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My instinct is to let it ring. I’ll call her later. Once I’ve figured out what the fuck I want to say. Better yet, I’ll talk to her in person. I’ll show up at Jorden’s and explain things.
I’ve almost convinced myself to let it go to voicemail, but then I snatch the phone up and answer.
Before I can say anything, Cora’s voice comes over the line. “Ivan?” My name comes out in a tremble, broken in her desperation.
I stand up on instinct. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay,” she says. “Have you talked to Yasha?”
I haven’t seen Yasha since he left yesterday. I asked him to drive Cora to Jorden’s apartment, but he knew better than to show up back here while the wound was fresh. Unlike my sister.
“Not today. What’s going on?”
“Yasha showed up and he can’t get in touch with the guards looking after Francia. Jorden and I both called her and she isn’t answering. I talked to her last night; she was fine. But then… I think something might have happened to her.”
Blyat.Yasha should have told me. He should have informed me of all of this immediately.
“Are you and Jorden safe?” I demand. “Where are you?”
“Yasha told us to stay at her apartment, but I wanted to call you. If I can do anything to save Francia, I want to do it. You were the only person I knew who might be able to do something.”
“Where did Yasha go?” I ask, even though I already know.
“He went to Francia’s.”
“Shit,” I hiss, shifting my phone to speaker so I can send a text to Yasha.
Don’t you fucking dare walk in there without me. That’s an order. Stand down.
“Are you worried?” Cora asks.
I want to lie and tell her it will all be fine. I want to ease her worries and keep her calm, but I can’t lie to her. Not anymore.
“Your friend goes missing one day after you leave my house and my bubble of protection… It’s a trap,” I say flatly. “Someone wants to draw you out. I don’t know who or why, but—”
“I might,” Cora squeaks.
“The more information I have right now, the better. Tell me everything.”
“I want to, but you have to promise you won’t be angry. Francia didn’t do anything wrong,” she says. “Whatever happens, you can’t do anything to her. It was all my fault. I asked her to do it.”
“Dowhat?” I growl.
“I asked Francia to look into Katerina’s disappearance.”
I frown. “What the fuck would she know about that?”
“Francia went to school with Katerina. Some rich private school. They were friends once, but she said they had a falling-out. Francia said she could ask around and try to figure out what happened.” Cora’s voice catches. “She probably asked the wrong person the wrong question—but it wasn’t her fault! She was doing it for me, so I’m the one you should be mad at. If someone has to be punished, let it be me. But save her.Please.”
The desperation in her voice wrecks me.
“Cora, I’m not going to hurt you. Or Francia. For fuck’s sake, that’s not who I am.”
“But Katerina…”
I made Katerina a promise. But I promised Cora something as well. I told Cora I would keep her safe. Right now, to keep that promise, I have to come clean. I have to reveal the secrets that drove her away from me and put her in danger. I have to do anything I can to get her back under my roof and in my arms.
“Katerina is fine.”
