Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“You don’t have to help,” I said.
“I know.”
He started rinsing dishes and loading them into the dishwasher, methodically placing each piece of silverware onto the holder above the top rack. He put all the spoons in a row, then followed with the forks and then the knives.
“Do you get to see your grandma very often?” I asked as I hand-washed the stockpot I’d made the chicken and dumplings in.
“No. She refuses to leave Russia and I cannot go there.”
“Why not?” I cringed as soon as the words were out. “I mean, if you don’t mind me asking.”
“I do not mind. Many athletes and actors won’t return to Russia for politics reasons.”
The way he used the word politics instead of political brought a small smile to my lips. For such a serious guy, he was actually really cute. Not that I’d noticed.
“Makes sense,” I said as I rinsed the pot. “People get detained for no reason.”
“It is”
He was cut off by the shrill bleat of what sounded like an alarm, so loud it filled the room and echoed.
“Is that the fire alarm?” I asked him, my heart pounding.
Sawyer ran into the room, his expression intent.
“That’s my security system,” he said. “Kon, stay with Lucy. Do not let her out of your sight.”
His security system. Nate. I knew he’d come looking for me, and since he knew I had information that could destroy him, I was terrified of what might happen.
“Sawyer, no,” I said, following him up the stairs to his bedroom.
I ran to catch up with him, and by the time I got there, he was opening a wall safe in the master bedroom closet. Kon was right on my heels.
Sawyer pulled a handgun from the safe and loaded it. My knees weakened at what was unfolding in front of my eyes.
“Sawyer, no,” I pleaded. “You don’t know who you’re messing with. We need to lock ourselves in a room and call the cops.”
“The hell we do. If he came looking for trouble, he just found it.”
“Who?” Kon asked, his gaze more intense than ever.
“Lucy’s ex is after her,” Sawyer said.
Kon nodded and reached out his hand. “Give me the gun. You stay with her.”
“I know how to shoot,” Sawyer protested.
“Just trust me,” Kon said. “Give it to me and go to a room without windows.”
Sawyer passed him the gun, taking another one from the safe and loading it. Jesus. He had an arsenal in there.
“Do not come out until I call and tell you it’s safe,” Kon said, checking something on the gun.
He left the room then, and I was on the edge of passing out. Shit was getting real, and I couldn’t outrun it anymore.
CHAPTER SIX
Kon
A surge of adrenaline raced through me and my heart pounded against my chest. I hadn’t felt a rush like this in a long time. Not since I’d left Russia. It was still familiar, though, and I mentally braced myself as I made my way down the stairs. The shrill echoes of the alarm kept me focused, my only purpose to keep my friends safe. I didn’t know what the fuck Lucy’s ex thought he was doing, if this was him, but I was going to find out. The thought of him coming after her made my blood boil. And frankly, despite his quick response tonight, Sawyer was generally in no shape to protect them if someone broke into the house.
The front door was still locked up tight, so I headed for the sliding glass doors that led out to the backyard.
Also still secured.
I glanced into the kitchen and dining room as I passed by, and both were empty. The living room was also just as we’d left it. I didn’t think anyone had managed to get into the house, not with the alarm going off like a fucking bullhorn, but something had tripped the sensors.
Police sirens told me help was on the way and I decided to go back upstairs. Though I was here legally, I wasn’t a US citizen, this wasn’t my house, and the gun in my hand wasn’t registered to me either. It was probably best not to greet the cops with a weapon, no matter what the situation was. I’d spent six weeks in a Russian jail once, and that was enough to keep me on the straight and narrow for the rest of my life, no matter where I lived.
“Anything?” Sawyer asked me, coming out of the guest bathroom and taking the gun I offered.
I shook my head. “Whoever it was didn’t get in. Alarm probably scared them away.”
“Fuck.” He turned to Lucy, who’d come out behind him. “Why didn’t you tell me he was crazy?”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t—”
“Let’s not talk about that now,” I interjected quickly, seeing how upset she was. “You have to deal with the police.”