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If I'm really good, he might take me to see Abram. I don't think my mind will fully accept the fact that he's no longer with me until I see him. On the other hand, I'm not sure I'm strong enough to look at him and see him all cold. I have no idea what they did to him, or if there is even a body to see. In any case, I truly hate morgues. But seeing Abram would be well worth it.
I need closure. I know that much.
I can’t believe I’m never going to share ice cream with him again. I’m never going to get to say goodbye to him properly. I’m never going to hear his loud, out-of-tune singing to old songs from our country while he cooks for me. He was a terrible dancer, but I loved dancing with him all the same. I feel more like an orphan, an adult orphan. I’m alone now. My mind just keeps circling back to that same thought over and over again.
Alone. All Alone. Just like you were meant to be.
I can feel the intrusive thoughts pressing at the back of my mind. I try to push them away, but they are stronger than I am. Everybody has always left me. My mother, my father, Alek… and now Abram, too. The only person trailing me now is Nikolai.
He absolutely had something to do with Abram’s death. He’s responsible. There is no way he didn't do it. I don't even know how it happened, but I know down to my bones that Nikolai is involved somehow. He swore that he would never stop looking for me no matter what. He swore that he would find me and takeeverythingfrom me. I just haven’t gotten enough information to piece everything together yet.
How can Alek have been getting married and never have once even sent me a letter? Didn’t he want his sister at his wedding? Did he really hate methatmuch? Was it something else?
I hate not knowing what will happen next. I've only reached one conclusion, and it's not very helpful. Despite myself, I know I care about Daniel. It would be prudent for me to keep my distance. It would be better to force myself back into that determined state I was in the other night, when I was simply ready to die and have it all over with... But now I'm wavering again.
Daniel must be feeling something for me because he explained his side of the story. If he didn't want to spend time with me, he wouldn't have taken me out into the gardens. He would not have allowed me to be near Henry if he didn't trust me... even if it was only a little bit.
He claimed his sister died while pregnant. He said that she had asked him to look after Henry if she died... But he now has sole custody. I have the uneasy feeling that something else happened that he isn't telling me about. How old was Henry when she died? Who was her child's father, if not Alek? Does it even matter?
I feel like I’m going crazy.
Even if Daniel decides to let me live… he can’t hide me away here forever. Eventually, Nikolai will come looking for proof that I’m dead. Knowing the sadistic bastard as well as I do, he's going to want my severed head on a pike outside of his estate as a warning not to be crossed.
If that’s the case and Daniel denies him, Nikolai will kill him too.
Nikolai won’t care who stands in his way, he will cut them all down.
Perhaps there really is only one solution after all.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
Daniel
“What’s the update?” I ask Michael the moment we’re alone. He pulls the sliding door shut behind us for privacy.
“I’ve just been informed that Nikolai’s mobilizing his men to head this way. The twins have intercepted a message with coordinates to the place he wants you two to meet. According to the satellite imaging that they found, it’s a small, secluded cabin way off of the highway, just outside of town,” Michael says plainly.
I’ve always appreciated how he just cuts right to the chase and never sugarcoats things. It means that he still values my time, even after we’ve been together this long.
Nikolai, eh?I don’t like that he’s managed to get a cabin this close to town and that none of my men have caught on to it before now. “Have they arrived already?”
“There are a few cars parked outside the place but not nearly as many as before at the motel. The twins have been looking into air traffic logs, and it seems that Nikolai brought his private jet down here last night, but there haven’t been any updates about what he’s been doing since he arrived.”
“That’s a lot of time unaccounted for…” I trail off, thinking. It’s not like he knows the location of this property. And if there had been people snooping around looking for information or updates on my progress, it would have been brought to my attention.
“Yeah. The general tone of the messages seems to indicate that Volkovich’s not pleased with the speed things are going. He wants the girl dead,” Michael says.
“He’s choosing to be this impatient… but I can’t let this stand. Round up a few of our best guys and get the cars ready.”
Michael nods and leaves the room. A familiar irritation starts to creep up the back of my neck. I hate working on another man’s timetable. And Ireallydon’t appreciate being rushed. Least of all right now, when I finally had a breakthrough with Helena.
I still haven’t fully decided just what it is that I’m going to do with my pet. If he’s thinking that I’m going to be bringing her along with me or delivering the proof that he wants of her death, he’s going to be sorely disappointed.
Henry’s coming down the stairs with Carolina as I’m on my way out the door.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
“I’ve got to step out on some business. Behave while I’m gone—or else.” I wink at him so he knows I’m only teasing.
