“Should we tell Kira about this?” Milana asks, still grinning.
I shake my head immediately. “No way. She might tell Artyom.”
Milana snorts. “You’re right. That woman cannot keep a secret from our brother to save her life.”
We both burst into laughter again. I have never seen my eldest brother so completely whipped in my entire life. He and Kira are madly in love, and honestly, I’m happy for him. After everything he’s been through, he deserves that kind of happiness. We are close, but still, she’s loyal to him first.
My smile disappears when bright red and blue lights suddenly flash in the rearview mirror.
Milana’s laughter cuts off. “What’s going on?”
I ease my foot off the gas and pull over to the side of the road. I’m annoyed more than anything. We’re so close to home.
“Stay calm,” I tell her, keeping my voice steady. “I’m sure it’s just a normal traffic stop.”
“What if they arrest us?” Milana whispers, her earlier lightness gone.
“Why would they arrest us? We didn’t do anything wrong.” I glance at her and force a small smile. “Just stay calm and act normal. We’ll be out of here in a minute.”
In the rearview mirror, I watch one officer step out of the patrol car and walk toward us. He’s huge, built like a tank, broad shoulders straining against his uniform, thick arms swinging at his sides. The sheer size of him unsettles me.
Another figure remains inside their vehicle. I roll down my window, pasting on a polite expression.
“Good evening, officer.”
“Ladies,” he replies, his tone flat. “Where are you coming from tonight?”
“We were just leaving a club downtown,” I answer honestly. “Is there a problem?”
He doesn’t respond to my question. “License and registration, please.”
I reach into the glove compartment, pull out the documents, and hand them over. He studies them for a long moment under the beam of his flashlight.
“Have you been drinking tonight?” he asks.
“Yes, but only one drink at the start of the evening. Nothing to worry about.”
He looks at me for a beat, then says, “Step out of the car, ma’am.”
My heart kicks harder. “Officer, I’m fine to drive?—”
“Out of the car.Now.”
I unbuckle my seatbelt and push the door open, still trying to explain as I step onto the asphalt. “I’m really not intoxicated. We just?—”
The second officer gets out of the patrol car and moves straight to Milana’s side. He’s just as built as his companion, massive, and muscular.
“Ma’am, you need to step out as well,” he orders her.
The night air suddenly feels colder. I glance at Milana through the windshield and see the same flicker of fear I’m trying to push down in her eyes that.
The second officer yanks open Milana’s door and hauls her out before she can even unbuckle properly.
“Take it easy with her! I just told you we’re not drunk.”
This doesn’t feel like a normal traffic stop anymore. I notice immediately that they aren’t listening to a word I’m saying.
“What’s going on?” I demand. “What is your name and which precinct do you work for?”
