“I’m going to put you inside the attic. Stay quiet until he’s gone.”
My heart hammers in my chest. “Come with me.”
He smiles. “I won’t fit in there. Besides, I’m not worried. I’ll hear what he has to say. He’s coming to talk.”
“He comes to take me! This is his reason. Not for talk!” I hiss.
“He won’t get you. Come on now. Get inside.” His strong arms lift me.
I put my hands on the shelf that’s above the clothes rod, pushing aside hats and gloves. Then I put my knee on the shelf, so I can go through the square hole into the ceiling. There are slats of wood with insulation between them. I have to perch carefully so I don’t fall through.
Alexei moves the square back into place, and it slides into its slot. Plunged into darkness, I bite my lip. My eyes adjust slowly, and I try to remain perfectly still.
I’m not sure if I’ll be able to hear what’s being said, and I really want to. I also wish Alexei was with me, but he’s right that he wouldn’t fit. A sudden wave of anger washes over me for my foolishness in thinking we’d actually have the time that the contract promised. Egorov expected to win me himself, using whatever tricks he had to… like drugs on the Serb’s gloves. When that didn’t work, did we really expect him to leave us alone? Foolish! Why didn’t Alexei and I go somewhere safe when we had the chance?
There’s a loud knock. My body jerks, but I manage to hold my place on the boards.
I curse silently and bite my lip harder. If I’m quiet, I’ll be safe, but what about my gladiator? All his massive strength won’t help him against guns. And once he’s out of Egorov’s way, I’ll be found and taken.
Please be smart, Alexei. Like you were last night.
CHAPTER6
Alexei
“It’s your lucky day,” Egorov says, giving a nod to his bodyguard.
The guy holds up a briefcase. I lead them away from the closet, careful to keep my eyes fixed on the hall and then the living room, so I don’t give away Natalia’s location.
There’s a loaded gun between the couch’s right armrest and cushion. It’s my gun and I know how to fire it, but I’ve never needed to. Today might be its day to do some work. I sit on the couch in a position where my fingers are centimeters away from the weapon.
After entering a numerical code, Egorov opens the briefcase full of cash. “What have you done to the girl so far?” he asks. The undercurrent to his tone is half embittered, half intrigued.
It’s none of his business, and I’ve got zero interest in swapping stories with Egorov, so I decide to lie to shut the conversation down quickly.
“Nothing. She was useless. Just slept off the drugs you gave her.” I toe the pillow she knelt on under the coffee table.
“Good,” Egorov says, rubbing his unshaven face. His whiskers are a mix of black and gray. “Natalia!” he calls. “Come out, girl.”
“She’s not here.”
His sharp gaze turns to my face instantly. “What do you mean? Where is she?”
“Too much crying. I left her with a friend.”
“That’s a lie. She doesn’t cry.” Egorov’s eyes bore into me, like they can dissect my brain from the skull down.
“Maybe I’m rougher than you.”
He spits out a sneer.
I give him a dead-eyed stare. I want him out of my place.
Pausing for a moment, he listens. There’s only silence.
Good girl, I think.
“I’m angry with her, but she’s still mine. I arranged for her to come to this country. Be a smart man, and let me buy her back early. You already have the winnings. I’ve brought a hundred thousand. That’s over half a million for one fight. Not a bad business, huh?”
