I slip the key into the lock easily, and I nearly laugh with relief as the door flips down. Inside are a gun, several papers, a stack of cash…
And a little leatherbound book. I grab it and close the compartment. Now, there’s nothing left but to hide it?—
The door swings open. Standing on the walk is Yanov, glaring down at me, his ice blue eyes cutting through the darkness and digging into me.
“What the hell are you doing?”
He doesn’t give me a chance to answer. He grabs my arm and drags me out of the car. I stumble, but I get my balance together and take two more steps back from him. I’m gripping the book in my hands, holding it to my chest.
He glares at me, then the book. “Give that to me.”
I shake my head.
He lunges for me and I dodge him, but he manages to grab part of my dress, nearly yanking me off my feet. “Give me the fucking book, Tatiana.”
I squirm out of his reach and he grabs me again, slapping me across the face. He raises his hand to slap me again, and I twist away, reaching back and throwing my elbow back wildly, clipping him in the chin. He lets me go just long enough for me to run around the back of his car. He slams the passenger’s side door shut in anger and pursues me.
As he gets inches away, I reach the driver’s side and dive in, slamming the door shut and locking it.
He pounds his fist on the window. “Tatiana!” His shouts are muffled through the glass. “Get out of the car!” The inside of the car is filled with the sound of him rattling the handle, trying to get the door open.
I glance around and see the car keys lying on the floor on the passenger’s side. I leap for them as Yanov slams his fist into the glass over and over.Hurry, hurry…
I grab the keys and get them in the ignition as the driver’s side window starts to crack. The car roars to life as Yanov’s shouts attack me through the glass.
“Don’t you dare!” he shouts. “Don’t you?—”
I put the car in drive, turn the wheel, and pull out. Yanov has to jump back to keep me from running him over.
Driving at breakneck speed, I’m gone. Off my father’s property, away from Yanov’s rage, with my brother’s journal in the passenger’s seat next to me.
Shit. The minute my father hears… The very second he knows what’s happened…
Maybe Viktor was right to worry for me. I reach the first light leading out to the main road and I think frantically.
There’s only one safe place I can run to.
