While Pauline is busy trying to help track down Sadie’s phone, she taps away at the computer. She grabs two hotel room keycards and programs the cards before tapping away again at the computer screen.
“Room 312.” She hands me two room cards, and I shove one into my pocket and grip the second card.
“Thank you.” My thumb brushes over her skin before I head to the elevator doors. It’d look suspicious if I hung around too long at the front desk without checking into a room.
I stalk toward the elevators, glancing back over my shoulder for Sadie. She offers me a warm smile, reassuring me that everything is fine. I hit the button for the elevator and wait for the door to open.
Pauline shakes her head, wandering back to the front desk. “Your phone isn’t in the break room.”
“I found it in the bottom drawer. I don’t know how it got there.” Sadie laughs. “Thanks for helping me look for it, Pauline.” She steps around from behind the counter as the elevator door opens.
I step in and hit the button for the third floor. I can no longer see Sadie from my position inside the elevator. I want to steal one last glance at her, but I’m sure that if I’m staying at the hotel, it’s not the last I’ve seen of her.
I lug my shopping bag with the few essentials up to my room. From the outside, the hotel is swanky yet old. But the inside has been recently remodeled and still smells of fresh paint. The carpet, even in the hallways, is still considerably plush.
I unlock the door to my room. There’s a single king-sized mattress, which is more than perfect for my needs. I flip the lights on and abruptly shut the curtains, not wanting anyone to see inside. Even three stories up, I don’t want to take any chances someone might be watching.
The small kitchen has a full-size refrigerator, a sink, and a stove. It’s an efficiency, which is exactly what I need until I figure out my next steps.
Staying in New York is dangerous, but leaving and starting a new life, I have nothing. No job. No access to funds. I’m fucked. And I can’t exactly put what I did for a living on a resume. There are no references to call. Hell, there’s no leaving the bratva alive.
Except Mikhail and his men believe I’m dead.
I slump onto the edge of the mattress. My head falls into my hands.
I need answers.
Mikhail won’t give them to me, but Luka was the one in the car with me. Is he dead? Could he be working with Anton? Would Luka betray Mikhail and the family?
Luka is a good man, loyal to Mikhail, same as me.
None of it makes sense.
I can’t pick up the phone. I don’t want them to know where I’m hiding. It’s bad enough that once I reach out to one of them, they’ll know I’m still alive.
I leave the bag of clothes and toiletries on the bed and head toward the door. Already, the room is suffocating me. I need to do something. Sitting another minute isn’t going to help.
Pulling back the door, I see that Sadie is standing on the opposite end.
“Hey, I didn’t expect to see you again so soon,” I say. What’s she doing here?
“I brought you some towels.” She has a stack of fluffy white towels in her hands and a bag of hotel toiletries. “Since you won’t be getting housekeeping service, I thought I’d load you up with a few essentials. There’s a toothbrush and toothpaste too.”
“Are you trying to tell me something?”
She laughs nervously and pushes the items in my arms to take.
“Do you want to come in?” I ask as I grab the towels off her, turn to carry them into the room and drop them on the counter in the bathroom.
Sadie isn’t the least bit nervous. She glances around the room, probably making sure everything is up to the standard that she would expect. “That isn’t necessary.” Shuffling her feet, I sense that something else is weighing her down.
“What is it? You didn’t come up here to give me towels.” There are probably a few towels already in the bathroom.
“I spoke with one of the officers at the hospital while you were in surgery,” Sadie says.
I inhale a nervous breath and clear my throat. “And?” She wouldn’t have assisted me if she knew anything about who I am or who I work for.
“And nothing. He was about as evasive as you are.” She steps farther into my room, closing the door behind herself.