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Like magic, Olga appears with a platter of black bread, cheeses, and cold cuts, which she picks up. It tells me she was watching for me and decided to run interference.

“Ganging up on me?”

She puts her glass down. “My idea, not Erin’s. She’s been through enough. And this marriage is too much for her to understand right now.”

“I don’t want to marry that ridiculous woman.”

She sighs, slicing off some cheese to put on a thin slice of bread. “We know how the mafia works. All the deals and the scheming and the way you have to take hits to get things done. Erin doesn’t. All she knows is what’s happened to her. And to Sasha. I get it. To save her, you made a deal. But it’s a lot.”

“Fuck.” I down my drink and pour another. “I’m going to find a way out of this. Somehow.”

Alina looks down. “I found out the hard way this life doesn’t let you go. Max wasn’t part of it but got killed, and Sasha got used as a pawn. Erin, too. She’ll come around. Show her how you feel and be patient.”

She stands and comes over to where I’m sprawled on the sofa, then she kisses my cheek. “Eat.”

When she’s gone, I just drink. I’m not fucking hungry.

Ilya will know what to do. I pull out of my phone, then throw it. Ilya can’t answer the fucking phone because he’s in the hospital. In critical condition.

How the hell did all this get so messed up?

I push my hand through my hair and down another drink. I need to fix this. And soon. Before I lose my mind.

Or worse.

Before I lose everything.

Chapter Nine

ERIN

I’m beyond bored.Sasha is here, so he saves me, as does Alina. But I can’t rely on them to entertain me or keep me occupied. There are books, a computer, but without something to actually do, I think I’m going crazy.

In the past few days, Alina and I went to the shops to get a present for Max’s mom’s birthday. It wasn’t anything like a spree, more she went to buy the gift Max had picked out. She wasn’t sure if she should, but I said if it was me, I’d appreciate it. She’s his mother’s last real link to her son. The gift? Letting his mom know Max had thought of it would mean everything. And that when Alina wanted, we’d go around to see her. I’d bring Sasha. But only when Alina was ready.

Other than that, I managed a checkup with me and with Sasha but that’s it.

Demyan has me under house arrest.

He wouldn’t call it that.

He’s just said he prefers if I stay home where Sasha and I will be safe.

Demyan speaks for house arrest.

On the fifth day, I’m ready to gnaw a leg off, and as I feed Sasha his non cereal breakfast—he’s had more than enough sugar in the past few weeks—I steel myself as Demyan walks in.

I may be furious at the man, but he’s insanely hot in his three-piece suit, dark hair swept back, his handsome face thoughtful as he makes himself a coffee.

He kisses Sasha and hands him a small bowl of berries and yogurt, which Sasha immediately goes to town on.

Then Demyan looks at me. “Maybe you should go out today.”

That gets my attention. Not that he doesn’t already have it. But I go still. Out? “You’re letting me off the leash?”

“It’s not a leash.” He sips his coffee as he leans against the kitchen island as Sasha smashes a blueberry into the table with extreme prejudice. “Just thought you’d like to go out. Maybe catch up with that friend of yours. What’s her name? Katie?”

“Kara.” I blink, take in a breath. “I think that would be—” I stop.