Jaroslav nods and sits in the single chair, folding his arms across his chest.
Diomid leans back in the chair and crosses one leg over the other. “Let’s get straight to the point, then?” he suggests.
“Sure,” I agree, just as my phone starts ringing. “Sorry,” I mutter, pulling it from my pocket. It’s Stef. Her name flashes across my screen. I hate not answering her call, but she doesn’t know I’m here meeting her brother again. I’d rather speak to her afterward. I push the ringer to silence the call and slip it back into my pocket.
But she obviously dials me immediately after the first call ends. She’s never done that before. If I’m at work, she knows I’d call her back when I get the chance.
Something’s wrong.
“I have to take this,” I say, standing up and stepping away from Diomid and Jaroslav.
“Stef?” I say, answering the call.
“Marlen, someone’s in the house, someone’s here,” she blurts out.
“Who? What’s going on?” I snap.
“Please, I need you to come home. I need help!” Her voice is a low, frantic whisper that sends a current of fear through me.
“I’m on my way!” I say, but the line goes dead.
I don’t even bother trying to explain to her brother what’s going on; I immediately run for the door. But Diomid is already on his feet and grabs my arm.
“Let me go, Stef is in trouble!” I shout, pulling free of him.
“How?” Jaroslav demands.
“I don’t know. She’s at my mansion. She called to say someone broke in, that’s all I know!”
“Fuck,” Jaroslav growls. “We’ll follow you!”
Thankful that they don’t think I’m making this shit up, I run out of the office, climbing into the elevator with the two of them.
My stomach is churning. I’m so anxious, I want to throw up. My leg taps with frustration as the elevator glides slowly to the ground floor.
“Where did you park?” Diomid asks.
“Out front. Do you know where I stay?”
“Yes, we’ll meet you there. Call your security and tell them not to fucking shoot us,” Jaroslav huffs. He looks stressed, too. Worried for his sister.
“I’m not sure my security is still there… if someone got past them into the house.”
“Just makes sure no one shoots us,” he snaps at me.
As soon as the elevator doors open, I’m running. Every second matters. Every second could be the difference between life and death.
I’ve been so distracted that I forgot to look into who was behind the attack on Stef and me a little while ago. I got so caught up in the issues with her family that I ignored it, and now it might cost her her life.
This stark realization stabs into me like a dagger.
My heart beats full speed as I race through the city toward my mansion, terrified of what I might find when I get there.
Chapter 24 - Stefania
I’m lying flat on the floor, as low as I can get behind the bed in my room. I ran in here when I heard gunshots downstairs. Grabbing my phone, I just darted into the first bedroom, looking for a place to hide.
I was reading in the library when I heard a loud crash that sounded like the front door being ripped off its hinges. That was the first warning that something was wrong. I was still curious then, bold enough to get up from the library chair and walk toward the stairs.
