The first thing I see when Evgeny and I pull up is Kelly, waiting in front of the police precinct's doors. She has her arms wrapped around herself, her breath coming out as white clouds in the dark, cold night. As we get closer, I notice her hair is disheveled and there are dark circles under her red-rimmed eyes.
“What happened?” I ask, feeling a flash of anger when I see her state.
“What happened was my sister was helping a client whose father was poisoned in front of her,” she says.
“Poisoned?” Evgeny and I ask in unison.
“I thought Rodolfo had a heart attack,” Evgeny adds.
“We weren’t sure at first, but it's official from the ME. He was definitely poisoned.”
My heart, already pounding with anger, speeds up with a flash of adrenaline. “Did Sonya?—”
“No.” Kelly shakes her head. “It wasn't in any of the other cups. Just Rodolfo’s. And if you tell anyone I told you that, I will throw your ass in jail so fast you won't know what hit you.”
For some reason, her defiance throws gasoline on the fire of my anger, and I take a step toward her. “Instead of threatening me, I would suggest telling me where the fuck Sonya is right now.”
Kelly's eyes widen, but she holds her position, her eyes narrowing. “You want to ask me that again in a kinder tone?” Her hands clench into fists at her sides, and she glares up at me. “I've had a shit-tastic night. I've been on since eight a.m., and I'm been doing my best to make suremy sisterdoesn't end up in jail tonight.”
The girl has balls, I'll give her that, but I'm not in the mood. To say I'm angry would be a gross understatement. I'm furious, seeing red, and ready to kill the next person who gets in my way. Right now, that just happens to be Kelly.
Evgeny steps in front of her, his enormous frame blocking my view. “Enough,” he says. “Kelly is helping us, Matvei. Don't shoot the messenger.” There’s an edge of warning in his voice not for the police officer but for me. “Just go get Sonya. I'll deal with the release details.”
A volcano is brewing in the middle of my chest, and I'm about to blow up on both of them. Evgeny knows it and plays his trump card. “It's not good for Sonya or the twins for her to be stressed and in a police precinct. Take herhome,Matvei.”
“Don't fucking manage me,” I snap, then sweep past them both.
The officer at the front desk can't take me to see Sonya fast enough. He also can't get out of my presence fast enough. Hepoints to the room where she waits then very nearly runs the opposite way.
I stare at the doorknob, my anger threatening to boil over and erupt. My brain refuses to acknowledge thatSonyahas been helping the Mancinis without my knowledge. My fists clench when I think of her getting up this morning and telling me she had a client, kissing me goodbye, then going to Rudolpho Mancini's home. She outsmarted me and Evgeny.
I was already seeing red, but now my vision tunnels as I grasp the knob and push the door open so hard the shades on the small inset window shake.
Sonya looks up from where she's sitting, sensing the coming storm. She looks small and shaken. Her hair is no longer in a ponytail and looks messy, like she's been running her hands through it. The overhead yellow light makes her look washed out.
“Matvei,” she says, relief in her voice. She reaches out to me as though I'm the knight on the white horse she has been waiting for. She drops her arms when I stop halfway across the small room, letting the silence tick until I can all but see it physically straining to explode.
“When were you going to tell me?” I ask.
Sonya's eyes widen at my tone, and she lowers her head. “I couldn’t tell you.”
“Couldn't or wouldn't?”
Sonya's eyes narrow, and she glares at me before she speaks again. “Are you asking me if I'm somehow colluding with the Mancinis?”
My silence says enough, and a flush blossoms on her cheeks. “Are you fucking serious, Matvei? I didn't tell you because it's covered by client-attorney privilege. I can't discuss clients with anyone.”
“You were helping the Mancini family!” I practically spit, my voice low and dangerous. “You knew it was wrong! You had Evgeny drop you off around the corner at a café. Now look at the mess you're in.”
Sonya gets to her feet to stare me down, though it's difficult since I'm so much taller. “You think I got myself into this mess?” She stops herself abruptly and pulls her shoulders back, her eyes never leaving mine. She's thinking like the lawyer she is. “You know what? I'm done talking to them, and I'm done talking to you. Get me out of here. I just want to go home.”
“Maybe I should just leave you here.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them, and though I know I've said the wrong thing, I don't let her see it.
“I'm not one of your lackeys cooling my heels in a jail cell, Matvei,” she hisses. “Can I remind you that I don't need you to take me home? I'm perfectly capable of getting myself out of here. Either you can do it, or I’ll wait for Kelly. Maybe I'll just call a cab.”
It's a dare, and we both know it. She's daring me to let her out of my sight, to go against what she knows I feel deep down, what I’ve promised her over and over again.
“Fine.” I let the word escape because if I don't, I'll unleash the torrent waiting its turn.
