After shoving one of the burner phones under a familiar park bench, I sat and stared at the dark sky. Waiting was one of the worst parts of this job. But my contact wasn't willing to be seen talking to me. I understood it. I could even appreciate it. But it pissed me off to have to be at the mercy of someone else. That Talia was effectively at the mercy of someone else. In so many more ways than one. I just prayed that she was holding out. Holding on. I'm coming for you, Talia. Just hold on for me, hellcat. Give me time to find you. Part of me scoffed at the idea of being someone's-anyone's-hero. But that Talia Amatucci was the one who literally depended on me, grinded my guts. I'd given up the cloak and dagger of life or death when I left the Agency. While I still worked in counterintelligence for the corporate world, the stakes weren't nearly as high. Nor as deadly. I still took my work seriously, but no one died if I got the information wrong. Or didn't react fast eno
Shoving the door open once I had the lock free of its newly eroded casing, I called out. I really didn't want a repeat of the last time I'd come in here without announcing myself. "It's Arkady."A choked soft sob. "Come in."I gritted my teeth and hardened my heart against the relief I heard in her smoky voice. Getting tangled up in the trouble she represented was not in my game plan. Either short- or long-term. Helping her at all had already gotten her severely punished. I wasn't sure either of us were prepared for her to be punished again. "I've got your food for the day." Turning slightly, I saw that she was huddled on the bed. The blankets were still in a neat pile at the foot of the mattress. She nodded, but didn't get up. "Thank you."I slid the tray onto the bed. Questions and promises pushed at the back of my throat. Demanded they be voiced. Swallowing them all, I simply nodded and turned back to the door. "Knock on the door when you're done. I'll take the tray."
With Arkady out of commission, I darted for the door. No telling how long he was going to be out of commission. Phone. The word streaked across my brain like it was lit up with neon. Leaping up to the bed, I stood on tiptoe to feel around on the small inset ledge where the lights were. I grabbed up the phone, prayed the ten minutes of charging had done enough to hold me. I stuffed the phone into my waistband. Jumping off the bed, I ran over and grabbed up some of the bottles of liquid from my first aid stash. With two bottles of what I assumed was isopropyl alcohol armed and ready, I moved to the hallway. Not bothering to take the time to push the door shut behind me, I ran down the hall. Tried not to splash myself with the alcohol. My only weapon, I kinda needed to make sure I could use it on any enemies who appeared. From my previous escape attempt, I knew there was only one hallway that went anywhere. I arrowed for it immediately. Nothing short of death or capture was go
The line still open to Nik, I stepped out from my hiding spot. "Karine Petrova, what an unpleasant surprise. What are you doing here?"One of the reasons I'd left Moscow was standing right in front of me. Her white blonde hair was secured under the black balaclava, only her bright blue eyes remained visible. She snorted. "I'm not the one far from home, Maks. It would seem that you are. So I put the same question to you: what are you doing here?""Business."One of her pale brows rose. "My sources say that you got out of the business a couple years ago. Are you back in the rank and file?"I held my silence. She didn't need to know anything of why I was actually here. Considering I'd gone out of my way to make sure I wouldn't need to contact her, not talking to this woman was on the top of my priority list. "Cat got your tongue?" she purred as she edged closer. I held my ground and my silence. I should just shoot her in the head and be done with her. But that would raise
I didn't have a lot of time, and since none of my other ideas had gotten me anywhere so far, I needed another track to follow. Pulling the phone from my waistband, I thanked the stars that it was still there after the mad dashing up and down that stupid hallway. Wishing I had some water to wash off the alcohol, I pushed the thought from my mind. I had no idea how much longer I was going to be here alone. Using the phone was now a necessity. Even if I didn't know what would happen. I had to try. Powering up the device, I waited. One ear attuned to the door and anything beyond it, I was counting the seconds until the home screen showed up. It felt like forever. As soon as the little bar graph showed I had some signal, I sent out a call. Prayed it went to the right number. Memorizing phone numbers had become obsolete since I carried my phone around with me everywhere. Please let this be right. Please let this be right. "This is Willow.""Willow. Oh, my goddess." Tears ru
A cold slap of wind jolted me awake. I stared up at the sky, vibrant pinks and blues painted the expanse as far as I could see. Mornings were my favorite time of day. Everything was fresh and new. Not sullied by the secrets and lies that eventually came to ruin everything. "Ser? Ty v poryadke?" Sir? Are you okay? A man asked as he stood over me. Dressed in a long trench coat, a briefcase in one hand, an insulated cup in the other, he peered down at me. I nodded. Rolled to my hands and knees. Blowing out a breath as the world spun on a different axis, I waited for my belly to settle before getting to my feet. Turning, I said, "YA khorosho, spasibo." I'm fine, thanks. Dusting the new snow off my clothes, I walked away. I had to get back to the safe house. Get a hold of Nik and Turo. Start looking for the Kuznetsov family as soon as possible. Not to mention find out what the hell Karine was talking about. When I was almost back to the apartment, I pulled the burner phone from
I waited outside the door like the good little foot soldier I was pretending to be. My higher rank meant nothing to these men. Not now. Not after what had happened. So I stood there, gaze on the opposite wall. I could hear her talking. Probably on the phone I'd managed to smuggle in for her. She needed someone to come get her out of this before shit went sideways. When the men started coming down the hall, it was too late to signal her. But at least the door would be harder to open, giving her extra seconds. Barrikad, Ustin, Kostas, Dusan, and Gavrie all stomped down the hall. The second generation of Kuznetsov men. Each more insane and brutal than the last. I prayed they were here just to talk. Barrikad waved me away from the door. Motioned for one of his brothers to open it. The asshole couldn't even be bothered to open his own door. He was insufferable. Standing as I was across the hall, I saw Talia sitting on the new mattress I'd given her. More prayers ran through my m
How did this guy put off so much freaking heat? It was like sitting next to a bonfire. And I wasn't wearing enough layers. Pushing thoughts of Ark from my mind, I powered up the phone. Prayed the startup didn't take as long as it had the first time. I wasn't sure I'd be able to stand it. He was being too nice. Too understanding. Too...not evil. Finally, the phone showed the home screen. I couldn't be certain, but I thought we both let out sighs of relief. Focusing solely on the phone, I punched in Willow's number. Ark finally got back down, scooted over until his hip was against mine. "I don't want to try the speaker, just in case it's too loud." I just prayed I wasn't waking her up. Or disturbing her. Or pulling her from sexy times. That girl deserved all the sexy times she could ge-"Tali!" she shrieked in my ear. "Let me get everyone else on. We've set up a whole system. Give me two seconds, but don't you dare hang up on me."I looked at Arkady. "She's my sister."