My entire body locks. Rage burns through me. I try to pull my wrist free, but his grip is too strong. My chest heaves against his. His thumb strokes the skin on the inside of my wrist.
“Let me go.” I yank harder.
He releases me, and I scramble off his lap, humiliated and furious. He watches me with that same unreadable stare, sipping his whiskey.
“Arsen!” I shout, spinning toward the hallway. “I want my cash and my passports. I’m fucking leaving.”
Footsteps echo behind me, and I know it’shim. I can feel the heat of his presence.
Arsen steps out, blocking the hallway. “Arlo?—”
“Did you tell her Lev is still alive?” Priest’s words steal the oxygen out of my lungs.
I freeze.
Arsen curses in Russian. “You son of a bitch. I didn’t want to tell her until we knew for sure.”
My pulse slams into my ears. My knees go weak.
“What the hell is he talking about, Arsen?”
Arsen sighs, eyes flashing to mine. “We’ve located him, yes. But there is no official report on his status. We don’t know if he’s alive or dead. We’re working on it.”
Alive.
My father might be alive. All these years. All this time thinking he was gone, and now?—
I press my back to the wall to keep from collapsing. Priest steps closer, towering over me.
“Where is he?” I manage. “Where’s my father?”
“Facility 42,” Arsen says.
“What is that? Where?”
“An underground Sovereign prison in the Arctic Circle. It’s a fucking tomb, Arlo.” Arsen answers.
“Then we need to get to him,” I say, pushing off the wall.
“It’s not that simple.”
“Arsen, my father has been alive. You don’t get to tell me what’s simple. I’ll go myself if I have to.”
“Jesus, Arlo,” Arsen snaps. “This isn’t some noble rescue mission. It’s suicide. The place is sealed like a vault. There’s one way in, and nobody comes out. You can’t even scratch the outer wall without triggering a full lockdown.”
My gaze bounces between them.
“We’ll get him out. Won’t we, Arsen?” Priest says.
Arsen cuts him a glare, then looks back at me. “I’m still gathering intel. When I know more, you’ll know. But until then, you’re staying here on fucking lockdown. End of discussion.” He turns and disappears down the hall, slamming a door behind him.
My blood pounds. My skin feels too tight. I can’t think past the words echoing in my skull:
He’s alive.
The world tilts. My breath comes shallow. I don’t know if I want to scream or rip something apart.
Priest steps closer.
