Ulyana doesn’t let her staff leave smudges on the drinking glasses. For her to ignore?—
Ulyana!
Throwing the blanket off me, I jump to my feet. Flush with purpose, I quickly dress myself and then hurry out into the hallway. If anyone knows something, it’s her. Whether she’ll tell me anything is up in the air, but I’m too curious not to try.
Searching the mansion up and down, I finally spot her through a window near the front door. She’s bent over, looking at something in the lush grass near the garden. Jogging to the entrance, I turn the knob and open the door without hesitation.
A thick man with a shaved head is waiting on the top step. He’s playing on his phone. When he notices me, he goes rigid in surprise. “Where are you off to?” he demands.
“Just over there.” I point past his shoulder. “There’s something I need to do.”
“Oh, no, you don’t. Arsen gave us strict instructions to make sure you don’t leave.” He crosses his arms over his textured brown shirt. One of his hands, the left, is wrapped in tight bandages across most of his fingers. He sees me staring; his arms tighten, as do his eyes. “Go back inside before I carry you to your room myself.”
I recognize him. Sickening waves swing through my guts. He’s the guy who grabbed me in front of Tsar’s. I kicked him in the ankle! “What happened to your hand?” I ask.
“Inside.” The man curls back his lips furiously. “Now.”
For some reason, this guy really dislikes me. But too bad for him; he doesn’t intimidate me. Not now.
“You’re one of his soldiers, right? A boeviki?”
“Boevik,” he corrects me. “Boeviki is plural.”
“Whatever.” I roll my eyes. “But it means you have to obey Arsen. And he said I have free rein of his home.”
“I know exactly what he told you. But Arsen Kirilovich was very clear in his instructions to me.” Leaning toward me, the man braces his good hand on the frame of the door above my head. His voice comes out crunchy, like he’s chewing on pebbles. “You’re not allowed to leave the house. If you think I’m stupid enough to let you trick me into letting that happen, you’ve underestimated me. I learn from my mistakes.”
I glance at his bandaged hand again. He follows my eyes, the muscles in his shoulders bunching before his whole face shifts to a shade of maroon. Whatever happened to his hand must be embarrassing.
“All I want to do is talk to Ulyana,” I explain. “She’s right over there.”
“Then I’ll tell her you’re looking for her.”
“But—”
He slams the door in my face with such speed the wind of it throws my hair from my face. The impact hurts my ears and makes me clench my teeth. Or maybe I’m just biting down because I’m pissed off at being treated poorly.
For a second, I forgot I was a prisoner. What a silly mistake.
Taking long steps, I walk around the room. I’m feeling pent up, like a caged animal. I should have kicked him in the ankle again. It’s very tempting to open the door and do it now. It might make me feel better. After so many losses, I’ll take my wins where I can get them. No. Pissing him off is reckless. He definitely hates me already. It’s weird though. Could my desperate attempt to defend myself from him have caused him to look at me with pure loathing?
Sulking at how helpless I am, I decide not to make more enemies. Or … to not make my current enemies have more reasons to want to get revenge on me.
Before I make it into the hallway, the front door opens again. Ulyana enters with a basket slung over her right elbow. Pure white roses spill over the edges. There’s a pair of pruning shears on her hip in a small apron she’s slung around her usual dress. “Galina,” she says when she sees me. “Are you all right? You look upset.”
I point accusingly at the door behind her. “That dickhead out there wouldn’t let me go talk to you.”
“Dickhead? You mean Kostya?” She scans over her shoulder before eyeing me thoughtfully. “You know you can’t leave the house.”
