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Dario leans away, scowling. “Fucking rodent. He would’ve executed me, Leo.”
“I know.”
“We have to…” Sirens sound in the air. Dario sighs. “We’re doing this legit, aren’t we?”
“Yes. Police interview. Witness reports. We’re just two successful business owners, one of whom almost got randomly assaulted in the mall.”
“Good thing we’re friends with the cops. They’d never believe this crap otherwise, but Fyodor… Tell me, brother. Please tell me.”
I move close to ensure nobody else can hear, lowering my voice. “We’re going to put him in the dirt.”
Dario grins.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Emma
“Are you sure you want me to come?” I ask, looking at myself in the mirror.
We’re in Rosa’s bedroom. After Leo left me yesterday, Eddie knocked on the basement door and told me I had full run of the house. He said there’s security on the perimeter, so it makes no sense for me to be locked in one room.
I knew what was happening. Leo feels guilty for how we left things. Maybe he’s guilty because he lied and tried to be nice when I was crying, saying theforeverthing. Or perhaps he’s guilty because, if it’s true, it meansmorebetrayal.
My head won’t stop spinning. I think back to a few days ago before I saw Leo, felt him, and kissed him. I was so much colder then. I didn’t know a person’s ice could melt in less than a week.
“Emma?”
Crap. Rosa’s been talking to me. I’ve got to stop doing that.
“Yeah? Sorry.”
“I said, yes, I want you there. You and Dad get on okay, don’t you?”
I smooth my hand down the dress. It’s one of my party-style ones, showing more of my legs than I usually do. The cleavage cut isn’tlow, but it’s not Sunday school.
“Yeah, I think so,” I say awkwardly.
“And you’re helping him with the accounting stuff.”
There was no way around telling her this lie—my excuse-minded brain tells me—because Rosa visited the basement, and I wasn’t there. She found me in the garden a few minutes after her dad left. She’d changed her mind and wanted to hang out after all.
Then she noticed that one of her dad’s cufflinks had come off, probably from when I was hugging, kissing, and venting my grief to him.
“Was Dad up here?”
“Have you told him I’m coming?”
Since Leo is staying at the apartment, Rosa has arranged to have dinner with him. This involves three cars of security and an armored truck. It’s a lot of effort for Leo to go to in order to avoid me. He’s probably going to be pissed if I turn up.
“No need,” Rosa says breezily, adjusting her hair. “We’re getting there early, so the chef will have plenty of time.”
Rosa is a great person, but sometimes, she takes all this for granted. To me, it’s still like a fairy tale—personal chefs and the assumption of luxury. I can’t imagine raising a family with all this privilege.
Rosa and I were only at the same school because Mom worked so hard and saved so much to send me there, and yet Icanimagine it, too. Who wouldn’t want to give their kids the best life possible? That’s exactly what Mom did, and I’d do with my and Leo’s kids.
“Uh, okay.”
Rosa walks over to me and smiles broadly. “Look, this has all been such a whirlwind. Let’s try to have a nice dinner tonight. Anyway, I need you there in case it gets awkward with talk about Matvei. You can be myshield.”
