Then I feel my pocket—cell phone, cash from the payout on craps, and my lip balm.
I'm ready.
I'll just have to dodge Lazar a different way.
Through the small window in the door, I can see him standing in the hallway talking to another security guard. They're laughing about something and not paying attention to the door at all. I can see the clear pathway from where I'm at to the back door and I can almost taste freedom.
So the window didn't break. If I can get past him to the back door, I know I can outrun him. And he's so engrossed in whatever it is they're talking about, I know if I move quickly and quietly, I could walk right behind him.
This is my shot to stick it to Dimitri and do this my way. I just have to get to the bus stop, then take the city bus to the train station and get a ticket. I'll be home by tomorrow. I can do this.
As Lazar laughs, I open the door quietly. The hinges squeak but not badly, and I manage to time my movements just as a server walks out of the kitchen. My heart flutters as I rush out in front of her using her movements to mask mine, and I don’t look back over my shoulder once.
When I get to the back door having not heard Lazar shout my name or any other commotion, my hand closes around the door handle, but I pause for just a second wondering if this is actually a good idea.
Dimitri isn't a monster, just overbearing. And I know for a fact the men who killed Dimitri's friend are murderers. They really will kill me. But I won't sit back and let Dimitri boss me aroundand control me. So I had sex with him. He doesn't own me. I want to go home, and it's my right to go where I want, even if it is a stupid risk just to get there.
I push the door open and step out into the alley.
I don't have time to sit around debating. I start walking fast toward the main street, past where the caution tape has now been removed. I don't run because running draws attention, and if Dimitri's men are watching on the cameras, they'll see me, but I move as quickly as I can without looking suspicious.
The alley opens onto a main street, and I turn left heading away from the casino. When I get there and no one has shouted my name or come after me, I suck in a deep breath of relief because I made it. I'm out of his grasp and no one is chasing me. I don't think anyone is following me, either, and if I just get to the train station, I'm home free. Those men aren't going to chase me to Ukraine to keep me quiet. They'll be happy I'm not talking to the police.
The bus stop is empty, but that's normal for this time of day. Most folks travel home from work later into the evening, not now, so it's likely even the bus will be mostly vacant. I stand watching up the street for the large yellow letters that flash across the bus's windshield when my phone starts to ring.
I pull it out and see an unknown number and stare at it. No one really calls me except work or Lena, and every once in a while, my mother calls. The only other person who calls me is my cousin, but since he took a job at a horse track, I haven't heard from him. My finger hovers over the decline button, but something makes me answer it anyway.
"Hello?"
"Tatiana." The voice is weak and raspy, and it takes me a second to recognize it.
"Arseniy?" I can barely hear him but it sounds like him. "Is that you?"
"Yeah." He coughs, and the sound is wet and painful. "I'm in the hospital."
His words make the hair on my arms rise. "Oh, my God, what happened? Are you okay?" The feeling of dread rushes from my chest downward into my legs and weakens my knees, so I lean against the post with the bus stop sign on it.
His breathing sounds labored, raspy even, like he has a chest cold or pneumonia. "Some guys… Strong ones… They attacked me, Tati. And they knew you."
I slide down the post until I'm sitting on the sidewalk. "Oh, my God. Arseniy, I'm so sorry. This is my fault." If I weren’t so suddenly terrified, I'd be crying. Anyone who knows my cousin knows he's the sweetest soul alive. Arseniy wouldn't hurt a flea. Who would do this to someone?
"They gave me a message to pass to you." He coughs again, and I hear him groan in pain. "They said if you don't turn yourself in, they're going to kill everyone you care about."
"Turn myself in?" My voice shakes. "What does that mean?"
"I don't know." He sounds like he's crying. "Tati, what happened? What's going on? Who are those men?" He's as scared as I am. I hear it in his voice. This isn’t fair. I didn't do anything wrong and they're acting like I’m the one who murdered someone.
"I saw something I shouldn't have." I hug my knees and shiver though it's warm outside. "I witnessed a murder, and now they want to make sure I can't testify."
"Then give them what they want." His voice breaks. "Please. I can't take another beating like this. And they said they're going to your mother next."
My entire body goes cold. "They know where my mother lives?"
"They know everything." Arseniy coughs again. "They showed me pictures of her house. They know what time she leaves for work every morning. They're watching her, Tatiana."
I press my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming. If I go to Ukraine, they'll just follow me. If I stay here, they'll kill Arseniy and everyone else I care about. There's no way out that doesn't end with someone I love getting hurt.
"I'm sorry," I choke out. "I'm so sorry I got you involved in this."
