Page 12 of Beautiful Secrets

I shake my head. “Easy money is never worth the effort. If you’re not here to back me up, then why the fuck are you here?”

“Because we’re family.”

That statement hangs in the air like a mushroom cloud, but the shock wave hasn’t hit yet.

Maybe it never will.

“Family?” I shake my head, stepping backward. “Family wouldn’t have let Kill commit me for five years.” I turn and head for my X7.

“Oi,” Tadhg calls out. “We came t’ visit.”

I ignore him and hit the key fob. The doors lock.

Fucking car was unlocked the whole time. I stand there a second, considering, and then let out a snort, unlock the doors, and climb into the driver’s seat. If Dimitri wanted me dead, he wouldn’t plant a fucking bomb in my car. He’d have shot me as soon as I drove onto his property.

4

Mika

Lev taught me many things. Basic self-defense, how to fire a weapon, and how to drive. But he taught me the latter in a Land Rover from the 1980s, and they had things like gear levers and keys. This car doesn’t even have an ignition with a keyhole—just a button. And when I press it, all that happens is the console lights up like a Christmas tree.

I had honestly hoped there would be a set of keys behind the visor, or still hanging from the ignition. I mean, the car was unlocked, so why the hell not?

But I guess luck is not on my side tonight.

I quickly press the button again to make sure no one sees me sitting behind the wheel, and glance over to the sporty black car parked a few yards away.

What if I took that one?

I hesitate for a second to weigh my options, and thank God for that because I see a bunch of strangers exiting the front door of our estate.

Chyort!

My heart races as I slink down into the seat.

I do not know when I will get a chance like this again. I have to make this work!

I scan the interior, looking for anything I can use, when a bright orange bottle catches my eye—prescription pills.

Pointless.

I wrench open the glove compartment, and an icy chill washes through me.

A gun.

Guess they couldn’t take it in with them.

I struggle to swallow, glance back at the approaching men—now only a few yards away. They are busy arguing, but even from here, even in the dark, it is obvious who is the leader. A dark-haired man in a suit, the second eldest of the group, with an unmistakable swagger in his step. Like he will walk through a wall to get where he’s going.

And then Lev appears around the far corner, wearing a thunderous expression, eyes scanning, scanning, scanning.

Looking for me.

My fingers close around the grip. The gun is so heavy in my hand.

But there is no other way.

I scramble over the center console as fast as I can and drop into the footwell behind the driver’s seat where the shadows are the deepest. I am hoping no one can see me hunkering down here, especially through the tinted windows.