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I know without a doubt, if anything happens to Elena or Lucy, they will burn the world down from grief and anger. Better to avoid that sort of attachment, which is why I need to get away from Kate ASAP.
I don’t love her, but I feel something that feels too much like affection.
“Listen, I can’t say for long. I need to get back to deal with business. Especially the gambling. There’s no way Dimitri is getting his hands on that money.”
Robbie nods. “Plus, there’s the skimming. Peprov thought it was someone with you.”
I shake my head. “No. I’ll look into it.”
“Whoever he is, he’s as good as dead, then. I’m glad you’re here, Boss.” Robbie looks at me similar to how Kate does. Like I’ve got a fucking halo over my head.
But I’m no savior. No hero.
And if Robbie knew the truth about my reasoning for taking over, he might rethink my loyalty to him and the Bratva. I’m not here because I want to be a Boss. I don’t give a shit about power except when I need it. No.
Every decision I’ve made since the moment Peprov handed Kate over to Fiori has been made to keep her alive.
Do I care about skimming?
Not really, but I’ll do my job and ferret out the dipshit who thinks he can steal from the Bratva and deal with him. But my focus is on killing Dimitri to protect Kate and then send her off to a place where she doesn’t have to be afraid.
A place where she can have a normal life. A place that is far, far away from me.
7
KATE
Ilay in bed, terrified of the one man I’d trusted to keep me safe. He says I’m safe now, but how can I be when he so easily, in the middle of a group of men in his home, murdered someone else who probably trusted him?
I try to explain it all away. Liam killed him because he drugged me. Maybe the man was bad. A mole. But even with excuses, it doesn’t take away knowing how easily, callously, without a thought, Liam killed him. Like the man was a gnat. His life was worth nothing.
Eventually, exhaustion overtakes me and I fall asleep. I wake early the next morning rested, yet still afraid. I have my strength back, and I know that I need to try and leave this place. It’s a foolish plan knowing what I know now about Liam, and yet, I can’t stay.
I find warm clothes in the drawers and a heavy coat and boats in the closet. I have no idea how far I’ll need to walk before I find help, so I need to get as warm as possible.
Maybe I can locate keys and take a car. Good God. Am I really going to steal a car from the leader of an organized crime gang?
For a moment, I sit fully dressed on the edge of the bed, wondering what is crazier; trying to escape and hope I can reach Elena and Lucy, or staying and hope that Liam doesn’t decide I’m not worth the hassle just like he did with the man yesterday.
I’m probably dead either way, but if I try to leave, at least I’ll know I fought for my freedom.
I rise and open my door. It’s quiet in the hall. The sun is barely up, so if I’m lucky, I can sneak out before anyone else awakens. I tiptoe along the hall and down the stairs.
While stupid, I know I can find help faster by car than on foot, so I search around near the front door for keys. Not finding any, I quietly make my way toward a swinging door that I imagine is the kitchen. I push it open and glance in. I don’t see or hear anyone.
I enter and look around, not finding keys. I’ll have to hoof it. I see a wooden block with knives and decide to take one for protection. Just my luck, I’ll stab myself. But I’m tired of being afraid.
Tired of bad men dictating my life. I think back to Elena and the risks she took to free herself from her father. Lucy risked everything to save me, going as far as killing her own father.
I need to be brave like them. Even if it results in my death, I’d know I wasn’t a wuss who laid down and died.
I turn and see three men sitting in an alcove watching me. Terror streaks down my spine. I back away saying nothing. When I exit the kitchen, I run for the front door, yanking it open and rushing out into the bitterly cold morning air. I hurry down the steps, the freezing air biting my cheeks, making my eyes water.
But I ignore it as I follow the driveway and pray the road isn’t far. Any minute, I expect a man to grab me or shoot me, but I keep moving. I glance back and see no one. Maybe whatever demon had possessed Liam was gone and he’d decided I could go.
I pull my coat around me, covering my face with the collar as I make my way up the drive.
“Where are you going?”
