Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 67534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
“Viktor.” He sighs warily. “You left that meeting before I did. You didn’t see the fear on their faces. They are terrified of Mikhail, of losing everything they’ve worked to build. You are the only one who was able to protect them then. Now…”
“Now I’m their biggest threat,” I answer as he trails off.
I know I’m playing a dangerous game here. That was always going to be the case when I decided to take Anya. What choice did I have? What choice did she have?
That was before we slept together. Now, there’s no chance in hell I’m letting her go back to him. I’m not even going to risk the possibility of him getting her.
“I need time,” I tell him honestly. “Lock everything down for now, and we’ll circle back.”
“Don’t take too much,” he warns. “Mikhail isn’t fucking around here.”
“I know he’s not.”
I end the call and stare at the screens. Anya has her door shut again, and I know she still hasn’t eaten. I decide to bring her up some food. We need to talk about what happened, and she deserves to know the truth about what Mikhail is doing. Maybe that, if nothing else, will convince her that she can’t leave.
I go to the kitchen to make another sandwich and carry it up the three flights of stairs. I knock lightly on her door, but there’s no answer. When I test the door to see if she’s blocked it again, there’s no resistance. I peek inside and see that she’s just lying on her bed again.
“Anya,” I call out.
She doesn’t respond.
“We need to talk about Mikhail,” I say, hoping she’ll take the bait.
“No,” she shoots back.
I sigh and walk in carefully. She doesn’t react as I enter and set the sandwich on the foot of her bed. I opted to wrap this one in a paper towel, instead of plating it.
“Go away,” she says quietly.
“Anya, there’s been some development,” I tell her calmly. “Mikhail has escalated his threats. He’s sent a body to every family in Brooklyn.”
“Did you lose anyone important?” she asks, disinterested.
“An account manager,” I say casually. “Not a big fish, necessarily, but everyone in my organization is important to me.”
“So what?” she asks with venom.
“He’s reacting without thinking,” I tell her.
“I hope he kills them all,” she says after a moment, without an ounce of emotion. “I hope you lose everything you love.”
“This isn’t just about me,” I tell her almost desperately. “Every family in Brooklyn is being targeted. Even the small ones who are barely functioning as it is. Do you understand, now, why I can’t let you leave?”
“No,” she says, finally sitting up. “He would have done this even if you hadn’t taken me. Even if you let me disappear without a trace. He is ruthless and single-minded.”
“So what exactly will he do to you when he catches you?” I ask, meeting her gaze.
That seems to shut her up. She goes cold and retreats further into herself.
“Like it or not, I am your best chance at staying alive,” I tell her, my irritation growing. “And believe it or not, I’m not your enemy. I never was. So you can hate me all you want, but if I turn you loose, every family in Brooklyn will be after you. They’ll turn you into Mikhail just for a chance at leniency. There is nowhere safe for you, Anya. Do you understand?”
She doesn’t respond. She pulls her knees up against her chest and stares ahead at the wall.
“I’m not going to let that happen to you,” I tell her. “No matter how much you hate me, no matter how many times you try to run away, no matter how many times you annoy the shit out of me. Mikhail isn’t getting you back.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Viktor,” she says, her eyes becoming glassy. “You can’t keep me safe from him any more than you can protect your dock workers. We’re all fucked now.”
Her face is so devoid of emotion, it’s almost frightening. She’s still not looking at me, but her eyes are moving as if she’s seeing something in front of her that isn’t there. Like maybe she’s back with Mikhail, remembering how he treated her. It makes my pulse quicken. I hate the idea of her with him. I hate knowing that he ever had any power over her. I want to kill him for it.
“You should go,” she says quietly, still staring at the wall. “It won’t be long before he destroys everything you have. Enjoy it while you can.”
I know she’s speaking from experience, and I realize I can’t even imagine what that experience is. She fought off three men just to get away from him. I knew he was a monster, but what could he have possibly done to make her choose death over rescue?