Chapter 27
LEAH
Achilling sensation is growing in the pit of my stomach.
I don’t know why. We’re with Marius. I have no reason not to trust him, but my gut tells me something is wrong.
I don’t know if it’s the way Marius seems tense, or that we’re headed back to the city in a direction I don’t recognize.
I don’t know if it’s the way the normally talkative man is quiet and keeps looking around him at the road we’re on, especially when we stop at lights.
I keep reasoning with myself—it’s because he’s looking for whoever shot Iliya.
Because he knows there are people after us.
Because he’s worried about us and wants to keep us safe.
But that feeling in the pit of my stomach won’t go away.
“Can I call Viktor?” I ask. “I just want him to know we’re okay. I want to know what we’re supposed to do next.”
“Uncle’s busy right now,” Marius replies quickly in a monotone that seems at odds with the man I knew before. “He knows you’re safe because I texted him. He’s trusting me to take care of you, so you should trust me too.”
That imperative— “you should trust me”—gives me an uneasy feeling. Not “You know you can trust me.” Not “I’ll let you call when we get to our destination.” Not “Of course, you can call him. I know you want to hear his voice.”
I shift, looking at Suzie. My best friend is gazing out the window, one hand absently stroking Benji’s head. The big dog is lying across our feet, his head on Eliza’s lap. For some reason, even he looks uneasy. It must be the fact that we’re in this situation that has us all on edge.
None of us knows if Iliya is okay, if he’s dead or alive.
I know that’s what Suzie’s thinking about.
I can see the worry lines around her mouth, her eyes.
She may be worried about us, about this whole situation, but I know she’s also concerned about Iliya.
Part of me feels bad about taking her away, but she would be dead right now, too, and I can’t be without my best friend.
I think Iliya would agree, whether he’s still with us or looking down on us.
“Where are we going?” I ask Marius, looking for something to ease my stomach.
“The safe house.”
A safe house? I ask myself, but not out loud, as I don’t want to scare Eliza.
I look around at the area we’ve driven into and realize I know this road.
My grandpa used to work down here, and I know what it’s like.
It’s a commercial district without houses.
Nobody lives here, unless there’s been an urban renewal project in the years that have passed.
It’s a possibility, but I don’t see anything resembling a house.
It becomes less of a possibility the farther we go because I see it hasn’t changed. No warehouses have become million-dollar lofts, no apartments in the boarded-up stores that were failing even when I was a kid. No artists in residence occupy the old warehouses, most of which appear to be vacant.
Suzie must be noticing the same thing I am, because she slyly looks over at me, frowning, her blue eyes questioning.
“Can we pick up a few things for Eliza to do when we’re at the safe house?” I ask Marius.
“She’ll be fine.” His response is short, clipped, and devoid of emotion. It cuts off any possible conversation, and I shut my mouth.
What is going on? Suzie mouths to me, and I shake my head slightly because I know Marius can see us in the rearview mirror, his eyes flicking up to us every so often.
The pit in the center of my stomach is growing into anxiety that twists into nausea, sweaty palms, and an urge to start screaming.
Would anyone hear us? There are still cars around, of course; we’re in New York, but would any of them stop to help us? When we pull up to the next light, I try the door handle, pulling on it quietly and gently, only to find the child lock is on. I can’t get out, nor can I roll down the window.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.
I casually put my arm around Eliza’s shoulders. She’s been silent and still the entire drive. I’m worried about what she saw. It’s hard enough for me, much less my seven-year-old, who’s been through enough.
“Hey, baby. Let’s sing that new song you learned. The one about the states and their capitals?”
The only thing I can think of is distraction. I have to start her off, but when I stumble and flub the words, Eliza corrects me and takes up the song herself.
I use her distraction as she sings the states and capitals song to Benji to exchange another glance with Suzie.
It’s a good thing we can finish each other’s sentences; we don’t always need words to talk.
I’m pretty sure Suzie knows we’re in trouble too.
She is the opposite of stupid, and she can read me the best.
“I’m not feeling that great. I think I may need to see a doctor. This has been so stressful. The doctor said to watch my stress. Can we just go to the emergency room first?”
Marius’s eyes flick back up to meet mine in the mirror. “No,” he says, as though that’s that.
“No, I’m sure I’m starting to feel sick. I’m sweaty.” I point at my damp forehead. I know it’s anxiety, but he doesn’t know the difference. “My heartbeat is a little high. You know what preeclampsia is? I had it with Eliza. I think we should probably go to a hospital—”
“You’re not going anywhere!” Marius snarls. “Shut the fuck up! There’s nothing wrong with you. Sit tight and listen to everything I say.”
Eliza is still singing her song, but she falters at the sound of his voice. “Mom?”
“It’s okay, baby,” I whisper. “We’re all together, right? We’re good.”
Except now I’m almost positive we aren’t all good. Suzie realizes it too; she’s pale, her mouth a tight line, she’s clutching Benji. Even the big dog looks uncertain.
Marius pulls into the loading dock of an old warehouse. He jumps out. I don’t miss the gun stuffed into the back of his pants, revealed by the motion.
“Eliza, sweetheart,” I whisper. “You need to stay quiet. Do everything I tell you to do. Okay? Don’t talk, don’t make a sound.
” She looks at me, her eyes wide and frightened, but I think she’ll do what I say.
As Marius opens the door, I take her hand, and Suzie takes Benji’s leash.
We all jump out to stretch our legs after the long ride.
There’s no one around. I can hear the general sounds of workers somewhere, but the noise is indistinct.
I have no idea where it’s coming from or how far away it is.
“Come on,” Marius says, jerking his head in the direction of the loading dock.
It appears this warehouse has been in use recently, as there are crates and packages scattered throughout. But still, there’s no one here. We follow Marius to a back room with no windows and only one door. As we pass it, I notice the lock is on the outside, and there’s no knob on the inside. Shit!
Suzie’s expression says the same.
“Okay, here’s the deal.” Marius stands in the doorway, his hands by his side. I know how easily he could reach for his gun. And I’m not entirely sure that he won’t shoot us.
“You’re going to stay here. Just so you know, there’s no one around, so no one’s going to hear you if you scream. Anyone makes a peep, anyone tries anything, I’ll come back in and shoot the damn dog.”
Eliza hides in my side, clutching her stuffed bunny to her.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask. I know what he said, but I can’t help but ask. This was the guy Viktor trusted with our lives—the guy who had such an easy rapport with us. “I don’t understand.”
“You don’t have to understand,” he snaps. “This has been a long time coming. My dad and I have been planning this for years. My dad is the stronger one; he should’ve been pakhan. But no, my idiot grandfather had to choose Viktor because he thought he was the smarter one.”
The emphasis he puts on “smarter” tells me just how much Marius—and I’m guessing Andrei—holds that attribute in regard.
“So now I’m never going to get a chance to be pakhan unless, somehow, Viktor bites the dust. My idiot cousin Peter—nobody wants him as an heir. The pathetic asshole can’t even have any heirs of his own.”
Then he grins, a macabre sneer that sends a shiver down my back.
“I’m responsible for that, you know?” He sounds proud.
“The crash was supposed to kill him, not Roxanne. Peter still doesn’t know.
But really, it turned out just as well. Peter might not be dead, but he can’t have any kids, and no one wants him to take over for his father.
That puts my father in the perfect position.
” He glances down at his watch. “My father should be in charge by now. He’s probably taken care of my uncle, and you saw how I took care of Iliya. ”
I can’t help my gasp; tears instantly come to my eyes as I clap my hand over my mouth, a gigantic black hole of grief opening under my feet. Suzie’s fingers dig into my arm, the same stricken look on her face.
“I’m just waiting for his signal to finish you off. Just think: You would be free of this place if you just kept your fucking hands off my uncle. If you’d taken the hint and let him go. But no, you had to get yourself pregnant.”
My heart is in my throat, pounding so hard I’m afraid I’ll pass out. But as I draw Eliza closer to me, I know I can’t. I know I have to find a way out of this. I have to protect my family. If only I knew how.