Chapter 18
Quinn
My fingers dig into my upper arms as I pace the kitchen. One of the guards on the gate has called to let me know that I have a visitor. I could have refused entry, but I should be punished for my sins. It’s only fair.
I’d felt bereft after Blake disappeared, but now my isolation is almost complete. I don’t have Reid. And after dismantling and burying my burner phone in the woods for fear of it being discovered, I don’t have Strider either.
I’d called him on my way back to the estate this morning and told him everything.
I needed someone to have the complete picture before I lost all communication.
Strider told me to get the hell out of Poulton Springs, but how can I when there’s a chance Ilya’s telling the truth?
I have to do this. And if it’s the wrong decision, it’s all on me.
And damn, the burden is getting heavier.
My eyes feel gritty after sobbing beneath the shower earlier.
I’d changed out of the dress I’d worn to meet Reid, and opted for jeans and sweater.
There’s little point in donning another suit for Ilya’s benefit.
He knows who I am, and how far I’m willing to go for my sister.
Reid doesn’t. Nor do the friends I’d made here.
I press my bare toes into the porcelain tiles, attempting to ground myself, but I sway as Tandy sweeps into the kitchen.
“Oh, my god, Quinn,” she cries, rushing towards me and pulling me into a hug. “I’ve just seen Jason.” She squeezes me hard enough to elicit a pitiful sob. “I don’t know what the hell’s going on, but I’m here for you.”
That makes me cry harder.
“Sit,” she says, guiding me towards the kitchen table.
After grabbing a bottled water and some paper towels, she sits down next to me and rubs my back. “Can you talk about it?”
“I don’t think I can,” I whisper hoarsely.
“Jason says he came back drunk last night, but he swears all he remembers is going straight to his room and passing out,” Tandy says. “But that isn’t what happened, is it?”
I press a paper towel to my face. That’s exactly what happened. And while Jason was sleeping things off, I was plotting his downfall.
“It was a drunken mistake on his part,” I tell Tandy.
I’d said the same to Barrett first thing this morning. Ilya might have pressured me into falsely accusing Jason, but I won’t paint him as a violent predator.
“He must have misinterpreted the signals, but I had to report him to Barrett. I didn’t have a choice,” I say, but that’s not exactly true.
I did have a choice, and I chose my sister.
“I wouldn’t have felt safe staying here anymore, but I’m sorry he was fired.
I’m so sorry. Will you tell Jason that?”
After my phone call to Barrett, I’d messaged Reid to arrange our meeting. I wanted to be away from the mansion when Ilya’s men arrived to escort Jason off the premises.
“Quinn, honey, you don’t need to apologize,” says Tandy. “Of course you had to report him. And Jason doesn’t blame you one bit. He hates himself so much he’s decided to leave town so you don’t have to face him.”
“That sounds like a very good idea,” comes the voice of my tormentor. Ilya has appeared in the doorway leading from the main entrance.
Tandy’s eyes widen as her gaze travels up and down his body. She sees a tall, well-built man with tousled blond hair and piercing blue eyes. She sees what Blake saw. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize anyone else was here.”
“Technically, I’m not,” Ilya says, stepping forward as she stands.
I’m not sure if Tandy does a little curtesy, or if the movement is caused by her going weak at the knees. Either way, it’s horrifying to watch.
“I’m staying at the edges of the estate in the guesthouse,” Ilya continues. “My security has been charged with protecting the property, but unfortunately, we couldn’t protect Quinn in this instance. You can never trust those closest to you.”
“I suppose not,” Tandy says, oblivious to how Ilya is talking in riddles. He’s talking about me, not Jason.
“But don’t worry about your friend,” he continues. “I’ll be taking extra care of her in the future.”
Tandy gives me a quick look, her brow rising a fraction as if to say how lucky I am. She’s fallen so easily for Ilya’s charm and it makes my stomach twist.
“And I’m sorry to intrude, but I’m leaving soon and I do need a quick chat with you, Quinn,” Ilya continues. “Of course, if it’s inconvenient, we could reschedule. I’ll be back in a week or two.”
I shoot up from my seat. I’m not waiting weeks to speak to Blake. “No, now is fine,” I say before turning to Tandy. “I’m sorry. Would you mind?”
“We can catch up another time,” she says, going in for another hug. “You know where I am if you need me.”
I return the squeeze she gives me. “I don’t deserve you,” I whisper.
Ilya’s doing that thing of observing me like a bug under a microscope as I say goodbye to my friend. When she’s gone, I shove my hands into the pockets of my jeans so it’s less obvious how much I’m shaking.
“I’ve fulfilled my end of the bargain,” I tell him. “Now it’s your turn.”
Ilya steps towards me, mimicking my pose by putting his hands in his suit pant pockets. He smells of cedar and spices, and I don’t know if I simply hadn’t noticed his scent previously, or if my senses are heightened. I hope the latter. It means my mind isn’t as weak and fragile as my body feels.
“You’re a devious little minx, Jade. You make up a story about a man assaulting you, and even he believes it. Well played.”
“The last thing I want is to be praised for your cruelty,” I say with a barely disguised snarl.
“Our cruelty,” he corrects. “You’re my accomplice now, and I can only imagine what we might achieve together.” He purses his lips, a glint in his eye. He’s making a show of preparing to say something he shouldn’t. “I’m starting to think I chose the wrong sister.”
He wants me to react, so I don’t. I hold his gaze, but as the seconds tick by, I can feel my nerves fraying one strand at a time. I’m about to snap when he pulls out his cell phone.
“Be gentle with her,” he warns as he makes the call. “She didn’t want to speak to you. She still might not.”
Ilya puts the call on speaker, and I stare at the name on the screen until it blurs. I’m concentrating so hard, that I jump when the call connects.
“Hello?” a voice says.
My breath escapes in a sob.
“Blake, darling,” Ilya replies. “Your sister is with me. Now take a deep breath, you can do this. I’ll be here the whole time.”
I’m panting as I glare at him. How dare he make it sound like I’m a threat to my own sister. “Blake, it’s me,” I say, my voice quaking. “I’ve been so worried about you.”
“Why?” she asks coldly. “How can you worry about someone who’s dead to you?”
My knees tremble as if they’re about to give way. “I know what I said, and I’m so sorry,” I say quickly in case she hangs up on me. “It was just frustration. I care about you so much. I love you, Blake. We’ve always looked out for each other. Haven’t we?”
“Once upon a time,” she says. Again, no emotion. “But I have Ilya now. I don’t need any other family.”
“But I need you,” I blurt out. “Please, don’t shut me out.”
“You tried to break us up. I can’t risk that again,” she says. Her breath catches. “I’m happy, Jade. I don’t want you spoiling what I have.”
“I won’t,” I say quickly.
The fuck I won’t. Ilya’s been brainwashing Blake for a year and a half. Whatever spell he’s put on my sister will be broken. I’ll kill him if I have to.
“You never were a good liar,” my sister says, but despite the accusation, I hear a smile in her voice.
“I’ll do anything to keep you in my life,” I promise. I’d almost accepted that she was dead. I won’t lose her again.
Blake’s silent for a moment, and the pause makes me aware of Ilya watching me. Assessing my weaknesses. Taking notes. Making plans.
“Will you be nice to Ilya?” Blake asks. “Will you help him?”
Oh, well done, Ilya, I want to say out loud. You’ve recruited my sister to help with your manipulations.
I flick my gaze to him. I want to tell him to go to hell, but hell is where I’ll be if he keeps Blake from me again. “I’ll need to hear what he has to say first.”
Ilya quirks a smile. Our next round of negotiations has begun.
“I need to go,” Blake says. “Gizmo’s jumping up at me.”
“Gizmo?” The tension breaks for the briefest moment, and I allow myself a laugh. “You finally got your chihuahua?” It was Blake’s dream to have a little dog. That name had been picked out when she was a teenager.
“I’d told Ilya I’d always wanted one, and he does love to spoil me. You’ll like him when you get to know him,” Blake says. She giggles. “Ilya, that is. Although you’re going to love Gizmo too.”
“I love you,” I say, choking on my words.
“Oh, Jade, I love you too. And I’m sorry for not keeping in touch. I was just so mad.”
“No, it was all my fault. I should never have let you think I’d turn my back on you. I’m always going to be here whenever you need me,” I insist. After so many months of worry, I’m finally saying what I’ve longed to tell her, but I want more. I need more. “Do you think we could meet up?”
“One step at a time,” Ilya interjects. “Blake, darling, you’ve done so well, but it’s my turn to talk to Jade. Why don’t you take Gizmo out for a nice walk?”
“I will,” she says, her voice breathy. “Thank you, Ilya. I know you always have my best interests at heart.”
Ilya’s eyes sparkle as if the ice in them is melting. “Yours, and now your sisters, moya lyubov.” My love. “I’ll see you very soon.” He ends the call.
“Can I have her number?” I ask, looking longingly at his phone as he slips it back into his pocket. “You said if Jason left town, I’d get an extra call.”
Ilya gestures for me to sit at the table.
We take up the same positions as last night.
“I don’t want you tiring Blake out, but I’m a man of my word.
You can speak to her again, but we’ve yet to establish if that particular conversation will be to say goodbye, or for her to welcome you into our little family.
Your next decision is going to be an important one. ”
“What decision?”
“Whether you choose to complete my next task or not.”
I wait for him to say more, which of course, he doesn’t. It’s like he wants me to beg him for the chance to do his bidding. “What is it?”
“All in good time,” he says softly. “You’ve had an eventful day, and you’re looking tired. I wouldn’t want to overstimulate you.”
The way he says ‘overstimulate’ gives me the creeps. “For pity’s sake, Ilya. Just tell me.”
“I wish that were possible,” he says with a smile that contradicts his contrived remorse. Leaving me to slowly unravel is exactly what he wants, and my impatience only enhances his pleasure. “But I need to test your loyalty just a little further before I issue my instructions.”
I want to scream, but instead I take a long draw from my water bottle.
I need a moment to process my conversation with Blake.
She’s alive. After all these months of worry, my worst fears haven’t been realized.
Isn’t that more than I could have hoped for?
I know I said I’d do anything to keep her in my life, but there are lines I can’t allow myself to cross.
I don’t have to become Ilya’s mindless puppet.
I swipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “You’re right, I am tired. I’m tired of this game. I’m not sure it’s for me.”
Ilya doesn’t look the least bit perturbed. “You need a period of adjustment. I understand,” he says. “Which is why you’re going to take a sabbatical.”
I cock my head. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
His blue eyes flicker with shards of ice. “Leave.”
“I’m sorry?”
Ilya stands up, marking the end of the discussion. “Hand in your resignation and leave. I’ll give you two days to make the necessary arrangements. It’s more than Jason had. I’d say it’s quite generous.”
“But if I go…” I shake my head. There’s a part of me, a very large part, that wants to get up and walk out, but I don’t understand why Ilya would want the same. “Why the hell did you want Jason fired if you were just going to get rid of me too?”
Ilya strolls towards the door that leads back through the house.
“Because, my dear Quinn, it was fun to watch, and I’ve decided your purpose is best served elsewhere.
” He looks back over his shoulder, and the fucker smirks.
“I’m sure you didn’t get nearly enough time with Reid this morning. Go enjoy yourself. I’ll be in touch.”
I was right to panic earlier in the woods. I’d tried to block the world out and concentrate only on Reid’s arms around me, but I couldn’t shake the fear that a high-powered zoom lens was trained on us, waiting for our next sex show to start.
I clench my hands into fists and shake with fury as I stare at Ilya’s retreating form. A raging fire burns in my belly and I’d spew flames from my mouth if I could. I want to destroy him and everything he stands for. And I will. He’s going to regret ever thinking he could recruit me.