Page 54 of Brutal Reign

“Hurry up. I’ll be out waiting right here.”

I take a breath, about to push open the door, but I stop and turn around to face him again when I realize I’m not prepared for this conversation with Kin. How can I explain what lies ahead for us when I have no idea myself?

“What should I tell my son? What are you going to do with us?”

“You’re going to live with me in my home in Moscow.” He arches a brow. “You’re my wife, after all.”

Moscow. We’re going straight into the den of wolves. The heart of the Syndicate that stole everything from me. Will we be prisoners there? Locked away, kept as trophies of their victory over the Black Company?

But like so many things in life, I have no choice. The only choice I have is to stay strong and search for a way out.

With that, I push open the door to Kin’s room. It’s warm and quiet in here, the curtains drawn.

I cross to the closet and knock gently—two times fast, then one time slow—our agreed-upon signal. A moment later, the door cracks open and Mei peeks out, her expression one of instant relief. She doesn’t speak right away, but her eyes take in my disheveled state and torn dress. We exchange a look heavy with silent understanding.

I’m okay, I mouth to her.

She nods and steps back so I can join her inside.

A single flashlight, balanced on a stack of pillows, lights up the dark walk-in closet. Blankets hang from the shelves, creating a fort, with a stuffed dinosaur propped near the corner.

“Mama!” Kin’s head pops out of the makeshift fort, his face lit with joy. “Look what we made!”

My knees nearly buckle with relief at seeing him happy and safe.

“That’s so cool. Come here, baby.” I crouch down, arms wide. He runs to me and throws his arms around my neck, his little body warm and solid. I bury my face into his shoulder, trying not to get emotional. I close my eyes for a second and breathe him in.

When he pulls back, his face is glowing. “Did you see the fireworks? We didn’t, but they wereso loud.”

It takes me a second to register what he means. The explosions, courtesy of the Syndicate attacking.

I glance at Mei, whose face is carefully neutral. “I did, love. But listen, we need to talk.” I brush his hair back from his face. “There’s been a change of plan.”

Kin frowns. “What kind of plan?” He tilts his head to the side and gives me a once-over. “Were you playing outside? You got really dirty.”

I give him a sad smile. “I was,” I say gently. “Let’s put on some comfy clothes, and I’ll tell you all about our new plans.”

Fifteen minutes later, I’ve changed into yoga pants and a soft sweatshirt and dressed Kin in his dinosaur pajamas. Our bags are packed with the little we brought: clothes, toiletries, Kin’s favorite books, a few toys, and the stuffed dinosaur he never sleeps without.

As I do a final check of our belongings, a knot forms in my stomach. I only have a few more doses of both my thyroid medication and birth control pills.

The thyroid medication is non-negotiable. After Kin was born, I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid that leaves me tired and foggy if untreated. I can go for a few weeks without it, but I’ll have to tell Pavel eventually, assuming he cares enough to let me see a doctor. As for the birth control, I’ve been taking it in secret to stop Simon from forcing a baby on me. I really hope Pavel doesn’t have the same expectations about our so-called marriage.

The one thing I won’t take with me is the phone I’ve kept hidden in the lining of my suitcase. The phone I use to communicate with Uncle Chen. I’m sure Pavel will search me for any communication devices, which means this is my last chance to contact him.

“I’m stepping into the bathroom for a second,” I tell Mei.

She looks worried, though she hasn’t pressed for more details beyond the heavily edited version I’ve given her.

I close and lock the bathroom door, then turn on the shower so no one overhears.

Uncle Chen is retired now, living a quiet life in Hong Kong with his wife of twenty-six years. Their kids are grown and long out of the house, so I doubt he’ll hear about the Syndicate raid. He’s never had ties to the triad anyhow.

I don’t have time to type him a message, so even though there’s a risk, I call.

His phone rings once, then twice, before going to voicemail.

My voice starts steady but cracks as the reality of my situation hits me. “Uncle Chen, I don’t know when you’ll hear this, but… things didn’t go as planned. The Syndicate attacked before the wedding. Simon got away, but I didn’t.” This part is harder to say, and my throat closes up for a moment. “Pavel Fedorov—one of the leaders of the Russian Belov Syndicate—h-he forced me to marry him. He’s taking both Kin and me back to Moscow. I don’t know what this means.” I wipe a tear from the corner of my eye before it can fall. “I’ll reach out as soon as I can, if I can. I’m not giving up, and please don’t give up on me either. I still need your help. It won’t be easy, but if there’s a way to get me the trust money, maybe I can escape. But… please don’t worry. I’ll find a way out of this.”