“I’m fine.”
“You’re crying on a balcony. You’re not.”
I wipe my face. “What do you want, Alexi?”
He’s quiet for a moment. Then he says, “Can I show you something?”
Before I can answer, he’s rolling up his sleeve. His forearm is covered in scars. Cut marks that form patterns, like someone took their time.
“Five years ago,” he says, “Viktor Kozlov kidnapped me. Held me for three days. He did this.” He traces one of the scars. “And worse. Things I don’t talk about.”
My stomach turns.
“He sent pictures to my dad. Videos. Wanted him to know exactly what was happening to me. Wanted him to feel helpless.”Alexi rolls his sleeve back down. “On the third day, Dad found me. Killed everyone in that warehouse. Carried me out himself.”
“He told me the story. I’m sorry that happened to you.”
“Don’t be sorry. Be grateful.” He looks at me. “Because without my dad, I’d be dead. Viktor would’ve killed me eventually, just to make a point. But Dad saved me. And then he made sure no one could ever do that to me again.”
“By burning Viktor’s body.”
“By eliminating the threat. Completely. Permanently.” Alexi leans forward. “Dmitri Kozlov is Viktor’s brother. And he’s been waiting for five years to get revenge. You know what he’ll do if he gets his hands on you?”
I don’t want to know. But Alexi tells me anyway.
“The Kozlovs don’t just kill people. They make examples. They would take you. Hurt you. And when they’re done hurting you, they’d cut the baby out of your stomach and send pieces to my dad. They’d make him watch you die slowly, painfully, knowing he couldn’t save you.”
I’m going to be sick.
“That’s what’s waiting for you out there,” Alexi says quietly. “That’s why Dad won’t let you leave. Not because he wants to control you. But because he’s terrified of what will happen if Dmitri finds you.”
“I can’t live like this,” I whisper. “I can’t be a prisoner.”
“You’re not a prisoner. You’re protected.” He reaches over and squeezes my hand. “I know it sucks. I know it feels wrong. But my dad has never brought a woman home before. In twenty-two years, I’ve never seen him with anyone. Never seen him care about anyone the way he cares about you.”
“He’s not alone. He has you.”
“That’s different. I’m his son. He has to love me.” Alexi smiles. “But you? He chose you. And for the first time in my entire life, I’ve seen him happy. Really, truly happy.”
Tears slide down my face again. “I’m scared.”
“I know. But you’re safe here. And when the threat is over, when Dmitri is dealt with, you’ll have your freedom back. I promise.”
“How long will that take?”
“I don’t know. But Dad’s working on it. And in the meantime, you’ve got a family. Me, Marie, Antoine. Even Pedro, though he’s kind of a scary dude.”
I burst into a laugh I can’t control. “He is pretty intimidating.”
“Right?” Alexi grins. “But he’s loyal. They all are. To my dad. And now to you.”
We sit in silence for a while, watching the city lights come on below us.
“I have nothing back in Chicago anyway,” I say finally.
“So you’ve got nothing tying you there.”
“Nothing.” I look at Alexi. “Just a life that’s already over.”
