Guilt twists my guts as I walk past the cell doors. Of course, my men are as brave as they come, nodding to me in understanding as my eyes meet theirs.
“I think I can make this decision much easier for you,” Gavriil comments.
I turn toward him, dread creeping up the back of my neck.
“You should know that Petrov reported everything you did to me. He was the one who let me know that Alina had accepted my offer, right before you were planning to run,” Gavriil tells me.
My head snaps to the side, my gaze locking with Petrov’s through the bars.
He hangs his head, not even bothering to defend himself.
I ball my hands into fists as anger courses through my veins. Every move I made, Gavriil knew about because of Petrov. I thought I could trust him, but it was all an act.
I knew someone was keeping my brother informed of my every move. I never thought it was one of the men so close to me.
Petrov had been Gavriil’s informant the entire time.
And Alina…she went behind my back to accept my brother’s offer to spend a month with him? It wasn’t some spur of the moment thing in the garage. That’s why Gavriil showed up just when we were about to leave.
How could she do that to me?
Is that why Alina’s starving herself? Does she feel guilty for going behind my back, agreeing to a month in my brother’s cage which cost Archer the time he could’ve had to run?
I know she did it to try and protect him and me both, doing the same thing I did when I pulled the trigger to save her life. She thought we were out of options. She didn’t trust me to keep her brother alive, and it cost him his life.
God, my poordikaya koshka.
I inhale sharply as I look away from Petrov, merely nodding to Gavriil. Petrov is the easiest choice. He betrayed me, so I don’t even know why he’s been locked up down here with my loyal men.
Gavriil motions for Roman to release Petrov before the guard grabs my arm and shoves me toward the staircase. “If you try to escape, Roman will shoot you in both legs,” Gavriil remarks. “And before you even think about raising the gun toward me or him, you should be aware that Valentin has a gun pointed at Alina. She’ll immediately receive the same wound as you inflict on either of us.”
Now that he knows she’s my weakness, he’ll use her to keep me in line.
He would have her killed just to keep me from her.
The four of us walk down a hallway toward a door that leads outside. The sunlight hits us right as we step out, blinding me after going without the light for so long. When my eyes adjust, they sweep around as we head to the field that’s to the left of the mansion, catching sight of a few guards roaming around the grounds. More than the normal amount.
Roman tightens his grip on my arm to stop me, as Gavriil motions to Petrov to walk farther out into the field. “You tried to play both sides and lost,” Gavriil tells him.
“Why are we out here?” I question him since we could’ve done this without getting Petrov out of his cell.
Gavriil doesn’t reply, but there’s a haze of amusement in his eyes that makes me uneasy. He takes out his phone and presses it against his ear. “Valentin, take our captive to the bedroom window.”
I turn around toward the side of the house, quickly locating the two windows. After a minute, a familiar figure appears in one of them, and my heart drops.
I can’t make out much because there’s a glare on the window, but I can see that she has something wrapped around her torso. Maybe a towel? It’s not big enough to cover her entire body, only part of it. Has she been naked since he brought me her clothes?
“Why isn’t she dressed?” I bite out as I take a step closer to Gavriil.
Gavriil retrieves his handgun from the shoulder holster, but he doesn’t point it at me. All he has to do is let it sit in his hand as his arm hangs at his side. “Do as you’re told, little brother. I don’t answer to you.”
My eyes move back to Alina, my heart aching at the sight of her leaning against the window. She isn’t reaching for me. She can barely stand. Even from down here, I can tell that she looks weaker and paler than normal.
“You’re letting her waste away,” I grit out, wanting to run to her so badly and wrap her in my arms.
I need to help her.
“I agreed that I will entice her to eat, one way or another,” Gavriil replies cryptically. “Now, do as you were instructed before I add more bullets.”
