Chapter 41
MELANI
Giving Boris and the others the slip is easier than I expected. Too easy, actually.
They’ve been trained to trust me, and I’ve played the part perfectly. Since I got my freedom, I’ve made a habit of excusing myself to the restroom whenever we’re going around the building together. So after lunch, when I do it again, no one bats an eye.
“Don’t take too long,” Boris says, brows pulling together as he watches me get to my feet.
Does he suspect something? No. If he did, he’d follow me.
But ever since that woman chewed him out in front of the restroom, he’s avoided trailing me there.
And I’ve been careful—always making sure to linger at least thirty minutes before going back out.
Which means I only have thirty minutes before they come looking for me.
Guilt stabs at me, but I shove it aside. I have to do this. In the restroom, I stand at the sink for a moment with both hands flat against the cool porcelain. This is it.
I quickly empty my bladder, rinse my hands, then place the neatly folded letter I wrote for Vanya on the counter next to the paper towels.
Whatever comes after today, I don’t want Boris and the others to take the punishment for something I chose to do. That’s the most I can do for them now.
When I step out, I glance both ways down the hallway, making sure the coast is clear.
My attention snags on the camera mounted in the upper corner, and my stomach twists.
I can only hope whoever is monitoring the feed right now isn’t one of Vanya’s men.
There’s nothing I can do about it either way.
With one last look over my shoulder, I head for the emergency exit, forcing my steps to stay calm and unhurried.
My palms sweat as I pull the handle—but it opens easily. And just like that, I’m outside. Free.
Hyper-aware of how little time I have, I don’t stop to celebrate.
I don’t even let myself think about how easy that was.
I start running in the opposite direction of the building, away from any window Boris might look out of.
Nobody spares me a second glance as I tear along the sidewalk.
People run in New York all the time. I’m just another person in a hurry.
Only after I’ve put four solid blocks between the Korona and me do I slow down enough to hail a taxi.
The driver doesn’t even raise a brow as I slide into the back, panting and sweating.
“Where to?” he asks, meeting my eyes in the rearview mirror.
I fish the address from my new wallet and hand it to him. He reads it quietly, and with a low hum, we’re off. I did it. The first part, anyway.
But I find out very quickly that getting away from Vanya’s men was the easiest part.
I realize it a few minutes later when we reach the East River.
The warehouse isn’t empty and unguarded the way I’d somehow, stupidly, imagined it would be.
The whole property is ringed by a tall fence, and the only way in is through a manned checkpoint where IDs are being checked one by one. Fuck.
But of course it wouldn’t be as simple as walking in through an open door.
A man who has been evading the Petrovs for weeks without leaving a single usable threat isn’t going to leave his meeting space accessible to anyone who wanders up.
I step out of the taxi and just stand there for a moment, staring.
So, I finally got my freedom. Mamma is waiting at the restaurant we agreed on, ready to leave the city together once I have the information I need.
But I can’t even get inside the warehouse?
After all the stress this week, all the work I’ve done… is it going to be for nothing?
Frustration spikes through me, but I breathe through it because falling apart on a sidewalk isn’t useful.
I need a way in. I just need to think. The sound of a car approaching behind me makes every muscle in my body go rigid.
I turn instinctively, giving the road my back so whoever it is won’t see my face.
But the car doesn’t pass—it slows to a stop right next to me.
The quiet whirr of the window rolling down makes me curse under my breath.
“Lena? Forgot your ID at home again?” The voice is male and tinged with amusement.
I blink. Is he talking to me?
“Lena, come on.” A pause, then a low laugh. “Just because you’re giving me your back doesn't mean I can’t recognize you. Your fish brain is nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s what makes you cute.”
Yep, he’s definitely talking to me. I heave a sigh and slowly turn to face him. He looks younger than I expected. Around Luciano's age. The thought lands like a small blow.
He’s leaning across the passenger seat of a sea-green Prius, the entire backseat stacked with sealed crates. He takes one look at me, and his expression shifts from familiar amusement to open confusion.
“You’re not Lena.”
“No.” I do an awkward combination of smiling and waving. “I’m Penny. And I—also forgot my ID.” I cringe inwardly even as the words leave my mouth. It’s terrible. It’s the most obvious lie I’ve told in recent memory. What will he do? Will he believe me?
He frowns as he studies me, and I force myself to smile and look like someone who totally works here and simply had a forgetful morning.
“Which department do you work in? I don’t think you’re in mine. I’d remember seeing you around.”
Department? What department? There are departments? My brain scrambles for an answer. 'Um, I'm in administration.” Is that even a thing here? It has to be. Every place needs admin staff… right?
His frown deepens, and I brace myself for the moment he calls me out. But instead, he says, “Huh, you must be the new intern Ross mentioned. Didn’t catch the name, though."
Relief hits so fast it almost makes me dizzy. I’m guessing that Ross also works in admin? “Yeah, that’s me. Just started. Didn’t realize ID checks were such a big deal.” I let a trace of genuine exasperation into my voice because it probably is annoying.
That seems to resonate with him because he rolls his eyes.
“Tell me about it. There are bigger complexes than ours that don’t have to go through this bullshit every day.
” He reaches over and pushes the passenger door open from the inside.
“Get in. I can get you past security. But you’re buying me coffee after work. ” He winks.
I hesitate. Could it really be that easy? Or is this some sort of trap? Damn it. I should have taken the gun from Vanya’s nightstand before I left—at least then I’d have something to protect myself with if things went south.
His smile fades. “Or not. I was just kidding. You don’t have to buy me anything if you don’t want to.” He nods at the seat. “Get in.”
I get in. I’m doing this for Luciano.
“Thank you. And coffee is the least I can do. You’re a lifesaver.” My stomach twists because I know I won’t be buying him coffee. I doubt I’ll see him again after this.
“Don’t mention it,” he says easily, locking the doors and easing the car off the curb. “I’ve been in that exact position more than once since I started working here.”
“How long have you been working here—” I trail off, realizing I never got his name. “Sorry… what was your name again?”
He chuckles. “Charlie. Been here a little over a year. It’s not what I want long-term, but it brings in money, you know. I don’t want to be a burden to my mother anymore. I should be responsible for myself.”
“I know,” I answer softly, then go quiet as we near the vehicle checkpoint. My heart hammers in my ears as he rolls down the window at my side and one of the guards steps forward, eying us both.
“You know the rules about strangers, Charles.”
“She’s not a stranger. This is Penny. She just started working in admin.”
The guard’s face hardens as it lands on me. “ID.”
“Is that really necessary? You know I'm good for it,” Charlie interrupts before I can say anything. Not that I had anything to say for myself.
The security guard's face closes off. “She forgot her ID? You've got to stop bringing people in who forget their IDs. Let them learn the lesson the hard way.”
“Can’t do that when I know what that feels like.”
The guard stares at him for a long moment, then grunts. “Trunk.”
Charlie pops it without hesitation. The guard circles to the back of the car, and I sit very still and breathe very quietly while a thorough inspection happens somewhere behind my head.
When he’s done, the trunk lid drops with a bang that makes me jolt in my seat.
Charlie catches it and gives me a small, reassuring smile.
Then the gates slide open, and we're in.
Charlie drives past the huge warehouse towards a cluster of smaller buildings, and I make myself breathe.
“There’s admin.” He points at a red-roofed building in the distance as he parks the car.
“Thank you so much,” I tell him, super grateful. I couldn’t have made it in without him.
“No problem.” He winks. “So… should I look forward to that coffee later or just fuck off? Either option is fine by me.”
Despite myself, I laugh at his cheekiness. “Coffee sounds good.” The lie slips out easily, and it sits badly. He’s genuine, this one. I’m sorry I won’t actually be buying him coffee. I’m sorry for a lot of things today.
“I’ll hold you to that, Penny.”
We get out of the car, and he gives me a small wave before opening the back seat and starting to haul the crates out. I linger for a second. “Do you need help with those?”
He waves me off. “Go on in. You’ll have to check in manually now since you didn’t pass the ID check at the gate.”
“Ugh, yeah, you’re right.”
I start towards the building he pointed out, forcing myself to keep a steady pace, throwing the occasional glance over my shoulder. By the time I reach the entrance, he’s already disappearing into another building, crates stacked high in his arms.
The second he's out of sight, I pivot and walk back the way I came, every step feeling like it's being watched.
Nobody stops me or looks twice. Passing the security check at the gate buys you the right to move around inside without explaining yourself, apparently, which is the only thing working in my favor right now.
Still, my pulse increases as I approach the warehouse. I cast a glance around, then reach for the door and push it open.