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“That’s for you to say.” Movement from outside caught my eye. John was heading to his Audi with a knapsack slung over his shoulder. When he shut the door, he leaned over to Mila’s side and smacked a big French kiss on her lips. I smiled and looked away.
Ruby’s voice reeled me back. “Hello? Earth to Freya?”
“I’m here, I’m here.”
She huffed, feigning annoyance. “Did you fall into a hole or something? Where’d you go?”
“Nowhere. Something’s up between John and Mila. I don’t know what it is, but I’m going to find out soon enough.”
“When you say something’s up….”
“I mean, they had sex last night at Max’s promotion party, and when I brought it up today, he looked like I’d forced lime juice down his throat. And now, they’re making out in his car. Steamy windows and all.”
Ruby shrieked. “Holy shit! You mean hot Malibu John and Weird Mila are getting into it right now? Wouldn’t I have loved to see his body, all sweaty and so—"
“Hold up, what do you meanWeird Mila?” My nose scrunched up when I remembered that John used the exact same word to describe her. “She’s not weird.”
“Yes.” Ruby munched on something. “Yes, she is, and she’s so not his type.”
I choked back a laugh. “Uh, what? Mila is…. Oh, my God, we’re not doing this right now, Ruby. I’m not going to continue this conversation because, frankly, what John does with Mila is none of my business.”
“Exactly!” Her excitement was suddenly over the roof. “Making plans for Friday night atRuth’sis your business.”
My eyebrows shot up. “A party.”
“Yup. A party. Doesn’t matter if you say it like it’s a death wish, Freya, it’s a fuckingpar-tay!And I’ve got the sweetest teensy-weensy dress for you. I swear, the guys are going to drop like flies once they see you in that—”
“I’m not going.”
She paused. “What?”
“Ruby….”
“No, Freya. You don’t get to do this again,” she whined. “This is the third time you’ve canceled. In one month.”
“I can’t, Ru. I’m sorry, I’ve just got a lot of stuff to do on Friday, okay? Work, work, work. It’s been a busy week, and it’s going to be a busy weekend, too. But I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
For a minute, she didn’t say anything. But when she did, I knew immediately that I’d been forgiven.
“Ice cream at your place by nine. Make sure you have those coconut toppings that I like.” And she hung up.
I smiled, dropping the phone, but the joy didn’t last very long. Not when his voice kept ringing in my ears.
Run for as long as you can, Detective. Believe me, you don’t want me to catch you.
He was the reason I’d said no to Friday’s plans with Ruby.
A man like Egor didn’t make threats. They made decrees, and that was what scared me the most. He’d never say what he didn’t mean.
I thought about Ruby and then my mom, who was somewhere, living close to the mountains with her husband and her thirteen-year-old daughter,myhalf-sister, Zeya, who was the absolute sweetest. I couldn’t bear the thought of any harm coming to them.
To survive him, I had to keep a low profile, stay away from parties or places that could lead me straight to his goons, and keep the ones I loved safe.
But most importantly, I had to live long enough to bring him down.
Chapter 5 – Egor
I splashed my face with both hands cupped and shut off the tap. The water was like zero degrees, smelling of rust with a hint of blood. The idea wouldn’t have been too farfetched, considering the atrocities that went on inside the small fucked up facility.
