“Why?”
“If you want her back, do what I say.”
CHAPTER19
Natalia
An email message from Egorov starts me on my way. He sends me a picture of Alexei getting out of his car. I recognize his clothes and realize, as fear seizes me, that it’s from today.
I text Egorov, asking him what he wants. He says if I leave, he won’t hurt Alexei or me. He knows I’m in Massachusetts. He wants me to leave right away and stay out of New York for good.
It surprises me that he doesn’t tell me to come to him instead. Then I think about what Alexei said about how the police will investigate Egorov for his wife’s death. He can’t have a pretty young mistress for the police to find, especially one who can tell them how she was tricked into coming to America and how Egorov forced her to perform oral sex on him by putting a knife to her face. Or that later Egorov kept her naked in a cage with no food before she was sold.
No wonder he wants me gone rather than nearby. With the police watching, he probably doesn’t want to try to kill Alexei again right now either. If I go, maybe Egorov will forget about us completely.
So I’m content to buy my ticket and send him a message.
Natalia:All right. Leave him alone. I will go.
At first, I think I’m doing well on my cross-country bus trip. I turn off my phone in case anyone can use it to track me and ride for an hour before it’s time for a dinner break. I have an omelet and tea and congratulate myself on resisting the urge to call or text Alexei. It’s best that he doesn’t know where I am for now. Then he won’t be tempted to come after me.
As I leave the diner, I see men who seem suspicious. They look dangerous, and one of them looks familiar. At first, I think they’re Egorov’s men and that he’s tricked me again. I start to walk away very quickly.
They join me.
“Natalia, we have something to tell you,” one says.
I try to speed up, but that only takes me farther from the bus and other people, so I stop. I look around to be sure that people can still see me.
“Alexei Vesenina’s been hurt.”
It feels like the breath’s been forced from my lungs. I stare at them. “Hurt? Where is he?”
“Mr. Stroviak sent us to get you, so we can bring you to Alexei.”
Yes, I realize as I look at the man’s face. He was on duty in the parking lot at the castle by the Finger Lakes. These are not Egorov’s men. They must work for Alexei’s brother.
“What happened to Alexei? Where is he right now?”
“He was wounded in New York. They’re taking him into surgery.”
Egorov! I will kill you!
“Oh, God. Surgery.”
Alexei must have gone to confront Egorov, and something went wrong. Before I realize it, I’m walking with them. It’s instinct. I have to be there when he wakes up.
We get my small luggage, and they put it in their car. My mind’s a blur, and I turn my phone on, hoping to find something from him. There are a few messages, but they’re from much earlier. He asks me to call or text him. I didn’t. I ignored what could be his final messages to me.
My stomach lurches. I may be sick.
I lower my window and breathe in the cool air, trying to pull myself together.
Then I call Alexei. I know he won’t be able to answer, but in case he wakes before I can get there, I want him to have a message from me.
“Alexei, it is me, Natalia.” I bite my lip, and tears spring into my eyes. “Everything will be all right. Try to rest and be strong. I am coming to you now.” I pause, biting down hard on the inside of my cheek, bracing myself so I don’t burst out crying. In Russian I say, “I love you.”
I turn off my phone and exhale like it’s my last breath. “This is strong car, yes?”
