Page 57 of Darkest Game

“I think it’s a good idea,” Natalya adds. Mikhail gives her a pointed look which she ignores. “I want a fun day with my family. You will be there. And we can invite Nico and Sasha. We’ll be safe. You will keep us safe.”

“I’ll have to hire a few extra guards.” Mikhail sighs. “But all right. Let’s do it. If you girls really want it.”

“We do!” Ana says, practically bouncing in her seat.

I know how tired we all are of being cooped up so a nice day out is going to be a luxury.

Central Park is more beautiful than I remember. We used to come here all the time when I was a kid but now that I’ve gone through what I’ve gone through, I can appreciate the park even more.

We spend the day going to the zoo and watching random performances that are all over the park. Ana screams when she tries to feed some ducks and they chase after her, which leads to all of us laughing. She soon joins in.

It’s so nice to actually laugh with my family for once. Denis kept us in such a state of panic for so many years. I never thought I would have a moment like this again.

We end up at the Bethesda fountain, taking a moment to rest out feet. Mikhail and Nico are constantly surveying our surroundings for dangers. It must be exhausting to be them. To not even have fun for a day.

“I have to use the restroom,” I say, nodding to where the public bathrooms are.

“I’ll go too,” Natalya adds.

“I have to go,” Ana says.

Sasha sighs. “Might as well make it a girl date at the bathroom.”

“One of us should go with you,” Mikhail says.

“Obviously me,” Nico says, “since I’m better at taking care of them then you are.”

Mikhail stifles his sigh. “Just make sure they’re safe.”

The five of us head to the restroom. I finish first and leave the building. It’s in a shady part of the park, surrounded by trees. Nico is leaning against the building, keeping an eye on things.

I walk around the side of the building just to get a breather. After being kept prisoner for days and then on the run with Liam, I need a moment to not be watched. Just a moment to myself.

I take a deep breath in and out but it doesn’t calm me. Liam. I still miss him even though it’s been days since I came home.

It’s then that I see something shocking.

Liam is here. In Central Park. He’s just sitting on a park bench. Even from this distance, I can tell it’s him.

I know this is dangerous and stupid but I go over to him. A glance over my shoulder tells me that Sasha and Nico are talking so they don’t even notice me.

“Liam,” I say once I reach him.

He looks up at me, his eyes wide, before he scrambles to his feet. “Irina. What are you doing here?”

“I’m here with my family.”

“Ah. You mean Mikhail and Nico are here and I should probably leave before they kill me.”

I wince. “Probably. What are you doing here?”

“I lost a few men from an explosion. We were checking out one of Elaine’s properties and it was rigged. She’s been making it difficult to find her. So I came here to think. To clear my head.”

“You didn’t know I was here?”

“No,” he says in a gentle voice. “I didn’t know you were here. If I had known… I probably wouldn’t have come.”

My breath hitches. “Why not?”