“Strong? Yeah, I guess.”
“Then make it go fast.”
* * *
Natalia
We stop in Coynston to get Sasha Stroviak on our way, which at first I think is fine. But then they take me to a house on his block that’s not his. It’s on the opposite side. When we go through its gates, I’m a little awed at its turrets. It looks a bit like the Fenmore Castle hotel.
I want to wait in the car for Alexei’s brother to come outside so we can go, but the men insist on taking me in.
“This is where?” I demand as they practically carry me from the car into the house.
“Mr. Stroviak will explain,” one says as he takes me down the hall.
I start to struggle when I see the room he’s taking me into is a bedroom, and there’s a shackle lying on the bed with its chain hooked to a bolt in the wall.
“No!” I scream as he forces the restraint on my ankle.
“Calm down.”
For a second, I think the voice is Alexei’s, but of course it’s not. Sasha Stroviak is near the bedroom doorway, and he dismisses the men. Once they’ve gone, he comes in and sits in a big chair next to the bed.
I jerk hard on the chain and curse in Russian.
“I have good news,” he says. “Listen.”
The chain is too thick, and the bolt plate is too well secured to the wall for my efforts to make any difference. Finally, I give up and turn to face him with an undisguised glare.
“Alexei is all right.”
I stare at him, unbelieving. Even if they lied and he’s not hurt yet, they’ve clearly brought me here as some sort of leverage to force him to do something. What? Kill someone?
“He’s on his way.”
I try again to tear the chain from the wall.
“Stop.”
I ignore Stroviak and fight against the wall for another few minutes before I stop to catch my breath.
“You don’t have to panic. You’re only chained up until he gets here. In case I have to step out. I don’t want you to wander as you’re prone to do.”
When I don’t speak, he repeats this for me in Russian. I still don’t speak.
“Did you promise my brother that you would stay at the hotel until he got back?”
I lick my lips and look away.
“I thought so.”
“Is this truth? Alexei is all right?” I ask, desperately wanting to believe him.
“Yeah, he’s all right.”
When I speak, my voice is as cold as his can sometimes be. “You will never again want me to meet your wife.”
The corners of his mouth twitch. It’s almost a smile, but then it’s gone.
