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CHAPTER TWO
Aurora
Shit!
My mind is racing almost as frantically as my heart.
“Elena,” I whisper.
“What are you doing?” Her expression is puzzled. What am I supposed to say to her?
“I… I needed to leave,” I blurt suddenly, admitting to myself that it would be pointless to lie to her. I got caught in the act and I have to face the consequences. I just hope she’s not going to give me a hard time. “I want to visit my um… aunt, Elena.” I’m so unsettled that my lie falters and it’s impossible to look her in the eye.
God, please don’t let Lev’s thugs come now!
Elena gives me a doubtful look before she suddenly reaches out and grabs my hand. She starts tugging me to the hallway that leads to a quiet spot in the living room.
“What are you doing?” Elena whispers as soon as we enter the deserted area.
“What are you talking about? What’s wrong with visiting my aunt?” I stick to my story.
Elena’s demeanor changes. “Your aunt?” she says as she folds her arms and arches her brows. “If the Boss was okay with this, you’d be going out the front door with a team of guards.”
I curse under my breath, seeing how much loyalty Elena has for Lev.
“Elena, please, I really need to see my aunt. I would check with Lev but he won’t talk to me. I don’t even know where he is,” I say with a pleading look.
“It’s not safe for you out there, Miz Ivanova,” she says. “Especially after what happened that night.” Although her tone is firm, she looks perturbed.
“I know the attack means Lev’s enemies are after him, but that doesn’t affect me,” I tell her, realizing how foolish that sounds.
“Don’t be so sure about that,” she says. “The attack was against all of us. The only reason this place isn’t on a complete lockdown is that the Boss found out who drugged the meal that night.”
“Drugged the meal?” I frown.
“I heard it from the guys. Someone added something to the food; everyone was out cold. The Boss, Ludis, and some of the other men were left awake because they missed dinner,” Elena says.
“Oh, my God!” I gasp as everything she is saying starts sinking in. If all of this is true, then an enemy exists within. “Did they tell you who was responsible?”
“They didn’t,” she whispers, shaking her head. “All I know is that it was someone close to the Boss.” She pauses, her eyes meeting mine. We both know the consequences. “I can only assume the person is dead by now,” she adds.
“God,” I mutter, wishing there was a place to sit down. My legs feel weak at the realization of how my husband must have been spending his time these past days. I don't want to think about it.
But then, who could blame him? It is one thing to have an enemy from the outside but to have one within? The feeling of betrayal must be gnawing at him. If only he would allow me to comfort him.
“What about the attack?” I ask. “Did they find out who was behind it?”
“I don’t know. I heard our men took most of them out. Whoever was left, ran away.” There’s an edge to her voice as she says it, her eyes glitter with contempt. I’m still trying to wrap my head around how a sweet soul like Elena will voluntarily work at this place.
“Why do you work here?” I suddenly change the subject. “I mean, you could be anywhere else. What’s this place to you?”
She gasps and looks down as if she’s contemplating something. I stay silent as I wait for her to respond.
“I chose to be here,” she finally says, glancing around, making sure no one hears us. I’m sure the eerie silence of the house is affecting her as much as it affects me. Even the air has been different since that night. The fact that it was someone within these very walls who orchestrated the attack has made everyone anxious.
“Why? You have a choice to live a life outside the Bratva, don’t you?” I press.
“There is no life outside this place for me,” she adds, her eyes meeting mine for a moment. “I was a victim of human trafficking, Miz Ivanova,” she says and I stare at her in utter shock. “Me and my sister… we grew up as orphans. We had no one, except each other, until the Mexican mafia kidnapped us,” she goes on and I’m still staring at her, barely believing what I’m hearing. Poor souls. By comparison, my shitty childhood in my ivory tower seems like a fairy tale. “They kept us locked away in a warehouse with dozens of others. Then,” her voice cracks and she looks at me with tears in her eyes, “they picked out my sister because she was pretty. Raped her and sliced her throat, leaving her to bleed out in front of everyone.”
