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“And what was the cost?”
“Well, I made it all the way around, but the chain got stuck over the top and threw off my trajectory. I wound up breaking my arm in two places. Let’s just say my mother wasnothappy.”
I find myself grinning despite myself. Things shouldn’t be this friendly between us, but he makes it so easy. His presence is strangely soothing, like I can relax and forget about my problems and my past for a little while. Who knew plotting revenge could be so exhausting? In this little pocket of space and time, it’s easy to imagine things differently.
It’s a heartbreaking thought.
The sound of Lev coughing snaps me out of my trance. I hurry over and give him my attention, crouching beside him.
“Everything alright?” I ask. Lev smacks his lips. I wonder if he’s thirsty. He seems to be perfectly fine otherwise. Looking around, I spot a convenience store just down the road. “I’ll be right back,” I announce. “I’m just going to grab him a bottle of water.”
“Have one of the guards go with you,” Dimitri says.
“No need. I’ll be two minutes, max.”
“Nat—”
I’m already headed down the road.
The convenience store is crammed full of overstuffed shelves. The aisles are much too narrow, the tiles are grimy, and it’s dimly lit. The cashier is a teenager likely working the register for a measly hourly wage. He doesn’t bother greeting me as I walk in, occupied with whatever he’s watching on his phone.
I head for the fridges in the very back of the store and pick up a few bottles. I have every intention of hurrying back when my burner phone buzzes. There’s only one person who could be texting me.
Any updates?
Even though I’m alone, I still glance over my shoulder to make sure the coast is clear.
Nothing yet.
Reason for delay?
No opportunity to get him alone.
Even as I send the message, I can’t help but feel a little guilty. It’s a lie. I had him alone last night. For several minutes, in fact. It was the perfect window of opportunity. Nobody else in the house was awake, Dimitri and I were alone, and I could have escaped into the night before his body was even cold.
Guards everywhere.
Be careful.
I sigh. Edvard doesn’t need to tell me twice. Iwillsee this through…
All I need is more time.
Chapter 12
Dimitri
“Where’d everyone go?” Natalya asks me upon returning.
“Simon started getting fussy,” I explain, “so I sent him back along with Dahlia and Lev. Boris is guiding them back.”
A light dusting of pink colors her cheeks. “You didn’t have to wait for me.”
“Of course I did.” I offer her my elbow. “Shall we head back?”
Natalya bites her bottom lip before slowly hooking her arm through mine. “Let’s.”
This is nice—my circle of bodyguards aside. If I ignore them, I can almost pretend I’m out on a lovely stroll with the beautiful woman beside me.
