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But my phone remains silent.
Anton gives up on calling Nikolai and Pavel and uses a tracker to locate their vehicle near Jersey City. We head out, and gradually, the scenery changes from the city to the wastelands between towns. The darkness is overwhelming, putting my senses on alert as I stare hard at the dark road ahead.
“Almost there,” Anton tells me. “Remember what I said …”
“I’ll listen,” I reassure him, knowing he’s risking his own life for me.
The foolish decisions I’ve made so far have cost so much, but I’m determined to save the man I love from my own father.
And to save my father from him.
“We’ll get to him,” he whispers as if reading my thoughts. “Promise.”
With each unanswered call to my dad, my heart pounds faster, and beads of sweat break out on my forehead. I clutch my phone tightly, praying that my dad will have a change of heart. I promise that I’ll do anything.
I bargain with myself and every unseen force, but I become anxious as we cover another unlit mile. My stomach knots as I imagine what might happen if we don’t find Nikolai first.
“Can’t you drive any faster?” I demand.
“We’re going as fast as I can,” Anton answers. “And you donotwant Jersey cops pulling me over right now.”
Anton’s phone rings, but he says Pavel’s name when he answers. They speak in Russian, and I want to scream at him like a banshee and tell him to speak English. I don’t recognize a word, but then I hear both mine and Nikolai’s names, and my hands grip the edge of my seat.
The call ends, and Anton’s gaze meets mine in the rearview mirror.
“Well?” I snap impatiently.
“I’m taking you to him,” he replies. “In a few minutes.”
He taps his phone attached to the dash—and puts in the location. The SUV picks up speed as we head toward a rundown part of town, and I have no idea where I am or why Nikolai would come here.
I sink down in the seat as realization folds in on me.
He came here to kill my dad.
Anton’s booming voice interrupts my image of doom. “Almost there,” he announces, casting a protective glance back at me.
I nod, praying that my dad won’t be there waiting.
70
NIKOLAI
The rain peltsagainst the windshield as Pavel navigates the SUV through the dark streets of Jersey City. The SUV passes through one of the few undeveloped areas left, far from the gleaming high-rise condominiums near the light rail. I stare out the darkened window, but instead of focusing on the scenery, I end up staring at my haggard reflection.
We received word that there was a break-in at one of the few Jersey properties where we store various things that shouldn’t cross state lines. Add that to the text Eden received on her phone, and I have a very good idea who it was.
Innocent or not, she’s fueling the conflict.
“Nikolai Gennadyevich?” Pavel glances over at me. His uncharacteristic concern heightens my unease.
“Keep driving,” I mutter, pulling out my phone. There are numerous missed calls from Eden and one from Anton. I see her text to call her back; she’s desperate to reach me.
Alexander suggested she had other ways to communicate with Zakhar. And I didn’t believe it until I saw the text.
I don’t know how, but then remember that in the absence of phones that remembered numbers for her, she must’ve memorized Zakhar’s number.
No doubt guilt is behind her concern for my safety. It doesn’t matter. I finally admitted to Eden that I loved her. And all she did was just look at me.
