When I make it to the edge of the forest on the right side of Ilya’s home, I’m frustrated, but also marginally relieved that I found nothing. I might be able to get a few hours of sleep before I have to do this all again and review the blueprints and plans Ilya has.
A full-on assault, with me being a not-so-secret weapon. All while trying to dodge assassins, Timur, and my father, and whatever tricks he has up his sleeve.
Piece of cake. Not.
I really wish I had someone on the inside that I could call. There’s no way that Timur will have left everything the same. He won’t want to risk anyone knowing his secrets. My brain racks through all the staff that were kind to me as I stop at the edge of the treeline, scouting the area, and the tops of the trees. Nothing moves, but something is pushing me to stop, wait.
I never ignore my gut. I give Hades a soft order to lie down, and he hits the dirt quickly, fully on alert as his ears twitch, listening.
I slip behind the large tree to my left, carefully turning my head to listen, opening up all my senses. I hear the noise of the guards passing through behind me, the shifting of guns in their hands as they adjust their grips. A faint whiff of cigarette smoke wafts around me, and I turn my head to see a guard at the edge of the trees drop his smoke, stomping on it before picking it up and putting it in his pocket.
I narrow my eyes at the movement. Who does that? I’ve seen cigarette butts around, so it can’t be a mandatory thing that Ilya has his men doing. Why is this man?
My curiosity is only heightened when he glances around warily, like he can sense me watching, and continues on his way, his shoulders tight, movements stiff. I make a mental note to check out who he is. He might work for Timur or Simeon, but he’s not someone my father would employ. Especially not taking stupid risks like that.
The memory of him brutally beating one of the other students in the school to death for smoking on an assignment flashes in my mind. Along with the image of my father covered in the boy’s blood, his eyes bright with rage and his face a dark red. None of us dared to move. The boy dared to poison a body that no longer belonged to him with a habit that my father found revolting. Especially one that was careless enough to leave evidence.
It was a harsh lesson, but one that stuck with each of us. Never do anything that could lead them back to you.
I return my focus to climbing silently into the tree. It’s a good spot to get a good view of the yard and of the neighboring trees. I barely rustle the branches, the thick foliage nicely hiding mewithout fear of being spotted as I look around my new vantage point.
Nothing out of the ordinary shows, but I stiffen when I see Alonzo emerge from the house, two of his men behind him, expressions grim. What the hell is he doing? None of Ilya’s men stop him, but I can sense the change in the air. They’re watching, waiting to see what he’s going to do. I hope he’s not going to be stupid enough to try to run.
They approach the woods, uncaring that all attention is now on them. “She can’t have gone far,” I hear Alonzo tell them. “I don’t trust these Russians to actually protect her.”
“And what are we supposed to do when we find her?” one of them asks drily.
“Nothing. Don’t touch her. All I want to know is that she’s safe.” Alonzo’s gaze sweeps the trees, brushing over my hiding spot.
“Yeah, and what about the dog? He’s back with his Mistress, so I don’t think the rapport I built with him is going to save my balls.”
“As long as you don’t try to touch her or go after him, you’ll be fine. She’s not going to sic him on someone just for fun.”
He’s putting an awful lot of trust in me, but I hate that he’s right. And, damn it, why isn’t he in bed? Did he go to my room again and find us gone, and now he’s trying to locate me? Does he not see the danger he’s putting himself in? Any one of these guards could get trigger happy thinking he’s trying to escape. Or that he’s trying to spy.
Damn it, Alonzo. I’m going to smack his massive head a few times, try and get some common sense to reappear.
And him trying to find me? How is he not getting that we are done? He can’t seem to get it through that thick skull of his that he doesn’t control me. He has no right to know anything I do.
Especially if he thinks that this is going to be some kind of happy ending.
Alonzo and I are not going to be a thing. Ever. No matter how many times he follows me and tries to insist. Does he really think that if he just keeps putting himself in my way, I’ll give up and give in? That I’ll forget everything he’s said and done? The man needs a serious reality check.
I watch with narrowed eyes as he starts into the trees, walking right past where Hades lies on the ground and I perch in the tree. The other two go in opposite directions, neither looking thrilled with their new orders. I want to yell out to them to go back to their rooms, but instead, I nimbly climb down and follow Alonzo, sending Hades through the woods alongside him in case he starts to veer off course.
I don’t need his giant ass getting lost in here and someone crying Big Foot when they stumble onto him.
I stifle a snort, moving a little faster to keep up with him. The man is on a mission, uncaring of the noise he’s making. If the guards were worried he was escaping, they won’t have a hard time tracking him.
He finally stops at the edge of a clearing, his head turning on a swivel. I pause behind him, careful to conceal myself behind a tree, and hear him curse under his breath. He still has no idea I’m here. A little thrill fills me, knowing even now he suspects nothing. If I was worried about my skills being rusty, I’ve just gotten a small confidence boost.
I really need to get back, though. But the temptation is right there, taunting me.
The choice is taken from me when he whirls, his gaze scanning around me. I don’t duck behind the tree, staying perfectly still, holding my breath to give nothing away. His eyes linger in my direction for a second, before they move on, his mouth pulling down in a frown.
“Fucking creepy as shit,” Alonzo mutters, turning away and walking into the clearing. The area is lit from the light of the moon, casting shadows, but he’s illuminated enough I can make him out easily. His phone gives a soft buzz, and he pulls it out, putting it to his ear, instinctively turning himself away from me. “Urso, I don’t have time for this. Rori’s disappeared. Fuck off, she’s not running from me. Just tell me what you found out before I text Lazaro and tell him to go kick your ass.”
A pang fills my chest at the mention of Lazaro. Damn it, I miss Amara. Hell, I miss all the girls.
