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What could they possibly want with me?

The fear of disappointing Pavel warred with my terror of innocent people getting caught in any crossfire. Children were crying somewhere behind the overturned café tables. This had to stop.

Without thinking, I heard myself say, "My name is Alina Ivanova."

I placed my hand on the guard's shoulder and pushed silently, demanding he step aside just enough I could see.

I gave him Pavel's last name.

That meant I represented him, and I was not going to address a cop while cowering behind a guard.

The cop barely reacted. He just nodded. "Fine. Alina Ivanova, you need to come with us."

"Why? Am I being arrested?"

"No, ma'am, we just would like a word at the station."

"She's not going anywhere," one of the guards growled, lifting his gun.

The lead officer's finger moved to his trigger. "Stand down or we will open fire."

Fuck.

This was about to turn into a bloodbath.

I needed to end this now, or Pavel was never letting me out of the penthouse again.

"If you don't cooperate, I have the authority to arrest you and every one of your guards."

Jesus, this was going from bad to fucked very quickly.

I needed to find the best option in this incredibly tense situation.

If I resisted, innocent people would get hurt, a few cops and a few of Pavel's men would die.

If I went with them, my husband would think the worst.

Then who knew where I would end up?

But the choice was made for me when I heard a child's terrified sobbing nearby. I couldn't let this escalate further.

“Please call my husband," I whispered. "Tell him where I am."

The guard in front of me stiffened. "Ma'am, I can't let you?—"

Before I could second-guess myself, I broke free of my guards' protective circle.

I lifted my hands to show I was unarmed.

"Please put your weapons down. I'll cooperate."

"That's a wise choice," the cop sneered with so much malice I wondered if it was. There was nothing but disdain and disgust in his eyes.

He grabbed my arm and twisted it behind my back, forcing me into the back of the car.

It was a stupid move.

There were so many cameras, I couldn't wait to see what Pavel did to this man for laying his hands on me.