“I care not about this,” my father cut me off, turning away from me.
“I care. I have a life, a scholarship, I’m . . . I don’t want this,” I ground out.
Viktor paused and turned back to look at me.His dark gaze was assessing. No one spoke back to Viktor Chernov. No one who expected to live. “That’s not my problem, and don’t forget who you’re speaking to. If you don’t want it, don’t ask me for a favor. Sit. Let’s talk.”
“You said I could come to you. That if I ever needed anything, you were there,” I said, folding my arms over my chest. My voice sounded empty, like my heart in my chest.
“And I am here. But I never said I’d ask nothing in return. The rule of this world is that the strong will take and take from the weak. If you aren’t the predator, you are the prey. You, my dear son, are weak. I will make you strong. You will thank me one day. Sit.” Viktor gestured to me, and the men beside me sprung into motion faster than I could defend against.
I swung a couple of punches, but they failed to land. These men were hardened criminals. Violence was their job, and I stood no chance. They dragged me into the metal chair before the desk and pushed me into it. My whole body vibrated with tension. I’d expected this when I’d come, yet I was still disappointed. How pathetic.
Viktor moved around to lean against the desk in front of me. “Tell me, Kirill, what are these brilliant feats you are achieving to make the wonderful life you’ve imagined for yourself? Your little running competition?” He leaned down, getting in my face, and I fought the urge to press away. “I thought your mother would have prepared you better for the real world than this. You’re my son. My blood. You are not destined to be prey. You’re destined to be the king of the heap, and I’ll see you crowned it, even if you hate me for it,” he said thickly.
I shook my head. The men who’d pushed me down now held my shoulders in place.
“So, it’s your choice. Do you need my help or not? You still have that option, Kirill. Save Henry Madison and join me, or let the man answer for his stupidity. He and his family will pay for his arrogance,” Viktor said.
Something inside me broke at that ultimatum. There was no choice. There had never been.Between Molly and me? I’d choose her every single time.
Viktor smiled as he saw my face, resolute, bitter, and grim.
“Forgive his debt. That’s my choice,” I said.
Viktor nodded and reached out a hand to cup my cheek roughly.“You’ve made me happy, Kirill. I’ve waited a long time to have you by my side. I’ve so much to show you and so many people you’ve yet to meet. Family you couldn’t have imagined, but I understand that too many choices can torture the soul. I understand it well, and I don’t want you to suffer like that.”
His words made me nervous, as did the heavy hands of his minions pinning me in place.
Viktor released my face and gave me a look I knew I’d never forget. “I’ll free you of that burden, son.”
Before I could wonder what he was going to do, he pulled a heavy-looking handgun from the back of his belt and cocked it. Before I could move or kick, he gripped my leg and brought the pistol to my knee.
The shot echoed through the warehouse.
23
MOLLY
NOW
An hour later, even though I could still taste him, the distance remained between us. I felt it every time he pulled his hand from my touch or turned away when I smiled. I felt it when he failed to meet my eyes or respond to a joke. There was a wall between us with a deep, cold moat around it, and I had no idea how to cross it. Kirill wasn’t the man he had been becoming when we were two lonely teens falling in love. He was different. It made sense because I was also different, but the realization made me panic.
What if the man I had been looking for no longer existed? The thought made my throat tight, and tears burned my eyes. A well of deep, fathomless loneliness opened in my heart. He couldn’t be gone. He had to be in there, somewhere.
Worries swirled in my mind long after both of us had grown still and morning had moved across the room, the sun chasing shadows up the walls until they disappeared. I’d never get used to working nights and sleeping days.
With the sleek precision of a big cat stalking prey, Kirill suddenly moved.
I’d lain there crippled with doubt for so long that I’d assumed he’d fallen asleep. He rose and left the room without a backward glance. Something inside me whispered not to call out to him or let him know I was awake—something cautious born of a life of fearful running and hiding.
He must be going to the bathroom down the hall so as not to wake me. Either that or he had to work like a normal person during daytime hours, which made him collecting me from work in the small hours a terrible idea. My mind smoothed over my ruffled nerves. I shut my eyes again and took a long breath, willing myself to sleep.
A soft buzz intruded on my muddled thoughts. I pulled my phone off the charger and squinted at the screen. An unknown number was calling.
I regretted it the second I answered. “Mallory, I need you to talk to Grateful Dawn and tell them I’m allowed to move your mother.” Henry’s voice seeped into my ear like poison.
“What the hell? Why would I do that?”
Henry sighed as if he had no patience. “Because we need to move her. We need to leave New York altogether.”