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“I don’t believe you,” I scoff, my anger flaring at that lie. “He wouldn’t send me with you.”
Alexander’s posh expression slides. “The pakhan wants you out of harm’s way. Come.”
I glare at the liar, the wickedest of the three, the one who betrayed my parents. “The fuck I am,” I spit out, channeling Mercy. “You’re full of shit.”
Gunsyn steps forward and grabs my arm. “Listen, little bird,” he lowers his voice—patient but threatening. “You’re coming with us. Now either we do this the easy way or the hard way.”
“No!” I struggle against his grip. “I’m not going anywhere until I get my things.” Maybe I can get to the phone.
“Gunsyn, please,” Larissa urges. “Why should she go with you when she’s safe here with me?”
“This is not your decision,” he snaps.
“Why don’t I just call him?” she replies, reaching toward her phone on the small table by the sofa. But Alexander grips her hand before she can pick it up.
“Let go of me,” she shouts. “Rurik!”
Rurik steps toward Alexander, and Larissa tilts her chin in my direction. But instead of helping me, Rurik clamps Larissa tightly to his chest with his broad arms. I break free of Gunsyn and run to Larissa, pounding my fists against Rurik’s back. Idon’t know why I’m hitting him. The stoic look on his face explains what he is doing.
Of course, he’s protecting her from all of us.
From me.
Alexander pulls out his gun and points it at Rurik, Larissa, and me. “No one is calling anyone,” he says calmly, his threat freezing us to the floor. “Now, let’s all calm down.”
Larissa stares at him in shock. “What are you doing? Put that away.”
Alexander doesn’t respond. His gaze is fixed on me. “Come now,” he says. “You don’t want anyone to get hurt because of you.”
I nod. I can’t risk putting Larissa in danger. For now, I’ll follow their orders and wait. But that doesn’t make it any easier to accept. Swallowing hard, I step away from Larissa and Rurik and toward my newest captors.
“Please, Rurik,” Larissa pleads. “Stop them! Don’t let them do this! They’ll hurt her! You know they will!” Rurik holds her tighter in his arms, pulling her hard against his chest in an all-consuming bear hug. Her eyes glisten as she begins to argue for me again.
Gunsyn ignores her, his gaze never leaving me. “Let’s go, princess,” he sneers at my distress.
I focus on putting one foot in front of the other, desperate not to show my fears. This seems to be my fate—traveling from one captor to the next. I square my shoulders and avoid looking at the two men. Alexander reaches for me, but I pull my arm away and move quickly to the door.
“I can walk without your assistance.”
The two brigadiers remain silent as they escort me out of the house and into a waiting SUV. As I leave with them, my thoughts are flooded with bitter memories and emotions. Nikolai may have forced me into this trap, but he can’t control our fates forever.
For the sake of my father and baby, I’ll find a way to fight back. I take a deep breath and close my eyes so I don’t have to look at these men. As we drive away, I try to ignore the nausea in the pit of my stomach.
Nikolai has taken so much from me—my freedom, my past, and now, his sister, my only ally.
But he won’t take anything else. I won’t let him.
After an hour’s drive, we park in front of a one-story office building made of gray concrete. I see no windows. We get out and approach an unmarked steel door.Gunsyn’s place. I doubt anyone lives in there. I brace myself for what is on the other side. The door creaks open, revealing only darkness beyond it.
“Inside,” Gunsyn orders.
I hesitate momentarily, and Alexander follows closely behind me, his gun trained on my back. The door closes behind the three of us, plunging us into total darkness. I stop in my tracks, waiting for my eyes to adjust. Alexander pushes me roughly forward, and I stumble a little. I catch my balance and continue walking. A faint light appears up ahead, illuminating a narrow concrete block hallway. I follow the light. The sound of our footsteps echoes off the floor.
As we reach the end of the hallway, another door opens, and we step into a medium-size room. I look around and see that the walls are lined with shelves full of hardcover books. In the center of the room are a long metal table and several chairs.
Gunsyn pushes me forward, forcing me into one of the chairs. “Stay here,” he orders before stepping out. And as the door slams shut behind me, the darkness closes around me, swallowing me whole.
I shift my weight, getting comfortable. I don’t know what will happen next, but I’ll stay strong.
