We go into the next shop, and she looks around at furniture while I go to the jewelry case. Lots of oxidized silver and cloudy gemstones. After a minute, Zoe joins me and talks in her friendly way to the owner. I learn that Zoe lives near Boston some of the time and in New York City the rest. She buys a chair and arranges to have it shipped. The owner brings out a tray full of rings and other jewelry for Zoe to look at, and I stand next to her and look as well. The lady opens lockets and other trinkets, and shows us hanging watches and brooches. Then she shows us a ring that opens where a person can keep a pill or some other small thing. As soon as I see it, I know I need it.
It costs fifty-five American dollars. It might as well be fifty-five hundred. My account is empty right now, and I have only six dollars in my purse. Still, I must have it.
I turn to Zoe. “Can you loan to me the money for this ring? I will pay you back.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Give me address to send money.”
Zoe signs the receipts while the owner wraps the ring for me. “There’s an ATM right down the street. We’ll stop by it.”
“Bank money machine? No, this will not help. I can send to you later, all right?”
She pauses, studying my face. “You don’t need to pay me back at all. Come here,” she whispers, drawing me to a corner of the shop. “Do you need help?”
“Yes, I have it. Thank you.” I hold up the small bag with the ring.
“No. I mean do you need help getting away from Alexei? I can take you somewhere safe right now. You won’t have to see him again at all.”
My brows shoot up. “Away from Alexei? Why?” Can she possibly suspect what happened this morning? If so, how? I wonder for a moment if the hotel could have hidden cameras, and I’m mortified.
Zoe frowns. “Why don’t you have any money, Natalia? Or a working phone? And how did you end up with him?”
“Mmm. This is many questions. Too many.” I don’t think she knows about my sexual punishment. If she knew, she would’ve mentioned that, not that I’m poor.
Her head cocks, sending curls into her face. She brushes them back. “You don’t seem afraid. Are you?”
This is a complicated question that I don’t want to answer. “I am not afraid of Alexei, no. I meeted—no,methim at party. This is the right way to say in English?”
“Yes. So you met him at a friend’s party? We heard… it doesn’t matter. Are you all right? Because you don’t have to be afraid of anyone. We can help you get to a safe place.”
“Hmm. You are saying if Alexei is bad man or if other bad men will come for me, I need not to worry because your fiancé Connor will protect me? How? Is this because he is bad man himself?”
“No!” Then she pauses and licks her lips thoughtfully. “Well, some people might think so,” she whispers. “But the point is, if you need help, we can help you.”
“And you have no fear of what Alexei will do if you take me from him and do not give me back?”
“No.”
“Hmm. Well, I thank you for this offer, but no.”
“Are you sure?” she demands, her voice high-pitched and anxious.
I nod firmly. “Yes, yes. I am sure.”
Zoe looks like she wants to argue, but instead she walks us outside, and then to a third shop.
Inside, I keep my distance, waiting while she walks around.
I take out my phone, wishing I’d had the forethought to program Alexei’s number into it. There are no calls or messages from him. He probably didn’t put my number into his phone either, and he likely hasn’t yet realized I’ve left the hotel. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to go on an excursion with Zoe. What if she doesn’t take me back to Fenmore Castle? How would Alexei find me?
When I open the messaging app, there are several new messages from Russia.
Oh, good.
I start at the first one. They’re relieved I’m all right. They went to meet the Russian messenger again to find out why he said I was in danger.
As I read the final message, a terrible sickening dread overtakes me, making my stomach drop. I’m paralyzed and more frightened than I’ve ever been.
