AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The question weighed heavily in Kostya’s thoughts and interrupted his observations. His heart was closed off at the best of times, but Maya had managed to rip down his defenses within the span of a few short days. Kostya’s affection was sudden, he knew, but his heart told him that it was lasting and true. Maya was strength like he’d never been able to embody, and kindness like he’d never experienced before. She saw past his cold exterior and through the terrible things he had done, and she understood him as a man instead of as a monster.
He would never let her go, and to think that he might have to betray her, even if it was for the good of their future, wounded him.
Breaking into his thoughts on Maya, there came a sudden commotion at the gate. The doors opened slowly, allowing a black town car to emerge. Its windows were heavily tinted, and from what Kostya could see, its back seat was divided from the front with frosted glass. The driver was an elderly man—likely someone who the Svodnik deeply trusted.
Kostya couldn’t make out anything more than that, but it was enough. One old man wouldn’t stand in his way. Even without a weapon, Kostya was certain he could overpower the driver, and once he did, he’d gain possession of the car and its precious cargo—Anatoly Popov himself.
I’ve got you, you bastard.
The car progressed slowly down the street. Kostya tracked it from against the trunk of the tree, keeping an eye out for acceleration.
As the car approached the stop sign, Kostya abandoned his post and climbed out onto the limb hanging over the street. As the car came to a gentle stop, Kostya executed his plan. He dropped down from the tree and landed on the roof of the vehicle, then hoisted himself up and smashed in the front passenger side window with a well-placed kick. Before the driver could speed away, Kostya slid inside.
The driver, an old man with a long gray beard, didn’t take his eyes from the windshield, but Kostya saw the fear on his face. He let it feed his inner beast. “Get out,” Kostya ordered.
“I’m not permitted to do so, sir.” To his credit, the old man’s voice didn’t waver. He had to have been a driver for the Svodnik for quite some time—despite the fear on his face, he kept his gaze away from Kostya. The car didn’t move—traffic from the intersecting street prevented an escape.
“Get. Out,” Kostya growled. “Or would you rather I find another way to get you to leave?”
Kostya had promised Maya that he wouldn’t kill her father. He hadn’t made the same promise about anyone else. If eliminating the driver was what it took to gain control of the vehicle, he would do it without a second thought. “You have ten seconds. Nine. Eight…”
The driver let out a controlled breath and unbuckled his seatbelt. Kostya kept his eyes trained on him while keeping the glass partition in his peripheral vision. He would not allow himself to make a mistake now. He’d come too far.
“Get out of the car and stand on the sidewalk until we’re out of sight,” Kostya demanded. He didn’t notice a gun on the driver, and he figured the man was defenseless. It was too bad. Popov was making this too easy. “After that, what you do with your life is up to you, but remember my mercy, and know that next time you cross the Sokolovs, you will not be so blessed.”
The driver opened the door and climbed out of the car. Kostya slammed the door shut, sidled into the driver seat, and turned out onto the intersecting street without issue, all the while making sure the frosted glass partition remained in place.
He had Popov in his grasp. Now all he had to do was figure out how tightly to squeeze.
CHAPTER19
Maya
Elena Popov was two years younger than Maya and was the spoiled, pampered baby of the family—the golden child and the most well-loved, according to her. Thanks to their father, they’d grown up in constant competition with each other, but they’d mostly gotten along. When Maya was sixteen and Elena fourteen, their father had sent them on a lengthy summer vacation around Europe and when they’d returned home, he’d informed them of their mother’s death in the same tone as one might announce a train arrival. Their father had tolerated their grief for a short time, but there had been clear limits to his patience. Elena had seemed to master her grief faster than Maya could. From that point on, Elena really was the golden child in their father’s eyes—and Maya started planning her escape.
So, what was her sister doing in a candid photo with the Sokolovs? Had she too turned her back on him or was there something more going on?
Maya wanted to believe it, but she also knew that her sister—a true Popov—was both cunning and ruthless. She wasn’t beyond subterfuge if it meant she could get what she wanted. Still, what other choice did she have than to reach out to Elena? No one would understand the situation better than her sister, and if Elena really had aligned herself with the enemy, then there was a chance she could get Maya in touch with Kostya before it was too late.
Maya woke her tablet and sent a FaceTime invitation to her sister.
Then, the invitation sat, she sat some more. Maya checked the time. It was a little after ten in the morning, which meant it was five in the morning in Boston. Elena probably wasn’t awake, but Maya needed answers. She would wait until Elena either hung up on her or answered.
Kostyaneededher.
At last, the screen flickered. Elena’s face appeared. Her hair was messy, and she wasn’t wearing any makeup. “Maya?”
“Don’t hang up,” Maya pleaded. “I need to ask you something.”
“Maya, it’s good to see you, but it’s five in the morning. What the hell are you doing calling me at this hour?” Elena yawned and rubbed her eyes. It looked like she was in bed. “It’s not even light outside yet. How am I supposed to get my beauty sleep?”
“Please, Elena…please, listen. I know that we’re not on good terms, but I need your help. Where are you right now? Are you with the Sokolovs?”
“Um, what’s going on?” Elena furrowed her brow. She held her phone a little farther away from her face, like doing so might help her make better sense of the situation. “You’re acting really weird, even for you.”
“I need to know. Are you with the Sokolovs, or are you at home?”
Elena pushed a hand through her messy hair, pulling it back from her forehead. “I…Things have changed while you’ve been gone, Maya. There’s a lot you need to know.” She sighed, then laughed and rolled over. The screen went blurry from the motion, then refocused. Elena had angled the camera lens so Maya could see across the bed. It was dark on the other half of the mattress, but Maya saw what she believed to be someone sleeping next to Elena. “Maya, meet my boyfriend, Roman Garnovich. He works for Viktor—and he’s his best friend.” At the introduction, Roman lifted his hand and gave a little wave before burrowing back down into his pillow with a grumble.
