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As I waited for her answer, a chill ran down my spine. Something was off. But damn it, I was going to get to the bottom of it, no matter what. Hell, if I had to dig up everything myself, I would.
Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “Vlad is the one who bought me this house.”
I studied her carefully. Her story sounded plausible, but I didn’t believe a word.
“Tell me the fucking truth, Tanya.”
Her hesitation was obvious, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. It was clear she was weighing her options, contemplating her next move. After a moment, she seemed to make up her mind, let out a deep breath, and dropped her gun to the ground.
She approached the black canopy bed in the corner, her footsteps echoing in the stillness. With a heavy sigh, Tanya sat down, her hands nervously fidgeting in her lap. It was as if she was psyching herself up for something big. Finally, she looked up at me.
“I’ll tell you what I know,” she mumbled, bringing her hands to her face. “But you have to promise me something first.”
I raised an eyebrow, curious. I fucking hated ultimatums. But I’d never taken her for the type to give one, so I listened. “Go ahead.”
“You have to promise me you won’t hurt her,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “I may have made some bad choices, but I can’t have her blood on my hands.”
“Who are you talking about?”
Just as tension reached its peak, my phone buzzed in my jacket. I pulled it out to see a text from Dve, probably bored and wondering what was happening. Damn it, his timing couldn’t have been worse.
I arched an eyebrow, signaling her to speak.
“Helena,” she choked out, her voice barely audible. “Please… don’t kill her.”
What?
My whole body froze. “Helena Melov?”
Sofiya’s mother.
Chapter
Nineteen
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
? Martin Luther King Jr.
Sofiya
“It’s your lucky night,” came a voice from the darkness, making me jump as I closed the door behind me.
I clutched the velvety cardigan tighter around my waist with shaky hands. I recognized his voice immediately and knew trouble was brewing.
I glanced over my shoulder and rolled my eyes. “If you’re here, then it’s more like a living nightmare.”
I hadn’t seen him in days, and I couldn’t be more relieved. Dimitri was my personal walking disaster, always leaving chaos in his wake. While Volk wasn’t my favorite person, at least I felt some semblance of safety around him.
But Dimitri? He was pure terror, like a dark cloud looming overhead. I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread as I wondered why he was back and where he had been. His appearance, with dirt, mud, and what looked like blood on his clothes, only added to the mystery.
“Did you enjoy your little trip with Volk?” His voice oozed sarcasm as he grinned at me. “Heard you were the star of the show that day, huh?”
“If by star you mean nearly getting murdered, then sure, I had a blast.”
“Not fun enough for you?” He took a step closer, cracking his knuckles. Fear and tension filled the air, and I glanced around, hoping for Dasha to appear. Or maybe … even Volk. “Need us to take you to a circus?”
I met his eyes, trying to steady my nerves, and adjusted my sleeves over my trembling hands. Leaving the library after what felt like hours lost in books and another world, I wanted now to wander and explore, still trying to familiarize myself with the surroundings and devise a plan to escape.
