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“What’s wrong?” he asks, alert in his delirium. Is it because I mentioned the money or is it because he still does care about me and Emma?
I swallow hard. “The men want to hurt the girls. The same men who hurt me. I don’t want the girls to be hurt.”
He lets go of my hand, and a pitiful sob rises out of his throat. “It’s too late,” he moans. “It’s too late for us.”
“Not for them, Gerry. Please, they need the money so they can get away.”
“I won’t tell you, Cyndy.” He balls his fists. “How do I know you won’t keep it for yourself?”
“Please, Gerry,” I plead. “I only want to help our girls. For Emma, and Paige.”
He cries. Silent sobs wrack his body as his bony shoulders shake. “What have I done to this family?”
My conscience starts to stir, but I have to keep pushing. “The money, Gerry?”
He stays silent for what seems like an hour, but in reality, it’s only a minute. I don’t have time to lose if I want my twisted plan to work. I listen to his breathing and wonder if he might have fallen asleep. My eyes nervously glance at the door, and I’m afraid of being caught. I jump when Dad speaks.
“You know the place.”
“I don’t …” A chill tightens my body as I stare into my father’s pained face.
“You always hid stuff there, Cyndy. Away from the girls.”
Oh God, how much did my mother know? I thought she was an innocent victim, a bystander to his crime, but sheknewwhere he hid it? Is Dad imagining it, or did Mom really know?
Is that what she wanted to tell me that day?
“I forgot, Gerry. Tell me again.”
His lips move, but only a whimper leaves his open lips.
The door swings open, and Inessa returns with a guard—the same one who tried to attack me at my wedding. I back away from the bed, my heart racing as if I’ve been caught rifling through drawers and shoving their stolen money into my purse.
Inessa stares at me suspiciously. She must be wondering what I’ve been doing. Why I look so guilty. If Dad speaks again, I’m screwed. They can’t hear what he might say next.
“Don’t stand there like fools!” I shout. “He needs oxygen. He’s turning blue.”
They make haste to the bed, and Dad’s agitated state conceals my lie. Inessa loses interest in me quickly. She’s more concerned with what Andrei might do if my father dies before he returns home.
“My wife,” he says, tossing his head.
“Your wife is dead,” Inessa replies harshly, trying to place the mask over his head.
“No, you’re lying.” Dad starts to cough as Inessa finally fits the oxygen mask in place. His words are muffled as oxygen fills his nostrils and mouth. Dad’s eyes flutter shut as he settles down to sleep.
Without hesitation, I hastily leave the room. Guilt follows me as I hurry away, and I tell my mind to leave me alone. I had to do it. I have to get us out of this nightmare. Now, I just have to figure out Mom’s hiding place. Where would she put something small like a bank account?
He’ll never forgive you for this, Paige.
Andrei might call what I’m about to do a betrayal.
But how can you betray a person who never loved you?
Chapter 34
Paige
Andrei is always home before one in the morning, and I always know when he’s back by the subtle noises in the house—the hushed voices and the soft footsteps of his guards as they enter the mansion. And I know that Andrei always looks in on me, even if he sleeps in another room.
