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I nod. “Yeah.”
Charlotte smiles gently. “You know what? Screw exotic. Sandra sounds nice. Now, what if it’s a boy—”
The loud stomping of booted feet sounds just outside in the hall. The guards are changing their stations. Charlotte and I exchange a cautious glance before we both carefully climb out of bed, tiptoeing over to the door. We press our ears against the wood, listening carefully. While she takes note of the time, I listen in on their conversation.
It’s low and muffled, but I’m starting to pick up little bits and pieces of Russian. The guards never talk to us, but that doesn’t stop them from talking to each other. I’ve learned a few of their names, some numbers, how to sayfoodandgirlsandI’m tired.
Charlotte and I haven’t been wasting our time in here. We’re not damsels in distress waiting for a hero to show up and save the day. We’ve been actively recording their comings and goings, trying to get a sense of their rotation. I’ve been diligently trying to figure out if there’s a window of opportunity, a momentary lapse in surveillance. So far, no luck. They’re too well trained, too in sync, but I’m not giving up hope just yet.
The second they make a mistake and leave us unattended is the second Charlotte and I are going to try and escape.
“Anything?” Charlotte whispers to me.
I strain to listen. They speak too fast and too low, but names are always the easiest to catch.
Something something Mikhail something something.
My heart skips a beat.
I’ve been worried sick about him. The brief few minutes I got to see him outside the mansion sparked a hope deep within my core. He’s here. He came after me. And then Konstantin sent him away to God knows where. I remember screaming myself hoarse, my throat tearing itself to pieces when he drove away. I begged,pleadedfor him to come back. Naturally, he couldn’t hear a word I said.
I haven’t seen him since. Nobody will tell me where he’s gone or when he’ll be back orifhe’ll be back at all. All I can do is pray and try to keep calm. My stress levels have been through the roof lately. I can’t imagine my spike in cortisol is particularly good for the baby’s development.
The sharp click clack of stilettos against the tile floor outside alerts me of a new visitor. Unless one of the guards has decided to don a pair of kitten heels, it can only mean one thing…
“Let me through,” Catherina snaps.
I back away just as the door swings open. She walks in like she owns the place. She certainlylooksthe part of Bratva royalty, dressed in an elegant midi-length black dress with a fur vest over. A red fox, if I had to guess. Her ears and neck are decorated with ridiculously large pearls, her fingers sparkling with all manner of bejeweled gems. Clearly the cold Moscow air agrees with her.
“Go away,” I grumble.
“I’m not here for you. I’m here to check on my grandson.”
I suck in a sharp breath. “You’re not going to get your hands on my baby, you crazy bitch.”
She ignores me, stepping forward to place her hands on my belly. I’m not showing a great deal, but I’ve started to notice changes in my body. My ass and thighs have gotten rounder, my belly just a bit bigger, and my breasts have become undeniably more tender. My hair’s taken on a healthy sheen, and my skin has never been more agreeable. The house staff has also gone to the trouble—most likely because they were ordered to—of fetching me new clothes that fit much better, though I’m finding they’re starting to grow tighter around the belly, too.
Charlotte swats Catherina’s hand away. “Don’t you know you’re not supposed to touch a pregnant woman without her permission? That’s so rude!”
Catherina pulls her hand back with a scoff. “I’d be careful how you speak to me. It wasmyidea to let you come so Aurora might have some company.”
“Oh, I’msothankful you had me smuggled out of the country,” Charlotte says dryly. “This has been such awonderfulvacation. I owe you all my thanks.”
I sigh. “What do you want?”
“I’m here to take you out for a walk about the compound. Your guards have informed me of your good behavior over the past month. Consider it a reward for your compliance.”
The corner of my lip turns up into a sneer. “The last time you invited me out on a walk, I wound up being shoved into the back of a cargo plane. No, thank you.”
I’m about to push her out of my shared room with Charlotte and slam the door in her face, but Catherina quickly says, “I have news about Mikhail.” I freeze. She sure knows how to get my attention. “Hurry up. I don’t like being kept waiting.”
The compound is massive and intimidating. I thought I’d gotten used to having so many eyes on me but being outside in full view of the guard towers and security cameras along the perimeter line makes me feel uncomfortably exposed. Maybe it’s a good thing Catherina is taking me out for some fresh air. Any longer spent inside might make me agoraphobic.
One thing I’ll never get used to is all the guns. I’ve seen them in TV shows and in movies but seeing them up close and personal sends a shiver down my spine.
“Breathe easy,” Catherina says. “I’ve slowly been replacing the guards on the compound with men loyal tome,” she says, a low whisper in my ear. “While you’ve been locked up in your room, lounging about without a care, I’ve been busy making my move under Konstantin’s nose.”
I scoff. “I’m notlounging. Believe me, if there was something productive I could be doing, I would have done it by now.”
