Or what if he’s dead in some ditch?
Shit.
I get out of the car. “Katya.” She looks up at me. “Don’t tell anyone where my car is, okay?” Her little face pinches before understanding dawns far above what her age range should comprehend. “It’s our secret.”
“Okay,” she says quietly. We come out onto the path to the house and walk toward it. Each step gets heavier. I spot Ivan’s SUV outside, then Tagar’s. Koda doesn’t drive, so I want to know who the hell brought him to the bakery.
We walk into the farmhouse. Tagar lifts his head then shakes it.
“Where’s Koda?” I ask.
Understanding hits him.
Out of all of them, he’s not the worst. He doesn’t rat me out like the others when I see her. “He’s not here. What did he do now?”
“Nothing. Where’s Ivan?”
“You got a death wish, kid?” He stands up then follows me down the hall. I turn to Katya.
I crouch down to her and give her a hug. A tiny whine slips past her lips as she pushes me away. “What’s wrong?”
I know she’s scared, but I need her to listen. “Do me a favor, okay?” She sniffs with a nod. “Go upstairs and do not come out of your room until Koda comes up there.”
“What’s wrong? Aiden!” Her big brown eyes fill with tears, and I swallow the lump forming in my throat.
I hate that I can’t comfort her right now. I hate what I’m about to do. “Go! Now,” I snap. She looks at me a moment, her eyes shocked with fear before running down the hall. I hearher Mary Jane’s thump up the stairs. “What the fuck has Koda gotten up to?”
Tagar looks uneasy, but I see it. He knows something. What’s going on in this house lately?
“He had business.” He stands by Ivan’s door. “Good luck, kid.”
I open the door and step inside. Ivan is sitting at his desk. I can feel him seething as I step inside. The door shuts. He glares at me for a breath-stealing second, then he stands, walking around the desk. “Do you want to tell me why you have Katya?” I open my mouth. “I don’t remember giving you permission.”
“I didn’t—” The door barrels open and Koda runs through. He looks between us.
“Dad, I?—”
Ivan removes his belt from his pants. “Do you want to tell me why the fuck Aiden had your sister when she was in your care?” The way he saysyourand notourpisses me off.
Koda’s eyes dart between us. “I didn’t. I mean I?—”
“I took her,” I rush out. “I saw them together and I wanted to take her.”
“Aiden—”
I ignore Koda. “He’s been trying to find me. I took her.” He looks at me with confusion. “I took her.” I glare understanding into him.
His eyes pass between Ivan and me. “Take off your shirt.” I look back briefly at Koda before slowly taking my shirt off.
“Aiden, no?—”
“Is he lying?” Ivan’s nostrils flare.
“Shut up,” I snap. “Get out of here.”
“No.” Ivan smirks down at me then his eyes slide to Koda. “You do it.”
“What?!” we say in unison.
