WHEN I WAKE the next morning, the first thing I do is look at Ivy. I need to reassure myself that she’s safe, that she’s still here.
I watch the gentle slope of her shoulders rising and falling with her breaths. She’s got a little twinge of precociousness to her when she’s awake, a little silly look about her. But when she’s asleep, she’s nothing but a picture of innocent childhood.
My gaze sweeps to the door next.
Still locked.
I quietly tiptoe over and listen to see if he’s still there, but I hear nothing. I grit my teeth and reaffirm the decision I made last night that I don’t need him. Why would I? If this is how he’s going to behave…
Still, I can’t help but open the door.
At first, I think he’s already up and made the bed, but then I realize after a closer look that he never went to bed. It’s still perfectly made with no signs of having been ruffled at all.
I look at the side table where he always leaves his keys and his wallet.
Nothing’s there.
What was the attack he said was on his family? What did he mean?
I call Polina but it only goes to voicemail.
Something strange is going on.
Or is that only in my mind?
I give myself one minute to wallow. One minute to curse the heavens that even though I’m no longer under my family’s control, they can still wreck my life.
But I’ve learned a thing or two since I’ve come here and there’s one thing I can say with confidence: I don’t need anyone to help me protect my child.
I look over at Ivy’s peaceful form and cross to the dresser as stealthily as I can so I don’t wake her.
This world is dangerous, and I need to protect my baby. I don’t know who or what would threaten us at this point, but I know that I can’t trust Aleks.
There was a time when I ran away to protect myself. To run to my daughter to make sure she was alright.
Now, I’ll run with her, to protect her.
I throw a few haphazard things into the princess backpack Polina bought Ivy, even as my heart aches. I don’t want to leave her or Aria, the only sisters I’ve ever had.
I try calling her again and breathe a sigh of relief when she actually answers this time. “Hey,” she says. “Can you help me with the gala prep today? Aleks says we need to move the date up and Mom and I are going to have to scramble to get things done. Normally, Aria would help us, but she’s otherwise occupied at the moment!”
I don’t want to abandon her. I want to help, but my daughter’s safety…
I decide not to answer the question directly. “Did you get to see the baby yesterday?”
“I did! He’s sooo sweet, darling little Sasha. I’ve never seen Mikhail so enamored. I hardly recognize him.”
“Aw,” I say, even as I’m folding some of Ivy’s little things into the backpack.
I will not think of Aleks and how he is with Ivy. I won’t!
Ivy walks around carrying this bag all the time, so no one will think twice about it the way they would if I walked out of here with a duffel bag over my shoulder.
I shove a few small items in the bag for me, too.
“I just need to decide what sort of appetizers we need. Hot? Cold? A variety?”
“Start with hot, because your brothers can eat. And if we’re moving the date up, it’s still a really cold time of year. Aleks can eat the hell out of a tray of canapes.”
“Spoken like a true Italian,” she says with approval. “I like how you think.”
I turn away, grateful this is a phone call. It’s easier to hide the fact that I’m crying.
“Did he say when he was moving it up to?”
“This weekend.”
Why this weekend?
I don’t need to know. I don’t care. It doesn’t matter.
I square my shoulders and nod. “Definitely hot apps, but you can also have a side table set up with standard things like cheese and crackers.”
“Ollie’s coming out. So we’ll all be here. You haven’t met everyone yet. And Aleks has hinted that he’s finally going to induct the crossover members from the other Bratva group. He told you about that?”
In passing, sort of. I know there are a few men that came over from a rival organization and he was in charge of vetting them. That’s all I know, though, and I doubt he’s going to tell me anything more.
Ivy stirs, and I lower my voice. I watch her to make sure she stays asleep.
“Did he tell you why he’s moving it up?”
“It’s not out of the ordinary. He’s not super patient and he said he had good reason. I tried to talk him out of it because my mother’s going to have a heart attack, but I couldn’t do it. He said it’s essential.”
Essential.
“I see,” I tell her, though I see nothing at all. “Thank you. Where are you having it?”
“That’s the strange thing. He asked that we move the venue to the waterfront this year.”
“Which waterfront?”
“The East River, the one that separates Manhattan from Brooklyn and Queens. It’s lovely there, with all the views of the bridges.”
I nod. I’ll miss The Cove, the only real home I’ve ever known.
This might be the easiest time for me to leave, with Aleksandr not here, and the house distracted with last-minute preparations for the gala.
“Ivy’s still sleeping but I might come down when she wakes.”
“Okay!”
I disconnect the call and know there’s no way I’m going down to breakfast.
I can’t stay here.
I open the door to the closet where my weapons are stored.
My primary obligation is to protect my daughter no matter the cost.
