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Aside from the maids we’ve planted, Yasha has access to one of the security cameras. It’s an exterior angle, but it gives us an idea of who is coming and going from the house. Mainly, the answer is Mikhail Sokolov.
“He isn’t there in the evenings,” Yasha says. “As much as I know you want to kill him—”
“You don’t have any fucking idea how much I want to kill him,” I growl.
“Well, regardless, we should probably wait until he isn’t around to go in and get her.”
I grimace but nod. “The fewer casualties, the better. I don’t want them to be able to tie any of this back to me. Not if Alexander is half the fixer that Cora’s dad thinks he is.”
“That’s another thing.” Yasha straightens up, wincing as his back pops. We’ve been bent over my desk for a long time. “I’ve been thinking about what Marcus said. I didn’t realize exactly how much sway Alexander has over… well, everybody.”
“So?”
He runs a hand over the back of his neck. “I want to get Cora out of there as much as anybody, but we have to do it in a way that won’t ruin the rest of your life. Or the rest of my life. Or the rest ofherlife.”
“I know. We get in; we get out. No casualties if we can help it.”
“I think we need to hit pause on any rescue plans until I can get more security in the house. If we just—”
“No.”
The word rips out of me before I can even understand what Yasha is saying. It’s an instinct.
Leave Cora in the hands of my enemies? No.
Be apart from her longer than necessary? Never.
Abandon her after I promised I’d get her out?I don’t fucking think so.
“I know, I know.” Yasha has his hands raised like he’s trying to ease me off a ledge. “We need to get to her as soon as possible.”
“Not as soon as possible,” I correct. “Immediately.”
“But we don’t do any good if we barge in there and are unprepared. Which is why I want to get some more cameras put in place. I already have one of the maids on the inside working on it. If things go our way, it will only add a day or two to the plan.”
“And if they don’t go our way?”
Yasha hesitates. “Things will go our way. They always do.”
“If things always went my way, Cora would be in my bed and Francia would be in a shallow grave.”
“Both of those things are going to be true, brother,” Yasha says softly. “I’m going to make sure of that.”
In the end, my good sense wins out. I nod reluctantly. “Get the cameras up as soon as possible. Cora is scared. I want to get her home.”
Yasha frowns at my word choice. I do, too. It’s the second time I’ve slipped up like that. This can’t be Cora’s home. No matter how much I want it to be. I’m to free her from the hellhole she’s trapped in—but after that, if I want to keep her safe…
I have to let her go.
Before Yasha can say anything, my phone rings. He leans over and checks my screen to see Francia’s name. “Speaking of the devil. Not to say we were talking about her. Just that she is, you know, the devil.”
“Maybe Anya actually tried to push her off a cliff.”
Yasha’s eyes widen. “Was that her plan?”
“I guess I’ll find out.” I press my phone to my ear. “This is Ivan.”
“I know who you are,” Francia croons. There’s no sign of anger in her voice. After last night, I expected a freeze-out. Apparently, Francia has other ideas. “I wouldn’t be calling if I didn’t.”
