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“Witness protection,” Greg says. “New identity. New life. You can start out fresh. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
Sure, that’s what I wanted. But is this the way I want it? Do I still want it? After all that’s happened? I don’t know what to make of it.
“Start out fresh? I’m twenty-fucking-one! My life hasn’t even started yet! And here you are telling me I’ll be starting over. Do you know how fucked up all of this sounds?”
I’d be out in a foreign country, raising my child alone with no contact with his or her father because he would be behind bars and wouldn’t even know that he has a child. I open my mouth to tell them that I’m pregnant and then immediately think better of it. They would just use it against me. I know they would.
“This is your best chance of moving forward, Tiana.” Greg levels me with a stare. “If you want immunity-”
“Immunity!” I shriek, standing up so fast that I hit my head on the roof of the van. “I wouldn’t fucking need immunity if you didn’t have some trumped-up charge against me. You people are reprehensible, you know that?”
Cassie stares at the floor, and Kyle examines his nails.
“I do what I have to do to bring lowlives like Vyronov down.” Greg looks remorseless. “If that means leveraging resources like you to get what we need, I’ll do it.”
“Resources, huh?” I scoff. “So, I’m a resource to you. Or accessory. Because I’m just a little girl who can be pushed around and intimidated, right? Meanwhile, Kirill Vyronov is a high-level badass who can beat all of you in your own game with his eyes closed. You could never take him on without doing something like this.” As I say it, I realize that I get an odd sense of satisfaction from the words. Greg looks at me strangely, and I wonder if he realizes what I’m feeling.
“I’m sorry it has to be this way, Tiana.” Cassie reaches a hand to me again, but pulls it back when I scowl at her. “This is the way it has to be. Go back in there and pick up whatever you can. Listen out for names, dates, venues. He’ll let something slip in front of you; it’s inevitable.”
“Whatever.” I sound surly.
“And if you can find a gap for me to get my surveillance equipment into the place, you might be able to get out of there sooner,” Kyle says brightly. His expression fades when I shoot daggers at him with my eyes.
“Right,” I say.
“So it’s settled, then.” Greg claps his hands on his knees and straightens. “We’ll take you back to the Vyronov place and you’ll be good to go.” He taps the back of Timothy’s seat. “Get us back on the road, Timo.”
Greg Thomson looks so damned pleased with himself that I want to punch him in the mouth. Or the nuts. I’m so angry that I remain silent for the entire trip back to where they picked me up. In the daylight, the road doesn’t look quite so scary anymore. But I know that’s not the truth of it. Everything just got a whole lot scarier.
As we pull to a halt, Greg slides open the door of the van and I step out. He grips my shoulder before I can walk away.
“Just remember the arrangement.” His eyes lock with mine. “You do this thing, and you’re free. You don’t, and the deal’s off.”
I don’t answer. I’m about to walk back into the lion’s den to gamble with my survival once more. And staying out here with my so-called saviors would be just as treacherous. I hate the idea of gathering information against Kirill, but what choice do I have?
I’m damned if I do, and damned if I don’t.
Fuck my life.
Chapter Twenty-One
Kirill
Rage has been clawing at my chest for the last thirty minutes.
And it’s only getting more intense with each passing second.
Where is she?
I’ve had my men search every fucking square millimeter of the area and I’m growing more and more aware that I’m just wasting my time. Feeling helpless is not something I’m used to. This fucking woman has me by the balls and I fucking hate it. But there’s no denying the reality of the situation. Not only did she get to the outside wall, but somehow, she made it over.
She’s gone, dolboyob.
She’s off the property and out of my control. Out there on her own. Unless a rival gang caught her already.
Bullshit!
Dima walks up to me and I wait for him to start talking. “We found the service gate unlocked,” he says. “Figure she got out there.”
