AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What?”
“Ulyana must know this place. Audrey, I need you to do something for me.”
“Of course. Just tell me.”
“There’s something in my bathroom at the mansion. Something that Ulyana knows about. I need her to bring it to me.” I freeze, thinking my plan through carefully. “There are security cameras around the cabin. She’ll have to come up with a ruse for why she’s visiting … Tell her to bring me something, like some really comfy compression socks. My feet are killing me with all this water retention, so it’s not even a lie.”
“Wait, what is it?” she asks.
I don’t have to tell her this. Biting the inside of my cheek, I weigh the upside to keeping this part of my plan a secret. “The less you know, the safer you’ll be. I promise.”
God, I sound like him!
“Galina! You can’t be serious. Are you actually keeping secrets from me now?”
“I’m sorry, Audrey,” I say. “But it’s the only way.”
Turning my head slightly, I stare at the wooden walls. Through them, some distance away, Arsen is in a room, debating the pros and cons of murder. My fingers tighten on the phone and my breath comes quicker. “It’s the only way to stop Arsen from crossing the line that he’ll never come back from.”
Hours pass before Ulyana arrives. Arsen has already departed with Mila and his brigadiers, off on some mission for intel so they can track down Yevgeniy. There’s no one posted to stop her from walking straight to the door and knocking.
In a way, this location is more vulnerable than the mansion. There are no hordes of armed guards, no miles of razor-tipped fence. All we have are a few cameras and a single guard that Arsen left behind. A guard who’s already fallen asleep while watching TV streaming on the spotty wi-fi on his phone.
“Ulyana!” I gush, grabbing her in a grateful hug once she’s inside.
“How are you?” she asks.
“I’m fine, but what about you? I heard the mansion was raided by the cops.”
Her eyes crinkle from her pleased smile. “They thought it was a raid, but it was more an excuse to have someone else turn over all the furniture to save me the work. The place has never been so clean, not a spot of dust anywhere.”
Laughing with my whole chest, I step back from her, my hands still on her shoulders. “I’m glad you’re all right. Did you bring?—”
“The socks? Of course.” She passes me the bundle, looking at me meaningfully. I take the socks, feeling through the middle. My thumb rubs the hard edge of the tiny SIM card. Anything caught on the security cameras won’t spoil my plan.
“Thank you,” I say genuinely.
“I hope they help your swollen feet. Arsen should be taking better care of you.”
I manage a mild smile. “He’s doing what he can. It’s safe to talk if we whisper. He isn’t here, the guard is passed out, and those cameras can’t catch our audio.” I saw that for myself when I spotted Arsen reviewing the footage with Mila earlier. They complained that they needed to upgrade the tech at this location.
Ulyana ducks her head and crinkles her eyebrows. “In that case, devushka … I know what that thing is. Are you certain you’ve thought this through?”
My pulse skyrockets at this. I study her face, trying to work out how she could possibly have figured out what I’m up to. Did Audrey tell her? No, wait. Calm down. She knows it’s a SIM card, but she can’t know it’s to contact Yevgeniy. “Thought through what?” I ask innocently.
“Please don’t insult my intelligence.” She grips my hands and squeezes them. It’s a pleading gesture, but it also hurts, like she’s trying to shock me awake. “I’ve spent my life in proximity to the Bratva. I know what you’re about to do.”
Our eyes meet—she frowns, and I know she’s seen through my game. Dropping my hands, I let out an exhausted sigh. “If Kristina was alive, she wouldn’t want Arsen to taint his hands with the blood of a child.”
“Yes,” she admits. “But have you thought about the consequences?” Ulyana suddenly looks very drained. The energy has been siphoned from her, and I feel awful for not noticing until now. Between covering for me, dealing with the police raid, fighting with Arsen, and keeping more of my secrets, she’s gone thin as stretched chewing gum. If I’m not careful, she’ll tear.
“You’re about to make a deal with the devil,” she says softly.
Scrunching up my nose, I hug the socks tight to my chest. “I know, but what choice do I have left?”
She cradles my face and starts speaking again. “Actions have consequences, devushka. Unintended ones. Think about the lives you’ll be risking. Your mother?—”
“Is a survivor,” I cut her off. I am too. “Please, I have to do this.”
