11. Elena
11
Elena
"Come on, Marie, we’re going to be late." My voice sounds more urgent than I intend, but I can’t help it. Marie is fussing with her hair in the mirror, adjusting and readjusting her ponytail for what feels like the hundredth time. She’d insisted on wearing a pantsuit today, convinced it was the only way to look smart and authoritative as the captain of her debate team. It’s a huge day for her—she’s debating against another school, a team from the city, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
I know Dimitri allowed us to go to this event because it's at a secure location, but I don’t tell her that. I don’t want to remind her of the shadows that constantly follow us, the danger lurking just outside the safety of our guards. I want today to feel normal for her, something that isn’t overshadowed by the world we’ve been pulled into.
Once we arrive at the school, a wave of anxiety washes over me. The crowd is larger than I expected, a sea of parents and students bustling around the auditorium. I’ve never done this before. Father used to take Marie to these things, not me. I’d always been in the background, more of a protective sister than a parent. But now... now I’m her guardian. Dimitri and I have to be her parents, too. The thought presses heavily on my heart. I have to be more than just her sister—I have to be the one cheering her on, guiding her through this life we never asked for.
Marie rushes off to join her team, her face a mask of calm confidence, but I can see the nervous energy bubbling underneath. She’s always been good at hiding her emotions from others, but I know her too well. I know she’s scared.
I scan the room, taking in the other parents gathered in clusters, chatting and laughing easily with each other. A pang of insecurity hits me— what do I even say to them? They’ll ask questions, questions I’m not sure how to answer. I take a deep breath, steadying myself, and walk toward the crowd, forcing myself to blend in.
"Oh, are you Marie’s mother?" A blonde woman approaches me, her bright smile plastered across her face.
I flinch slightly at the word ‘mother,’ but quickly recover. "Sister," I correct her, offering a small smile. "But how did you know?"
She chuckles lightly. "You two look so much alike—almost like twins. But I figured you were her older sister."
There’s something about the way she’s talking, the way she’s prying, that sets off alarm bells in my head. I’m wary of anyone who wants to know too much. We’ve only just met. Why does she care?
"Yes, I’m just over twenty-one," I reply, choosing my words carefully. "When our father died, my husband and I took custody of her."
"Oh, you’re married?" She seems almost incredulous, her eyes widening. "But you’re so young!"
Her words sting, though I don’t let it show. Yes, I’m young. Too young to have lost my father, too young to have been thrust into a world I barely understand. Too young to be a wife, but here I am.
"Yes," I reply, forcing a pleasant tone. "It was a quick courtship, something my father wanted." I quickly shift the conversation. "Are you a parent of one of the debate team members?"
Her face lights up, clearly eager to talk about herself. "I am! My little boy is over there." She points to a lanky boy with the same shade of blonde hair. "He’s very serious about debate."
I nod, offering the usual pleasantries, though my mind is elsewhere. I’m on autopilot, engaging in small talk because that’s what’s expected of me. But the whole time, I’m watching Marie, silently willing her to do well, to feel supported.
When the debate begins, I take my seat, my eyes glued to Marie. She’s poised, articulate, and completely in control. I couldn’t be prouder. As the debate goes on, I find myself grinning like an idiot, clapping at the most inappropriate times, but I don’t care. For a brief moment, everything feels normal. She’s doing what she loves, and I’m here to cheer her on. That’s all that matters.
Her team wins, and there’s a reception afterward. Marie’s glowing with pride, her earlier nerves completely vanished. I know she’s a little disappointed that Dimitri couldn’t make it, but the win seems to have lifted her spirits.
As the event winds down, I glance at my watch. It’s getting late, and we need to head home. I tell Marie to gather her things while I make my way to the coatroom. As I enter, the sight of a large figure looming in the corner makes my heart skip a beat.
"My wife told me you were here. Without your guards."
I freeze. The man turns, and recognition hits me like a punch to the gut. It’s one of them. One of the Russians who tried to kill us before Dimitri found us. The memories flood back, the terror, the desperation. But I force myself to stay calm. I can’t let him see my fear.
"They’re not far," I say, my voice steady, though my heart is racing. "They’re never far."
He steps closer, his presence overwhelming, predatory. My fingers tighten around my phone, and I click the emergency button Dimitri had set up for me, a shortcut to summon the guards. I just need to stall.
"What if they found your body here?" His voice is low, menacing. "How long will it take them to arrive? It’ll only take a moment for me to snap your neck."
My pulse skyrockets as I back out of the coatroom, every nerve in my body screaming at me to run. But I don’t. I can’t. I can’t let him see me panic. My thoughts race— Dimitri will protect me. He promised. He’ll always protect me.
Just as the fear threatens to overtake me, three of our guards burst into the room, guns drawn. The Russian takes a step back, sneering, but his threat lingers in the air like a dark cloud.
"They won’t be able to protect you forever," he spits. "I can wait. I can wait for a long time, Elena."
I don’t have time to respond before one of the guards pulls the trigger. The sound is barely audible, thanks to the silencer, but the effect is immediate. The man crumples to the floor, a single bullet hole in the center of his forehead. I scream, my body reacting before my mind can catch up. I’m trembling, the adrenaline surging through my veins as the guards rush me out of the coatroom and into the waiting SUV.
Marie is already sitting inside, her eyes wide with confusion and fear. "Elena, what’s going on?"
I can barely think straight. My mind is reeling from what just happened, from how close I came to death. How close we came to death.
I don’t know what to tell her. All I know is that I need to get us home. Back to Dimitri.