Page 31

CHAPTER 30

AURORA

“You’re being discharged today,” Dr. Sheppard announces.

The last five days have been rough on Lace, but she’s been a trooper. Lykos has been a huge help, and I make a mental note to get him a T-bone steak for everything he’s done the last couple of months. The guys have been patient with Lace, just as they were with me.

Thomas has made it his personal mission to become her personal bodyguard. He hovers from a distance so as not to overwhelm her, and I see her relax when he’s around. We’re alone for now, waiting for the guys to descend on us at any given moment. They were summoned this morning to talk to my dad about Dmitri’s cryptic message about the Bratva.

“Seriously?” Lace asks nervously.

“It’ll be great,” I say excitedly. “You’re going home with me and Lykos.”

Her face lights up, and I know I have her convinced. “When do I bust out?”

Dr. Sheppard laughs. “I’ll start the paperwork now. I’d say you’ll be good to go in the next hour or so.”

“I’ll text my dad and let him know, so he can pick us up.” I grab my cell out of my purse.

Normally, I would’ve driven myself, but I slept over at Jaxson’s. He dropped me off on the way to my dad’s because we were up all night ‘gaming’ with the guys. Yes, I’m a grown-ass adult, but we haven’t exactly had a chance to tell my dad that we're dating… or whatever it is we are.

Me: Lace’s getting released in about an hour.

I know it’ll be a while before Dad responds since he’s in a debriefing with his team. I’m about to text Jaxson to let him know what’s going on but decide not to disturb him. I know my dad will announce it once he checks his phone. He knows how close the guys are to Lace, and they’ll want to stick around to welcome her home.

I brought some clothes with me that I bought for Lace. Since she has a cast and is still weak, I help her into the bathroom and assist her with showering. When April arrives with the discharge papers and wheelchair, I'm braiding Lace’s hair.

“Your chariot has arrived,” April announces dramatically.

Lace giggles and slides into the chair. “Do I really have to use a wheelchair?”

“Hospital policy,” April says. “Once we hit the exit, you can stand.”

“Deal,” Lace says.

My cell pings, and I dig around my purse for it while April gathers the stuffed animals the guys have bought Lace and puts them in a plastic bag for us.

Vera: Your dad is still in his meeting. They asked me to get you

Me: Lace is being discharged now

Vera: I’m on my way. Be there in five.

Me: Okay. Thanks

As we get in the elevator, I tell Lace, “Dad got held up. My stepmom is picking us up.”

“Great,” she says excitedly. “I can’t wait to see Lykos.”

“He’ll be happy to see you, too.”

April leads us out of the hospital and puts the brakes on the chair so Lace can get up safely. I slip my phone into the waistband of my leggings since I don’t have any pockets, that way I don’t have to keep searching for it in my purse. Vera’s SUV pulls up, and I open the door to help Lace get in before scrambling beside her.

“Thanks for coming to get us,” I say as Vera’s driver edges away from the curb and turns out of the hospital parking lot. “Vera, this is Lace.”

Vera turns around slowly, a dark sinister smile on her face. “Yes, Lace and I are very well acquainted. Aren’t we Lace?”

My eyes bulge, and my mouth drops open in shock.

Lace screams at me. “No… no… no… I’m not going back.”

“How the hell do you know, Lace?” I ask Vera. My head swings to Lace. “How do you know my stepmother?”

“I didn’t know this was your stepmom. No one ever said who she married.” The color drains from Lace’s face. Her voice is quiet and shaky when she confesses, “She’s my aunt.”

“It’s true, my niece has lived quite a sheltered life,” Vera taunts.

Wait, what? Her niece? How the fuck is that possible?

My mind spins out of control, and my thoughts jumble as I try to put the pieces together. After what feels like forever but is actually only a few seconds, things start to fall into place.

Fucking Vera?

I flinch as if I’ve been slapped. “How could you do this to me?”

Piece after piece clicks as my mind continues to spiral. It all makes sense now. How Lace was able to find my email and contact me, and then how quickly the Russians were able to find us when I was trying to help her get somewhere safe.

This morning in the shower, did Lace have the Krukov tattoo on her arm? How did I not pay attention to that? Because you thought she was your friend. You had no reason to doubt her.

I raise my hand instinctively and rub the back of my neck, Lace’s eyes following my movement.

Her traitorous orbs brim with tears. “I swear I didn’t want to, Aurora. Please believe me,” she begs. “I was forced into this. I had no choice.”

I continue to stare at her in disbelief, unable to form any words.

“Quiet, you little whore,” Vera spews and points a gun at us. “Give me your purse, Aurora.” I toss my purse at her head and smirk when it smacks against her face. “You won’t be smiling for long.” She fumbles through my bag before tossing it onto the floorboard. “Where’s your cell?”

“It should be in there.”

“You have three seconds to give me your cell, or I put a bullet in your new friend’s head,” she threatens.

I snort. “You could. At this point, I really don’t fucking care either way. To be honest, I don’t think you’re that fucking stupid. We’re not off the base yet, psycho. Besides, I don’t have pockets… Where the fuck am I going to put it?”

Vera reaches over the seat and pistol-whips me. Stars dance in my vision, and blood trickles out of my nose. “Don’t fucking play with me. Lift up your shirt.”

I bite back a retort, as I lift my shirt. Watching me in the rearview mirror, her driver licks his lips.

Lace speaks up. “Y-y-you left it on my hospital bed.”

Why is she trying to help now after all she did? Don’t question it. Go with it.

I snap my fingers. “That’s right, I set it down after I sent my dad the text and helped Lace get ready.”

Vera seems appeased and turns around as we drive through the military base gates. I yank my cell out, thankful it's on silent, send an SOS, and then shove the device deep between the seat cushions.

I blow out a breath and glare at Lace, daring her to reveal my secret. She discretely shakes her head. Once we’re a mile from the base, Vera trains her weapon back on us.

“I see the wheels in your head spinning, Aurora,” she taunts.

“Vera, what’s going on?”

“Oh, what the hell?” she says giddily. “It’s not like you’ll be around much longer to tell anyone. My name isn’t Vera Simpson like your father thought when he met me.”

“Bullshit,” I scoff. “You never would’ve gotten past his background checks.”

Vera cackles. “My dear, do you really think the United States government is the only one who has access to make people disappear and new ones appear out of thin air?” I gasp and shake my head in denial, fearing the words I know she’s about to say. “My given name is Vera Krukov,” she says, her Russian accent slipping through. “My father, Petrov Krukov, had no sons. I was his only heir, and after he was killed, my uncles shipped me to the States with a new identity. I was tasked with setting up our pipelines and commandeering new merchandise to sell. I was lucky enough to catch the eye of a general with access to ports, which is exactly what I needed.”

“You fucking bitch!” I yell.

“Manners, dear,” she chastises. “That’s no way to speak to your mother.”

“Fuck you,” I hiss. “You’re not my mother, you never were.”

She ignores me. “I found out you were digging around, trying to find out information about the missing women, and you stumbled upon the name Krukov and knew I had to intervene. It was easy to plant my niece as a decoy. I already had your work email so I had her reach out, and the rest is history. She messed up though, didn’t you Lace?” Lace shrinks into the leather seats. “She was supposed to lead you to us that day, but instead, she got into your car and let you drive in the opposite direction. Her father wasn’t too happy with her after that, and punishments were harsh. ”

“I wanted to be free!” Lace cries.

Vera narrows her eyes. “You’ll never be free. We’ve already sold you. You’re no longer of any use to us.”

I’m going to enjoy killing this bitch.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

Her eyes narrow. “We’re not going back to Norfolk, if that’s what you’re thinking. I know all about Rivers and his team destroying my headquarters there. Fortunately for me, they don’t know about the rest of them.”

“How do you know about that?”

“Listening devices,” she says nonchalantly. “After I realized your father found you and my merchandise started disappearing, I had to act.”

She doesn’t know what we’ve been doing in our spare time though. Thank God, Jaxson hasn’t told my dad.

“Why Vera?” I ask. “Why do all this?”

“Money, you stupid fool.” She stares dead in my eyes. “Money and power. Soon, I’ll return to Russia and take my rightful place as head of the family.”

“What are you going to do with us?”

“I’ve got an auction set up for tonight.”

Lace trembles beside me, and on autopilot, I wrap my arm around her. “My dad will figure it out.”

“No, he won't,” she sing-songs. “I’ve been nothing but a loving, doting stepmother to you. I’ll be devastated when I arrive home from my weekend spa trip and find you’ve vanished again with Lace. It won’t be hard to plant the seed of doubt in his head that Lace is in the Krukov family. In fact, my men are already working on the paper trail.”

This bitch is delusional, but even I have to admit, her plan is just fucking crazy enough to work. I hope my distress call gets through.