“There were two others, but they were wearing ski masks,” she recalls. “They were driving a white van.” She steps back and frowns, rubbing her head. “Wait, no. It was a gray van.”
Pavel nods at Stepan, who whips out his phone. Stepan taps the screen rapidly.
While Karina gives a detailed description of her attackers, I wander into the kitchen to make tea. It’s ready when Karina calls for me from the den. I walk into the room with the tray and set it on the coffee table. Pavel and Karina are on the couch on the other side of the table.
I sit on the couch opposite them and start pouring tea. “Are you feeling better now?”
Karina glances between Pavel and me. She squints, raises her eyebrows, and then shakes her head. “Yes, I’m fine now.”
“We have plenty of rooms upstairs. Did Kostya or Gennadiy get you any spare clothes?”
“Not yet.”
I nod. “I’ll make sure they do.”
Karina frowns while looking at the doorway to the kitchen. “Where’s Viktoria?”
That question drives an ice pick through my heart. My throat tightens while I avoid looking at Pavel. A horrible silence falls over the room.
It’s too much.
I can’t say it.
Pavel clears his throat and replies, “She was killed.”
Karina clutches her chest. “Are you serious?”
“It was quick,” Pavel says. But something in his voice makes me think that he’s trying to reassure himself.
“I’m sorry, Pasha.”
Without looking at them, I pass out the teacups. I hold mine with an iron grip, trying not to shake. The bottom of the teacup clinks in the saucer.
No such luck.
“Liya?” Karina whispers. “Areyouokay?”
I shake my head. “We’ve been dealing with Cardona holding Zoya and Willow hostage.”
Her eyes widen. “God, when did that happen?”
“Yesterday,” Pavel replies. “They were taken after I sent them into hiding.”
I shakily add, “We received a picture of them. They’re alive. Cardona told us we have twelve hours.”
Karina frowns. “Twelve hours untilwhat,exactly?”
Silence falls over the room.
That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?
I swallow hard while keeping my focus on the cabinet near the foyer. Nothing but porcelain dishware is in there. It’s enough to keep me occupied, but I know that Karina needs answers eventually—and we need to come up with a plan.
What’s the point?I set my teacup on the table.Pavel is going to do whatever he wants regardless of what we say.
“Pavel?” Karina asks. “What are you two going to do?”
Pavel rests his hands on his knees. He looks so in control, so in charge.