“I’m okay.” My voice is meek in the aftermath of my relief, even though that relief will be short-lived.
A muscle ticks in his jaw. “I’ll kill them for taking you. I swear it on my parents’ graves.”
I swallow away the dryness of my throat. “Why did you come? It’s a trap.”
His smile is crooked. “Did you think I’d leave you here?”
Wrapping my arms around him, I press my cheek against his chest. I only give myself another second to be comforted by his presence before I pull away. “I’m sorry for running. I shouldn’t have done that. Everything just happened so fast. There wasn’t time to think.”
A smile softens his features. “I understand why you did it. I put you in an impossible situation.” Regret fills his eyes. “If not for me, you wouldn’t be in this place.”
“You’re not angry with me?”
“I’m furious, kiska,” he says in a low, rough voice. “You put your life in danger.”
“Dania—”
“I know what she did. She admitted everything.”
“Is she all right?” I ask.
The line of his jaw turns hard. “She’ll be fine.”
His face swims in my vision. “We’re going to die, aren’t we?”
Stroking his hands up my arms, he tightens his fingers on my shoulders. “I won’t let you die, Katyusha.” He pulls me close and crushes me against his chest. “I was going out of my mind with worry. You have no idea.”
I free myself from his embrace and go to the corner. “Look,” I say, lifting my weapons from the floor. “I managed to get these.”
His gaze widens, then narrows as he walks over to me. “I can’t decide if I should feel proud or spank you for even considering something so dangerous.” Taking the shards from my hands, he studies them in the light.
“We can take them out when they open the door,” I say hopefully.
“We will do nothing.” He fixes me with a hard look. “You will stay in the corner, as far away from danger as possible. I’ll take care of it.”
Before I can argue, footsteps sound on the other side of the door.
My heart beats wildly. There’s only one reason why Stefanov’s men could be coming for us now, and it’s not to bring us food.
36
Alex
Vladimir Stefanov himself steps through the doorframe.
Hatred pushes up my throat. I want to pounce on him and slash him to pieces, but three guards armed with automatic rifles follow on his heels. If I were alone in this hole, I wouldn’t hesitate to rip out his heart. But I have Katerina to consider. I have to protect her, which I can only do if she doesn’t distract me by putting herself in danger.
Tilting my head toward the corner, I give her a wordless command. To my relief, she backs away slowly until the shadows swallow her shape. I take a breath and clear my mind, letting instinct take over. I need to focus on survival and not on the woman I love, because love is a potent reminder of everything I stand to lose.
I square my shoulders as Stefanov approaches, discreetly sliding my hands behind my thighs to hide the porcelain shards.
His bloated face is smug when he stops in front of me. “I was wondering if we’d ever meet in person. If I were you, I would’ve hoped the day would never come.”
I have a good mind to snap his thick neck, but that would be too easy. “You have me. Let Katerina go.”
The layers of his chin quiver as he laughs. “You didn’t think I’d let a witness walk away, did you?”
Gnashing my teeth, I hold back the violence that threatens to erupt. “A man who doesn’t keep his word is a dishonorable man.” Even in our unethical circles.
He curls a lip and says in a mocking tone, “I’ve been accused of worse.”
My smile is cold. “No one wants to follow a dishonorable man.”
“Who would they rather follow? You?” He laughs again, glancing at his men. At his cue, they all pipe up with chuckles. “In that case, they’d be following a ghost.”
“Honor our deal and let her go. There’s still time. In another minute, you won’t have a choice any longer.”
He scoffs. “Do you think you’re in any position to negotiate?”
I close a step between us. “With the file that’s fallen into my hands, I have all the power.”
His gleeful expression slips. “What file?”
“Come on, Stefanov. You’re a terrible actor.”
His eyeballs bounce in their sockets. I imagine the gears turning in his head as he tries to figure out who betrayed him. He got rid of Oleg Pavlov, the only other man besides Besov who knew about their crime. He must come to the conclusion that Besov is the guilty party.
“You’re wondering who gave it to me,” I taunt.
“Gave you what?” he asks, keeping up the show.
My voice is cold, the hatred I feel for this man coloring every word I utter. “The video of how you killed my parents.”
A gasp comes from the corner, but I tune it out. I need to focus on Stefanov. He’s a snake at best, one who’ll happily strike when my guard is down.
Fear creeps into his eyes, but he blinks it away quickly.
I laugh. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”
He sneers. “It doesn’t matter. You’re a dead man anyway.”
Stefanov isn’t naïve. He knows I’d never trust him to keep his side of the bargain. He’s prepared for a war, but it doesn’t matter. My army is much bigger than the thirty men guarding my house. Stefanov won’t know what’s hit him. I’ll burn this house to the ground before the day is over. He can stand there with his self-satisfied look, thinking the fifty men on his property will cut it, but soon, he’ll beg for his life. Only before it comes to that, I need to know who betrayed me.
I watch him carefully as I ask, “How did you find out who I was?”
His grin says he’s already savoring his premature victory. “The grave keeper told me a man came to visit the graves. She took a photo and sent it to me.”
“The old woman? You paid her to inform you if anyone visited the graves?” No wonder I felt like my parents were trying to warn me after I visited them that first time, shortly before I left for New York. I chuckle grimly. “I have to give it to you, Stefanov. You don’t leave anything to chance.”
He looks pleased with himself. “In case you’d grown up and were plotting revenge. I have to say, I didn’t think you’d survive on the streets.”
“I survived rather well,” I say with a mocking smile.
He gives me a sly look. “Who told you? Who gave you the tape? Tell me now and I’ll finish you quickly.”
I don’t fucking think so.
Pop, pop, pop.
Gunfire comes from upstairs.
It’s the distraction I’ve been waiting for.
Stefanov gives a start. “What the—?”
Before he’s finished his sentence, I have an arm wrapped around his throat, holding him like a shield in front of me while I push the sharp point of the porcelain against his neck.