“She’s just trying to get out of marrying Sergei.”
“She orchestrated this?”
“Yes.”
Yuri sat back in his chair and stared at me without expression. “Unfortunately, she’ll still wake up married against her will to a man of her uncle’s choosing.”
I didn’t want to dwell on Mila’s fate. “The weekend gives me an opportunity to get closer to Grisha. Did you get me the background on Mila’s parents?”
He pulled a thin file out of his bag and pushed it toward me. “There’s not much to tell. It looks like Mila’s father didn’t want to be part of the family business. He took his wife and fled to Canada. They mysteriously died in a car accident when Mila was a teenager. Grisha was there the next day to pick up the pieces.”
I opened the file and looked at the one family photo stapled to the inside of the folder. Mila was maybe twelve in the photo. She looked happy and was smiling alongside her parents. “You think Grisha had something to do with their death?”
“We can’t prove anything.” A slight pause. “I need to tell you that we’ve been in contact with the Canadian government.”
“About what?”
“The Volkov family is the most ruthless Bratva family in Vancouver.”
“Grisha’s mortal enemy,” I said dryly.
“They were concerned about the intel that Grisha might be sending Sergei to Vancouver.”
“They should be.” Sending Sergei was like pouring gunpowder onto a burning flame. Everything would get worse for the Canadians and the Volkov family when he arrived. I predicted chaotic violence.
I had enough on my plate. I didn’t need to worry about something that was happening thousands of miles from my own problems.
“Contact me after Zavidovo, especially if you learn anything more about the Vancouver situation and when they’re sending Sergei.”
“Will do.”
“And get some sleep.”
I gave him a tired smile as I left.
I was concerned about my upcoming weekend with Mila and her family mostly because I wasn’t sure if Grisha would buy our act. If he didn’t, it wouldn’t go well for me or Mila. But the payoff, if he did believe us, could help me finally get closer to him, which would ultimately put him away for good. I made my way through the darkening streets, crisscrossing repeatedly until I was sure no one had followed me. Only then did I make my way back to my place to try to get a few hours of sleep.
Friday afternoon
As I slowly drove up the long drive lined with trees toward Lesnoy Bereg, the impressive retreat emerged through the mist like a citadel born from the forest itself. It looked luxurious, sprawling, and decadent, even in its restraint. The late afternoonlight rippled through the trees, casting long shadows on the road.
I didn’t look forward to spending the entire weekend in close quarters with Grisha and his family. One mishap from Mila or myself and we could easily be exposed. We’d both be under careful watch this weekend as Grisha tried to determine the depth of our relationship. I could feel Mila’s contempt, earned or not, like a hot current beneath the surface. She professed to her uncle that she loved me, but how long before he saw the truth of things between us?
I walkedinto the extravagant foyer of the lodge, momentarily taken aback by the opulence of the place. High ceilings, three massive fireplaces, and a wall of windows that offered a spectacular view of the lake.
The front desk clerk handed me my room key. “Your other party has already checked in.”
That didn’t surprise me. I had expected to bunk with another member of Grisha’s security detail. “Thank you.”
I was focusedon my phone when I let myself into the room.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” a small voice gasped from across the room.
Mila stood in the doorway of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her body and her long hair dripping wet on her shoulders. Beneath all that enraged indignation was breathless fear.
“The front desk sent me to this room.”
“Get out!” She took a small step toward me, but her entire body trembled.
