Was that humor and something wistful in his eyes?
I chose to believe it was. For some reason, I liked that this man, who didn’t have a true identity, had fond memories of the ballerina who could spin magic under her feet when she danced.
“???,” I said, deciding to leave those memories to him. “His real name?”
“He does not even remember it,” he said.
“You know it,” I said. “You remember it.”
“????.”
I repeated the word. I was pretty good with languages, but Russian was a challenge for me. I scanned my brain for the translation, but nothing came up.
“What does that mean?”
“Wolf,” he said.
“That’s what you call him?”
“That is what the world calls him. When they cannot find a word for what he is.”
Shit.Okay. “He has to have a real name. You know it. I can tell you do.”
“You can’t help yourself,” he said.
“I am my mamma’s daughter.”
He sighed, resigned. “Mikhail.”
I tested the name in my mind and then whispered it. Mikhail. “He likes my sister-in-law,” I said.
Humor seemed to spread over Lev’s face—at my expense. He didn’t say another word, but again, I could read his expressions.Little girl, I heard him say with his Russian accent in my head, ticking his mouth.He does notlikeher. He hasclaimedher.
Then a smile came to my face and I busted out laughing. They each had numbers. I would have hated to be Number Two.
Lev gave me a side-eye glance and grinned. “Do not laugh too long. They will not take you seriously if you do.”
I hadn’t even realized how close we were, or where, exactly, we were, until Lev pulled up to a gate and the door opened automatically. I knew better than to think Arsenius Bykov had given him access to his codes or security. He had it already.
Lev flew up the long drive and came to a smooth stop right in front of a mansion that looked like it was over forty-thousand square feet. It was so vast that I couldn’t see what was on the property behind it.
If the situation wasn’t so dangerous, I would have started laughing again. Men milled outside, strapped with weapons. A couple held humungous dogs on leashes. Some men were smoking. One of them gawked at us so hard the cigarette fell out of his mouth.
It seemed like it took forever, but only a few seconds had passed. The group moved in unison after that, surrounding us with guns and snarling dogs that pulled against their restraints.
Still shocked, though.
They had no idea how we had gotten behind the gate.
“Wait,” Lev said to me. He slid out of the car like he owned the fucking place and spoke to them in Russian. Something about a meeting with the boss?
They looked at each other. Unsure.
Lev opened the door for me. I took a deep breath, felt for the insurance policy in my pocket, stuck my chin up, and stepped out. Lev gave me his hand, and I took it.
Chapter35
Mia
