Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 61142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
I nod.
“You’re hurt.”
“I’ll be okay.”
“I’m sorry, Kat. I shouldn’t have left you.”
“What happened to Andrei?”
“I emptied my gun into him,” he says through gritted teeth.
“He’s your cousin?” I remember him from the first night at the club, but I didn’t know they were cousins. And this thing between them, it goes beyond that. It’s very personal.
“He was Vasily’s son. He murdered my mother. On my uncle’s order.” Lev’s knuckles grow white on the steering wheel as he merges onto the highway north. I remember the conversation he had with Andrei. I knew he was buying time, but they spoke in Russian, so I couldn’t understand what he was saying. It must have been this. Did he just find out?
“Andrei is Vasily’s son?” I ask, just registering the information.
Lev nods.
Which makes Andrei a blood relation. Vasily is Lev’s uncle, and from what I understand, his boss. He’s also the man Nina’s father stole that flash drive from; the contents of which I’ve seen.
A new panic takes hold of me.
We’re not safe. We’re nowhere near safe. And that stolen flash drive that started all of this? It’s nothing compared to this. Compared to Lev killing Vasily’s son.
“What happens now?”
Lev takes a deep breath in, eyes fixed on the road.
“We’re going to Boston. Pasha needs a doctor. One we can trust. Then…we’ll see.”
2
Lev
“Levka.” Alexei opens the door to greet us, gesturing us inside with a solemn expression. This isn’t exactly the reunion either of us were expecting, but it is what it is.
“Allow me to help.” He takes some of the burden off my shoulders as he slips his arm around Pasha’s right side, helping him through the entrance. “Dr. Shtein is upstairs.”
I glance back at Kat, who is still in a daze but trying to hold it together for Josh as she cradles him against her chest. More than anything, I want to take them both into my arms and make them forget everything that happened today. But any comfort I might be able to provide will have to wait. The priority right now is ensuring their safety, and there isn’t much time.
Magda, the housekeeper, enters the room, with Alexei’s wife, Talia, not far behind, and they quickly take it upon themselves to assist in any way they can.
“You’ve been through quite the ordeal, I’m told,” Magda says. “Let me show you to the bathroom where you can clean up, and then I’ll fix you something warm to drink. Maybe a snack for the little one?”
Kat looks at me, her eyes clouded and her emotions too raw to make any decisions right now. She’s functioning on autopilot, and I can’t blame her for that. Sometimes, I forget that most people haven’t witnessed the same level of violence as I have in my life. That isn’t what I want for Kat. I want her to stay human for as long as possible.
“It’s okay.” I reach out with my free hand to graze her face. “Magda will take good care of you. Josh is probably hungry. Let him have a snack, and if you want to see me, I’ll be upstairs, okay?”
Her eyes are glassy as she nods. Though I don’t doubt she’s still uncertain, she’s aware that right now we have to focus on getting Pasha upstairs.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” I assure her as I continue toward the stairs. “One step at a time, alright? For Josh.”
Again, she nods, and Magda leads her away with Talia beside them. I hope Kat will feel comfortable with them, but regardless, we won’t be staying here for very long.
Alexei and I manage to drag Pasha upstairs to one of the spare bedrooms where Dr. Shtein is waiting. I don’t know much about her, other than she often assists with Vory situations such as these. Already, she has Alexei’s room set up with medical supplies, and she seems to be familiar with the place as she helps us navigate Pasha to the bed.
“He has two gunshot wounds,” I tell her as she begins her physical examination. “One in the thigh and one in the shoulder.”
Pasha is covered in blood, but I don’t know how much is his and how much is Andrei’s. Right now, he looks weak, but he’s still conscious, so I figure that has to count for something.
“I will start my work,” Dr. Shtein answers briskly. “It is best if you go for now.”
Alexei nods, but before we leave the room, I take a moment to thank Pasha for his help. I can’t be certain if he hears any of my softly spoken words until he offers me a weak smile.
“I’ll be fine,” he rasps. “Take care of your family.”
I squeeze his hand in mine and then take my leave, following Alexei down the hall to his office. As much as I’d like to stay and wait out the news of Pasha’s prognosis, it’s a luxury we don’t have.