Dina’s brow furrows. “And who are you?”
“The daughter of Grigory Lebedev.”
Her mouth falls open. “Shit, I really will be in trouble for letting you out.” She glances toward the entrance of the kitchen nervously.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got no intention of running. It’s just suffocating in that room.”
She twiddles her thumbs nervously. “That’s not the point. I don’t have the authority to free a prisoner.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m really a prisoner, since I’ve agreed to help Valery against my father.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because my father put a price on Valery’s head the moment he heard of his demands to release me. He wouldn’t sacrifice anything for my life, so I won’t die for him.”
She nods. “Fair enough.” Her lips purse together. “Hard to believe your father would just leave you with his enemy, considering how much power he holds.”
“Not hard for me to believe.”
“Won’t it make him look weak?”
I nod. “Yes, which is why he’s put a price on Valery’s head. That’s his way of getting back at him.”
She looks disgusted. “I’m sorry you have a father like that.”
“Me too,” I say, sighing.
“However, you really should go back to your room.”
I pout at her. “Just a little longer? You haven’t even given me my Kompot yet.”
Her eyes widen. “I haven’t, have I?” She scurries toward the fridge to fetch the traditional Russian drink I love so much and pours me a glass. “Just the time it takes you to drink that glass of Kompot, and then back to the room, got it?” Her expression is stern, like a mother telling off a child.
I nod in response, having every intention of taking my time drinking it. I’m not ready to go back to that room yet, and Valery will no doubt be awhile, since he’s breaking into his arch nemesis’s home.
Hell, he may not even make it back.
My stomach twists at the thought as I sip on the fruity drink, wishing I didn’t care so much whether Valery makes it back or not.He’s nothing to me, and yet within days of meeting him, I have developed an attachment to him I can’t quite explain.
8
VALERY
“This is it,” Konstantin says, peering at me through the holes in his balaclava.
I stare at the ventilation hole, uncertain whether we can really fit through there. It looks too small. “I’ll go first,” I say, knowing that as the Pakhan I need to show strong leadership, even with only two of my men present.
The men don’t protest against me going first, as I move forward and climb into the vent.
“Tell me again, first left and then a right?” I confirm.
Konstantin’s voice comes from behind. “That’s it, as simple as that. We’ll be behind you.”
“Okay, let’s do this.” I move forward, hating how claustrophobic it makes me feel as the walls close in on all fours sides. For a petite little thing like Anya, crawling through the vents like this must be simple, but I’m anything but petite.
After struggling my way to the first turn, I take the left tunnel, which is marginally bigger and gives me room to breathe. Behind me I hear Konstantin curse, as he’s even broader than me.
After what feels like an age of crawling down the shaft, I come to another turn and take the right one, seeing a light up ahead from what I can only assume is Grigory’s study.