Page 87 of Brutal Reign

It takes every ounce of willpower I have to push against his chest. When he pulls back, I scramble off the lounger, putting distance between us. “I need to go.”

His low chuckle follows me as I make a run for the door.

“Good night, Hope,” he calls after me, voice husky with restraint.

When I get to our bedroom, I close the door behind me and lean back against it, my blood thrumming in my ears.

I glance at Kin sleeping peacefully, and my gut twists. I know he’s happy here, but I also know he’d be happy somewhere else. I’m sure of it.

I retrieve the tablet from my nightstand. I haven’t heard back from Chen since my last message. It’s been days, and thesilence has me on edge. It’s a long time for him to go without responding.

I log back into our secure messaging site and exhale in relief when I see a message waiting.

Hope, I’m relieved you and Kin are safe. I wish I only had good news, but that’s not the case. The bank has finally released your funds. The problem is I believe your offshore account is being monitored by government agencies. I hate to worry you, but a multinational investigation was launched into your father’s money laundering network.

Digital transfers are too risky now. The only safe option is a physical handover.

The cleanest way is to convert the funds to encrypted hardware wallets. They are secure devices that hold digital keys to access the money. I’ll bring them to Moscow myself to ensure they reach your hands safely. Can you arrange to meet me somewhere?

I know this won’t be easy, but it’s the only way. -C

My hands tremble as I finish reading.

This is big. The bank has finally released the funds from my trust. But a government investigation into my father’s less-than-legal activities so many years after his death? I honestly can’t imagine why.

Still, I have more immediate problems. Like how I’m going to convince Pavel to let me off this compound. Even if I could, his security would be watching every move I make.

I’m touched that Chen cares enough to meet me in person, but I won’t risk his life as well as my own. I won’t move forward unless I have a solid plan. And part of that plan has to be figuring out how to get two hundred million dollars off a hardware wallet. I’m not even sure how something like that works, let alone how I can convert it to cash.

Still, it’s not the first time I’ve been in an impossible situation, and I’ve always figured out a way forward. But I need time to work this through and to gain Pavel’s trust. It’s the only way I can see him giving me a little more leeway to leave the compound.

I take a breath and type out a response.

Uncle. Thank you. Your offer to meet me in person is generous, but it’s risky for both of us. I need time to figure out how to arrange a meeting safely. I will reach out when I have a plan in place.

You’re probably sick with worry, but please believe me when I say we’re okay. This might sound strange, but I’m not in danger here, and we’re being treated well. Breathe a little easier, knowing Pavel Fedorov isn’t the monster you might think. -H

After sending the message, I stare at what I wrote. Did I really defend Pavel to Chen? I wanted to put his mind at ease, but what I said is true. Whatever Pavel is—killer, criminal, enemy—I don’t believe he’d hurt us.

I power down the tablet and walk over to Kin’s bed, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead and smoothing his hair back gently. As I straighten, a wave of fatigue hits me. It’s probably stress, ormaybe the change in environment, but it doesn’t help that I’ve been without my thyroid medication for well over a week.

I need to see a doctor soon—something I should have already arranged with Pavel. I know I’m being irrational, but Simon always weaponized my medical condition, using it as another way to control me. He only allowed me to see doctors and attend appointments if I followed his rules.

Even though Pavel is proving to be nothing like him, I’m still protecting myself the only way I know how: by holding back the truth, keeping parts of myself hidden. Old habits carved deep by fear.

But I’m not sure how long I can keep this up, because he’s breaking down my defenses, one touch, one look, one gentle word at a time.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-TWO

PAVEL

The heavy bagtakes another brutal hit as I move through my morning routine of boxing, jujitsu, and old-fashioned calisthenics. I’m here extra early, hoping to finish in time to make Kin breakfast.

I haven’t even made it halfway through my workout when Dinara bursts through the gym door.

“Hate to interrupt your morning workout, but you need to hear this,” she says, tablet in hand.