“Kai.” Dimitri answers in a warm, concerned voice I’ve never doubted until now. “Are you all right?”
My stomach twists as rage flares beneath my ribs.
How dare he act so caring after exploiting me for most of my life?
Somehow, I succeed in forcing the fury down. Mostly.
I allow my discomfort to sharpen my voice with exactly the right amount of desperation. “Dima.” The childhood nickname comes automatically. It stings, and I use that fuel to feed my lie. “Max is… Let’s say he’s been neutralized. I have the locket, but I can’t stay here. Before I convinced him to go rogue, he warned me that he’d let the location of the safe house slip. I need you. We need to leave before anyone else finds us.”
“Of course, Boss. Where are you? I’ll pick you up.”
Boss.
A word designed to make me believe I’m the one in control. The leader instead of the weapon.
All deceit and manipulation.
I swallow down the curse I want to fling at him, saving it for when we’re face-to-face. “You’ll never get up the mountain. The roads are impassable. Meet me at the North Ridge Lodge. I can be there in two days.”
I can almost hear the gears in his mind grinding before he answers. “All right. I’ll meet you there. Kai, you did great. I’m proud of you no matter how you got the job done.”
So hedidsee what Max and I did. I repress a shudder. How long has he been spying on me? “I’ll see you soon.”
I end the call just as Max saunters back in.
“We all set?” He drops on the couch next to me, kicking his feet up onto the coffee table.
“All set.” I join him, nudging my way under his arm so I can rest on his chest. “In two days, we’ll have all the answers we need.”
His heavy arm settles across my shoulders.
I might be heading toward the biggest confrontation of my life, but at least I won’t have to face it alone.
Chapter 33
Nika
North Ridge Ski Lodge has always reminded me of a cicada husk. Previously run by a retired couple years ago, the abandoned shell feels cavernous, an empty space once vibrant and alive. Pale wood forms the bones and skin of the building in exposed rough-cut frames and joists supporting smooth planks. Once upon a time, those walls housed pictures of visitors and staff skiing, tubing, and eating. Now they sit bare, waiting for a new life.
Those double paned monstrosities keep the snow out, but not the cold, not after so many years of disuse. The sizable twin stone fireplaces on the east and west walls are barren, holding only dust.
Big enough to burn bodies in.
Other than me and the half-circle registration desk, nothing occupies the stone floor hidden beneath years of neglect. From my position near the front door, I have clear sight lines to the windows and exits.
My thoughts start to echo, and anxiety claws at my soul.
What if I was wrong all this time? That would make everything I’ve done monstrous, all my sacrifices useless.
Have I ruined countless lives…for nothing?
If that’s true, I’m not sure I can live with myself.
Overhead, in the mezzanine that overlooks the entire ground floor, Max sets up a mini sniper’s nest. I channel his surety, his steadfastness. He’s here to do a job, and so am I.
The locket rests against my sternum. I deliberately wore the necklace over my coat as proof that I have what we came for. Mission accomplished, as far as Dimitri knows.
If Dimitri spoke the actual truth, and I’m the one in charge, this is enough to show we’re done and can move on. We can leave the mountain safe house behind and go on with our lives. The Kozlovs will never see me again. My world will still have order.
