I will.
I put my phone down. It would be too easy to keep texting him, and we need to stay focused.
They’re taking us the long way to the house. From the airport, there are a few different ways of getting there, but this one is the longest by far and veers past the main police station.
I reach over and tap Santiago’s arm to catch his attention. While we’re maintaining the whole bodyguard thing for everyone, including the driver, I’m not letting us to get played like this.
“Stop the cars.”
There’s no questioning. Santiago simply reacts. He picks up his phone and calls Kade. The car Aleksei and Kade are in pulls to a stop. I relay to the driver the roads I want him to take. As soon as I’m done speaking, the driver merges back into the traffic and does a U-turn, taking us in the opposite direction of where Victor's escorts are taking us.
It will be interesting to see the ripple effect of us breaking away from the official envoy. But something feels wrong. The only reason you’d take the long route would be to buy yourself time or for us to be arrested by the local crooked cops.
Santiago looks over his shoulder at me, double-checking I’m okay. I use our bond to communicate.
We arrive at the official residence, easily beating the men who were at the airport to pick us up. After going through the security gate, which takes longer than it should, we’re waved on.
The house is exactly as I remember—grand and bland. Architecturally, it’s more European than Columbian, but it’s reflective of the time when cultural influence and money was coming from overseas. It’s similar to Sergey’s house, built to impress, not built for love.
At the bottom of the stairs, more guards stand, waiting. These wear government-issued uniforms, and they’re watching our every move. I wait for Kade and Santiago to get out and do their guard duties. Roshka and Nalla are next, before Aleksei joins them. Once they are all out, Santiago opens my door.
Aleksei walks off before I’m next to him. I can feel how difficult it is for him to leave through our bond; he’s infusing it with regret and a promise to make amends for the obvious disrespect later.
I knew he would be acting indifferent towards me. He knows I know, but he’s still not happy to be actually treating me this way. I fight not to smile at all the happy butterflies taking flight at his sweetness. For a Bratva badass, he’s not bad at all.
We continue using the language barrier as an issue. The guards are speaking Spanish at my three, but they stare blankly back, not answering, despite Kade and Santiago understanding every shitty comment thrown at them.
I approach and stand behind Aleksei, asking the guards what is going on when they ask for Aleksei’s identification.
“Would Mr. Petrov’s driver’s license do?” I ask, hoping they agree I really don’t want our passports confiscated.
As I stop speaking, Aleksei turns abruptly, spouting off in Russian while throwing his arms around. He’s doing a great job of looking like an arrogant businessman.
“What is wrong with him?” the guard asks, talking over the top of Aleksei.
It blows my mind how obviously disrespectful the guards are being.
“Ambassador Hernandez specifically requested my husband and I attend dinner this evening, as his guests. Mr. Petrov is offended you’re treating him like a criminal. Our identification was checked at the guard station before we drove through. If there were issues with my husband’s identification, it would have been flagged then. My husband is reading all this hardship as something more, and it’s frustrating him. Please just take us to see the ambassador. My husband will be very upset if we are late to our appointment. He respects the ambassador and the work they’re doing together very much, he hopes the ambassador will forgive him.”
As much as I’d like to punch both these idiots in the face, I’m still my designation. I keep my eyes averted and shuffle anxiously on my feet, waiting for them to decide our fate.
Access is granted, and the guards march us to where we have to go. They leave us waiting in the very office where I had my showdown with Victor.
If they had stayed with us, Victor toying with me would have been far less obvious.
“We’re being set up. Or I am. Somewhere along the way since he called the meeting, Aleksei, the rules have changed.”
I don’t sit down. I go to where Victor used to keep the key to the door to his chambers. I’m not surprised when I find it. Nor am I shocked when the lock is the same. The door opens andSantiago stops me from walking in, dropping his hand on my shoulder.
“Bebe, if this is all a game to him, you might be walking into more than a room. Let me check it out with Roshka real quick.”
I shake my head, disagreeing, but still moving aside. “No. This is just a move. A roll of the dice, if you will.”
While Santiago checks, Kade moves back to the front door, pulling it open. I guess he wants to ensure we don’t get trapped in here by locks or guards.
Aleksei snakes an arm around my shoulders and steps in close, pulling me to him. “He forgets who he is playing with,maya. He will know the error of his ways before long.”
Santiago opens the door, and by his expression alone, I get the confirmation my instincts are spot on. He beckons me in.
