Page 130 of The Bratva King

“Gabby, what’s wrong? What is that?”

“I need to make a phone call,” I manage. “Can you stay with Luke?”

“Of course.”

I go to my room and close the door. Lock it. Then I pull out my phone and call Greg. I’ve been dodging this conversation for too long. I hate keeping anything from him.

He answers immediately. “Gabby.”

“They found me.”

Silence.

“Are you sure?”

“Someone left a photo on my nanny’s car. A photo of my parents. From the wedding.”

“Nanny?”

I can’t tell him everything yet.

“I have a boyfriend,” I say instead. “A good guy. Wealthy. We’re living with him. He hired a nanny for Luke.”

Silence.

“He’s a good man, Greg. You know I wouldn’t allow anyone around Luke if I didn’t trust them. I was down on my luck. Homeless. He’s letting us stay with him.”

“Is it serious?” he asks.

“No. I don’t know.”

“Does he know who you are?”

“No. I don’t want to tell him yet.”

I wait for the interrogation. The only other time I had a boyfriend, Greg did a full background check on him. I cannot let him do that with Nik. The Nikolai he’d find on paper isn’t the man I know.

“Okay. Okay, listen to me.” His voice shifts into the calm, professional tone he uses in crises. “Where are you right now?”

“Home.”

“Are you alone?”

“Luke’s here.”

“Is it safe?”

“I don’t know. I thought it was. But if they know where I am, they’re coming.”

“Gabby, you need to run. Now. Pack a bag. Take Luke. Get out of there.”

“I can’t do this again,” I sob.

“Yes, you can. You’ve done it before. You know the drill. Go somewhere public. A mall. An airport. Somewhere with cameras and people. I’ll arrange a new identity. New location. We’ll start over.”

Start over.

Again.