Chapter 2
ANYA
I yawn so widely that my eyes water, then shake myself awake. I was up before the sun rose and made my way to the bakery in the dark to discover one of our ovens broken and a notice about the increase in the cost of flour. Now Stefan needs help with his homework.
My head is pounding, and my vision blurs. The relentless grind makes a good night’s sleep seem like a pipe dream.
But my family needs me.
“I can’t remember how to do this,” I admit with chagrin as I drop the pencil on the table. The numbers on the page swim in front of my eyes, mocking me. I was a good student once—good enough to make my teachers proud. My mother. But now, the weight of keeping the family afloat has turned my brain to mush.
Why is this so much harder than it was back then?
“Anya.” Stefan sighs. “I have to figure this out!” His eyes blur with unshed tears. He sighs again. “C’mon. You’re smart.”
I lean over and ruffle his hair with a wry smile. “Thanks. Let’s work on the spelling practice next and come back to this. Maybe something will click.”
I can’t help but look into the living room, past the peeling wallpaper and stack of dishes in the sink I haven’t done yet, to where my father is slumped in a chair with an empty bottle of vodka.
He’s not helping with homework tonight.
“Where’s Eli?”
“Who knows,” I mutter, shaking my head, and bite my lip before I blurt out who cares ? Eli can go fuck himself for all I care. He’s become no more than a younger carbon copy of my dad. I don’t say that out loud though. Stefan hero-worships him.
Stefan crosses his arms over his chest. “ He knows how to do this.”
“Well, he’s not here,” I snap, pushing to my feet as guilt gnaws at me. It’s not his fault. I turn to him and squeeze his shoulder. At only eight years old, it isn’t his fault.
I sigh. “I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I brought you cookies home from the bakery.”
His eyes light up. “Chocolate?”
“Mmm. Keep working on the rest of the problems. Sometimes, you have to leave the part you can’t solve and work on what you can.” Before I turn to the dishes, I take the white paper sack and put it in front of him. “Here. Maybe this will help your concentration.”
He grins, forgiving me for my short temper, as he gleefully plucks a cookie out of the bag and takes a massive bite, crumbs flying everywhere. I sigh and walk to the washing machine. I’ll toss in a load of laundry and let that run while I tackle the dishes.
My father mumbles something unintelligible under his breath. I look at him curiously. I swear I heard something like, “Take her.”
Take who?
The remnants of my paycheck sit on the counter, stretched thin between rent, food, and clothes for Stefan. I’m lucky enough that I can still fit in my mother’s old clothes, but I swear Stefan grows an inch a day.
I grab the load of clean towels out of the dryer and pile them in a basket. I draw in a cleansing breath and release it. A stolen moment of quiet. I need to put Stefan to bed soon so I can get to bed myself. Four o’clock comes way too soon.
Where is Eli? He said he’d be by the bakery before close, but he never showed. He’s been vanishing for hours lately, sometimes days, and always comes back apologetic and exhausted. I half expected him to be here with my father, throwing back the vodka, but the silence feels heavier than usual.
Something is wrong. Very wrong.
I frown, staring down at the basket of laundry. Eli’s clothes are in a basket of his own since I won’t do his. I shove it out of the way when something clatters to the floor.
I stare at it as the hair on the back of my neck pricks. It’s Eli’s mobile.
Something’s… not right about this. I pick it up, holding my breath. Eli never leaves his cell phone behind.
“Anya! Did you want the other cookie?”
“Take it,” I mumble absentmindedly as I lift the phone.
Why did he leave this? It makes no sense…
I type in his birthday and see it spring to life. Predictable. I frown at the blinking battery—almost dead—and plug it into a charger in the corner of the tiny laundry room.
There are thirteen unread text messages and as many missed calls. A chill skates down my spine when I see the name Semyon.
My stomach churns as I scroll through them.It doesn’t make sense. If Eli left, why hasn’t he tried to contact me? Or is it because… he can’t?
I stare at the name on the screen again.
Semyon Kopolov .
My brother’s best friend. My mortal enemy. The man who destroyed my family and is responsible for my mother’s death.
My vision blurs. My fingers tremble. I shouldn’t open it. I should throw this damn phone across the room and smash it all to hell.
And yet, with a breath I can’t seem to catch, I click on the messages.
Semyon
Four fucking million. I don’t give second chances. I’m coming to collect.
Semyon
You betrayed us. I won’t forgive that.
Semyon
Pay up or I’ll take more than the bakery. You won’t like what’s left
I stare, my chest tightening, the words sinking in like a blow. More than the bakery?
What the hell else could he take? We don’t have anything left—just this crumbling apartment, a failing business, and each other. My heart pounds with fury. Semyon knew Eli couldn’t pay him back, and he let it spiral until it reached this point.
He planned this . And now my family is caught in the crosshairs.
I tuck the phone in my pocket as my heart aches. Elizar pisses me off, but he’s my brother. I have no idea where he is, but based on the fact that he left his phone here, I can only assume he ran.
Unless he’s hurt…
Rage simmers in my veins. First, at my brother for leaving us in this position to begin with. Next, at Semyon, who let my brother accumulate this staggering amount of debt.
I haven’t talked to Semyon in years.
Years .
But now… I can find him. I have to find him. I shouldn’t—god knows I shouldn’t—but Eli’s phone burns in my hand like a loaded gun. If I don’t do something, we’ll lose what little we have left. The bakery, the apartment, Stefan’s future—gone. All gone.
I promised my mother I would protect Stefan no matter the cost. It was my last promise to her before she died.
I take a shaky breath and type the words that seal my fate. I lift my brother’s phone, my fingers trembling as I type out a message to Semyon.
Where are you?