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He’s going to ram us!
My hands tighten around the wheel as I prepare for impact, searching for an escape.
There!
A narrow alleyway to the right. I jerk the wheel, skidding into the alley as the sedan shoots past.
Nikolai lets out another shriek, this time it’s laced with fear and my heart floods with guilt.
“It’s okay, kiddo. It’s all part of the game.”
“I don’t like this game, Scarlett.” I hear his voice quaver. “Is that man angry we took the car?”
“Nah,” I respond glancing over both shoulders and then peering around us as I get my bearings. “Don’t worry, it was just a race,” I improvise.
“Did we win?” His face brightens.
“I’m pretty sure we did, Niko,” I say, praying that it’s true.
The alley opens into a deserted parking lot. I bring the car to a stop, resting my head against the steering wheel as I try to catch my breath.
That was too close.
Nikolai peeks out the back window. “I don’t think they’ll find us here, Miss Scarlett. It’s kinda like hide and seek, right?”
“Absolutely!” I agree, grateful the poor kid hasn’t been scarred for life. Straightening in the driver’s seat, I ease the car back onto the road, holding my breath every time I see a dark sedan pull closer. I’ve got to get out of here before they pick up our trail again.
After a few uneventful miles, I finally relax my grip on the steering wheel. Nikolai hums happily in the backseat, lost in his own world. I glance at him in the mirror, a pang of guilt twisting my gut. He has no idea of the danger I’ve put him in.
“Okay, we’re nearly back. You’re going to need to hide all that candy before Papa gets home. I’m pretty sure his head will explode if he sees what you bought today,” I say gaily as if this was the plan all along. Nikolai gives an enthusiastic nod.
I keep looking behind us, praying the road behind us remains empty.
We pull up to the estate without incident, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Nikolai bounds out of the car, clutching his prizes.
“Don’t forget, hide the evidence!” I call after him. He waves a hand in acknowledgment before disappearing inside.
I lean back against the headrest and close my eyes. That was way too close. I can’t put Nikolai in danger like that again.
Dear God, I hope nobody followed me out here…
Nope. Not likely. I watched the road the entire way. They’d have had to be following from miles away and there’d be no chance they’d find the narrow side road that leads up to Anton’s property.
We’re safe here.
Of course we are.
Chapter 22
Anton
I gaze out the window of my silver sedan, watching the familiar streets of my old neighborhood slide past. Rows of dilapidated brick buildings, graffiti decorating their walls – the place hadn’t changed.
My knuckles tighten into fists at the surge of old memories. The alley where I learned how to hotwire a car at fourteen. The corner store where we’d bought cheap vodka and cigarettes underage. And there, an old warehouse where Sergei had once interrogated a man for hours, the screams echoing into the night.
I grit my teeth and force the thoughts away. That life is behind me now. I have a new life with my son. A life that I hope will allow him to grow up to be a man. And right now, part of that life includes Scarlett.
Scarlett.
