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Hmm.

She knows my name.

She knows to fear me.

I had to figure out precisely why and hope it wouldn’t be a mistake to think she was more innocent than she actually was.

Not taking a chance on scaring the boy or giving her a chance to run, I met them at the door and looked out in the hallway for anyone coming. My car was only half a block away, but I would guard them every step.

Whatever answers Lousia could give me would help us. I was sure of it.

But as she peered at me with worry and fear, as if she couldn’t be confident that anywhere would ever be safe again, I wasn’t so sure how well I’d be able to forget the twist of how badly I wanted to audition as her hero instead of following the orders to be her killer.

8

LOUISA

Volkov?

He’s a Volkov?

I gulped and tried not to let Brady see how nervous I was as he led us toward a car parked near the building. After two men broke into my home to kill me, every single shadow was scarier. Every cue and sound on the street scared me.

It didn’t escape my notice how Nikolai kept his hand on his gun, out of sight under his suit jacket, but I worried that he wouldn’t be able to react as quickly out here, this late, on the public sidewalk.

What is a Volkov doing in my home? Or knowing that hitmen would be after me tonight—or ever? Why would a member of the wealthy Volkov family be a hitman? What⁠—

“How do you know my mama, Mr. Volkov?” Brady asked as he held my hand and went with us.

“Friend of a friend,” he replied, glancing at me as if he dared me to correct him.

That lie wouldn’t add up. He didn’t know any friends of mine because I had none. I’d moved Brady here from a smaller town, hoping to get away from the memories of losing Kaleb and the hardships I’d faced in the job market there. For the four years we’d been here, I’d been working and raising him, not socializing.

“Oh.” Brady furrowed his brow as we reached a black car. An expensive car. “Whoa. Is this your car, Mr. Volkov?”

“It is. Hop in.” He didn’t order him, and I appreciated that he could try to appear kind to my son.

But he’s a hitman!

A wealthy man.

But he’s a hitman!

I tensed as I climbed into the back with my son, and as soon as we sat together, I held him close.

“Why are we visiting a friend so late in the night, Mama?” he asked me around a yawn while Nikolai got in the front.

“It just… happened that way.” I peeked at the reflection of Nikolai in the mirror, meeting his gaze.

“Sometimes, things just happen, don’t they?” he replied cryptically.

“Where…” Brady yawned again, slumping against me. He’d been so scared and confused, hearing the loud noise of the man falling dead. I knew he was trying to look brave, but he had to have so many more questions. It was late, though, and he wouldn’t be able to stay up. “Where are we going?”

“To a safe location,” Nikolai replied.

I looked down at Brady to gauge how scared he could still be with this sudden change in his routine, but he didn’t look alarmed. He leaned against me and watched out the window.

Terrified but grateful to be whisked away from those dead men, I tried to get through one moment, then the next. Brady’s inquisitive nature helped to ground me.