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Curious, I open the locket.
I stare at the contents in surprise. I fully expected to find a picture of a loved one, someone special in Sandra Antonova’s life. Instead, I find nothing at all. There’s no boyfriend, no fiancé, no husband who holds her heart. It’s just as well, I suppose. People like her, likeus—those meant to rule by any means necessary…
We were made to be alone.
I contemplate throwing the necklace away but end up stuffing it in my pocket for safekeeping. A little something to remember her by.
Because I pray to God I never see her again.
Chapter 9
Sandra
If I ever see that son of a bitch again, I swear I’m going to shove my whole foot up his ass. This is the second time they’ve shoved me into the trunk of a car, and I can officially say it’s as bad an experience as the first time.
I hate the feeling of being jostled, but I hate being manhandled even more. After what feels like an eternity inside the stuffy trunk, we come to a sudden stop. The screech of tires pierces through my skull, making me dizzier and more exasperated than I already am. I hear footsteps. Shouting. The trunk opens and someone pulls me out. I’m left standing on the ground, the cool air hitting my skin. The car drives away, engine roaring angrily as someone lays on their horn. It’s all very chaotic and disorienting.
Once I’m sure the coast is clear, I pull the hood off my head. The sudden contrast in light stings my eyes, but I don’t think I’ve ever been more pleased to feel the wind on my face. It takes me a couple of seconds to orient myself. I’m almost a little grateful Andrei and his men ditched me in front of a recognizable landmark; otherwise, I would have had a hell of time figuring out where I was.
St. Basil’s Cathedral stands behind me, its spires reaching for the sky with a soul-altering majesty. There are only a few tourists out and about, some of them watching me in stunned surprise. Before any of them get the chance to pull out their cameras, another vehicle shows up, tires leaving black tracks against the pavement as it lurches to a halt. The doors fly open.
“Get in!” Uncle Pyotr shouts at me from the driver’s seat.
I stumble forward, practically throwing myself into the back of the unmarked SUV. This is a matter of urgency. We can’t let any more witnesses spot us, let alone get a photo or video to confirm our whereabouts. Not only that, there’s no telling if Andrei has more men lurking in the shadows ready to ambush us and finish the job.
The second the door slams shut, Uncle Pyotr slams on the gas. We’re out of there in less than five seconds, merging hastily into early morning traffic.
“My baby!” Mom cries as she hugs me tight. She’s seated in the back with Aunt Natalya, the doctor of our family, who’s already checking me thoroughly for injuries.
“Are you hurt?” Aunt Nat asks. “Do you know if they drugged you? Poison?”
I shake my head, clinging to my mother as she sobs. “No, they didn’t do anything to me.”
“Glad you’re safe, kiddo,” Uncle Dima says from the front passenger seat. His familiar smile brings with it a warm sense of relief, though the rifle he has propped between his knees quickly reminds me we’re not out of the woods yet.
“Where’s Dad?” I ask hastily.
“Home,” Mom answers. “He wanted to come, but with everything that’s happened…”
I nod in understanding. It wouldn’t have been safe for him to retrieve me himself. He’s the leader of the Antonov Bratva, and I’m the next in line to rule. If Andrei wanted to wipe out our chain of command, it would have been far too easy to kill us both at the same time. Except…
I don’t know. My thoughts are in shambles. For some reason, I can’t picture Andrei going through with it. I hardly know the man, so it’s not like I can truly attest to his character, but I get the sense Andrei wouldn’t stoop that low. If he really wanted to kill me, surely, he would have done it by now, right?
My mind starts to wander. Not once did he hurt me—save for our scuffle during my escape attempt. He made sure I was fed, even helped bandage my wrists when I cut myself on the zip ties. There’s no question Andrei is a monster. Conniving, threatening, and a force to be reckoned with, but… Is he really all that bad? He’s too complicated for me to decipher. The more I try, the more my head hurts.
I think about the gentle way he spoke. His brief moments of kindness.
The way he kissed me like he couldn’t get enough.
I shake my head and sigh. Have I lost my mind? Why am I thinking about thatnow? If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll stay out of my sight.
* * *
When we pull up to the house on the outskirts of the city, I’m hit with a sudden wave of emotion. There’s no better feeling in the world than coming home. Especially considering the ordeal I just endured.
I grew up here, know every nook and cranny of the place. Mom’s flower beds in the front yard are thriving. The swing Dad tied to a tree in the backyard for Charlotte, Frederick, and me when we were children sways gently with the breeze. There’s a fleet of black cars parked in the driveway and out on the street, belonging to my extended family.
They’re waiting for me inside. Uncle Luka, Aunt Dani, Auntie Alina. Every single one of my cousins, my younger siblings—they’re all here. Our family is as big as it is strong; their relief is evident the moment I step into the room. But the happiest of all is my father, who rises from his seat and immediately walks over to wrap me in his arms.
