Could I leave? Sure. I mean, probably. But where would I go? Back toDino-Mite? Zinovy knows about my unit there, and it would be the first place he checked. Back to the restaurant? Fat lot of good it would do me.Pete’sis closed, no doubt for a deepcleaning that removes any evidence of what went down there. So I don’t leave.
Whatever happens next with Zinovy, at least, there’s a roof over my head. My snooping through the house today led me into what looks like a home office. In the center of the desk that looked as if it didn’t get used much was a folder with my name on it. A deed to this place, or at least, I assume it’s this address, shows the whole place was paid for in cash. By me.
Even more surprising was seeing only my name on the deed. Zinovy wasn’t lying when he said he got this house for me. The place has an unoccupied feel to it that’s impossible to miss, so it’s obvious he only recently bought it. The pantry, fridge, and freezer are all stocked with brand new groceries, none of which had been opened or used.
Hollis: Babe, just leave. He doesn’t own you! If he can’t be fucked to stick around, then bounce.
Me to Hollis: It’s my house. I guess he bought it for me? I’m not sure how it happened, but there’s a deed in my name, so I don’t think I should leave?
Hollis: Want me to come over? We can bring snacks and figure out what your next step is.
Me to Hollis: Isn’t Feliks there pestering you?
Hollis: Girliepop, I sent that fool packing the next morning when he had the audacity to ask me what I was making for breakfast. He keeps showing up, but doors lock for a reason.
Me to Hollis: I don’t think a lock would work against Z if he wanted in. Assuming he even bothers coming back…
The interaction with Hollis settles me, though it doesn’t really change anything. Just knowing I have a friend does a lot to ease my mind. Especially when things with Zinovy are so unsettled.
I liked what we did yesterday morning and meeting Irina and and Antaloy hadn’t been as scary as I expected. I even thought Irina might be someone who could be a friend someday. But the car ride home has me rethinking things for the eleventieth time in the short window I’ve known Zinovy.
Hollis: If he doesn’t come back, it’ll be because he’s dead. Feliks said the dude’s been stalking you for weeks. If you don’t want that, I know people who can help you disappear. If you do want that… Well…we listen and we don’t judge!
I laugh at Hollis, though I discount her offer as impossible. Make no mistake, she’s serious. And it’s not as if I believe Zinovy is some omnipotent mastermind who would find meif I manage to disappear. At least, not on his own. But he took me to meet his boss,Anatoly, the literalPakhanof the Bratva in America. If I’m going to disappear, and at this point, I’m not really sure I want to, then it needs to be a well planned and perfectly executed.
Me to Hollis: Thanks, but I’m staying put for now. Heading to bed. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
With nothing left to putter around in the kitchen doing, I check the alarm to make sure it’s still engaged then head upstairs. The house feels a lot more empty without Zinovy’s larger than life presence following me around the rooms. There are more bedrooms than I could sleep in if I chose a different one every night, and nearly as many bathrooms.
This is a family home, if ever there was one, so I have no idea what Zinovy was thinking when he bought something so big. I’ve got the silliest urge to plan all the decorating changes I’ll do to make it more of a cozy home than a barely furnished mansion. I’m blaming the months of living rough and putting up with nonstop making-do for the fantasy dollhouse images running through my brain.
I tuck myself into the bed where just yesterday morning Zinovy had me feeling safe and wanted. I think about how hopeful I’d been that, maybe, I wasn’t totally irrational to believe the promises he made about the future. My last thoughts before sleep takes me are of Zinovy. How badly I wanted to believe him. Believe in him. Most outrageous of all?I know if he showsup tomorrow and wants another chance to prove I can trust him to keep me safe, I’ll let him.
Maybe, that makes me weak. Or foolish.
Or maybe, it just means I’m willing to accept he’s learning how to be obsessed like he never has been before. That maybe there’s an explanation I was too upset to hear last night, that I won’t be too upset to hear tomorrow. If he shows up and has one to give.
Because the truth is, though I absolutely won’t stick around to be a man’s punching bag ever again, the fingerprints on my thigh weren’t done deliberately. There’s no faking the shock and horror on his face when he realized he’d marked me in anger.
So if he wants another chance? A single, one and only one, second chance? Yeah, I’m gonna give it to him. I might take a page from Hollis, though and make him beg a little.
Chapter
Twenty-Six
CHAPTER 26
Zinovy
“Move an inch, and I’ll knock your brains out through your ears!” Petal’s threat has me freezing with my back to the room, facing the alarm control panel.
If any of theboevikswho report to me were here, they’d never let me live down my absolute failure at a silent entry into the house. I freeze, my hand poised over the green backlit number panel of the alarm system. The shrill beeping of its countdown is agonizing after hours of listening to Jordan Drury’s screams for mercy. Mercy I took great pleasure in denying him. Naturally.
“It’s me. Zinovy. Petal, you have nothing to fear,” I say without thinking. Then flinch at the memory of when she last spoke to me, and I gave her much reason to fear. Thanks to myclumsiness and lack of experience reining in my fury. I allowed my rage that a man would lay his hands on her to leak out onto her, my soft and tender little bird.
“Ha. That’s funny. You’re a killer comedian, Zinovy.” She doesn’t sound amused.
“I would cut off my hand before I ever raise it to you, my Petal. If you believe nothing else, believe that. I will never harm you intentionally.”
