Page 27

Nobody followed me out. The compound was oddly quiet thanks to the early hours, or the fact that Ilya’s security was already stationed at the wedding venue.

Maxim’s car was still parked in the driveway, the keys in the ignition. A wave of relief hit me. I inhaled deeply, finding comfort in the familiar scent of spiced liquor laced with tobacco and leather within the vehicle’s safety.

The stereo turned on along with the engine, and Maxim’s Russian rap playlist filled the car. It hit differently when you understood the lyrics.

I desperately wanted to laugh, but the sound died in my throat. The seriousness of the situation prevented me so I focused on the drive instead.

I felt a strange sense of responsibility when it came to Maxim’s belongings .

A brief search through the frequently used searches revealed his address. I drove the vehicle to one of the Galkin-owned residences in the city, knowing I had a comfortable lead.

His black jacket lay in the back seat, and I reached for the leather, moving the clothing to the front while I debated how clingy it would make me if I kept it. As if any of it mattered.

With the car parked safely within the complex, I headed toward the closest subway station. On high alert, I stared down at anybody who dared to look my way. Nobody stood out of the ordinary. People commuted to work, trying to beat the rush hour. Many returned home from night shifts or parties.

I rode the train for a good thirty minutes, heading toward Brooklyn.

Despite the alliance, the Russians won’t enter Italian territory without a heads-up. By then, I’ll be gone.

The backup phone wouldn’t stop ringing in my pocket when I resurfaced back on the street, picking up service.

Without looking, I knew who would be reckless enough to call me, or even have this number.

“Maxim,” his name left my mouth.

“Tell me where you’re headed.”

I couldn’t think. Couldn’t even focus.

“Why? So you can send Ilya right to me?” I barked back.

His voice carried a hint of hurt. “You know I wouldn’t do that.”

Did I, though? Regardless, I didn’t have a plan, merely an idea.

“Your sister is marrying him. You work for both now. It’s exactly what you should do.”

Heavy breaths bounced off my ear. Worried he could be holding me on the line purposely to trace the signal, I set on ending this conversation.

“Listen to me Maxim, you have your family’s safety to consider,” I reminded him. “You’re going to let me go. Do you understand?”

He had to. This wasn’t what either of them signed up for .

No answer. Static sounds filled the gaps.

I continued, hoping to talk some sense into him. “Malek will have your head if he learns you helped me. And you know exactly what they do to rats.”

Because you assisted many times, I thought.

“I’m not afraid of Malek,” Maxim growled back. Control was slipping from him, I could tell.

“This ain’t right,” he protested. “What do you want me to do? Sit pretty and watch them plan your execution?”

My heart sank at the words, but I couldn’t afford to admit the meanings behind them.

“It won’t come to that,” I tried to assure him. “Just trust me. I’ll be fine. I’ve been on my own for a while.”

When he remained silent, I reinforced the previous statement with more assurances. “This is what I do. It’s all I’ve known until all you people came along.”

“What if I don’t want you to be alone anymore?”

My steps halted, and I stood still, overwhelmed by the conversation. Or how much I hated having to do this over the phone.

Still, satisfaction awoke within me. At how right I was to think this could be more. So much more than a dream. The thoughts left me bittersweet, given the timing.

I stayed on the high road, hitting the imaginary switch that shut off all the emotions.

“Maxim. This kind of talk gets you and your family killed,” I scolded him.

I knew he expected a different reaction, but I couldn’t give him hope when I, myself, haven’t had any.

“Just stick to Alisa. And please let her know I’m very sorry for ruining her wedding day.” I couldn’t think about her, or what this meant for our friendship .

“Whatever happens, she’ll always be safe from me,” I relayed the message.

“It’s between Ilya, Malek, and I. And it’ll end that way. I will right this wrong. Alone.”

With the parting words, I made one more call before I disposed of the phone by throwing the device to the nearest trash can.

It wasn’t smart, but I had no other choice. If I used a phone booth? He wouldn’t pick up an unknown number.

“Pick up, pick up. Please,” I whispered under my breath, listening to the repeated rings.

“ Pronto ?” Enzo’s raspy voice greeted me.

“Are you still in the city?” I blurted out, thankful to get a hold of him.

That got his attention. “Maybe. What is it?”

“I need an extraction.”

“Who?”

I closed my eyes and said, “Myself.”

“ Cazzo ,” he swore. A brief pause followed. Just when I thought he hung up, he threw me a lifeline. “You got thirty minutes.”

I wasn’t surprised Enzo was eager to help. He never gave me the tiniest reason to doubt this friendship. But asking for his help? That was another thing entirely.

“I won’t forget it.”

“Be careful.”

Under-prepared, that’s what I was. How did I become the hunted?

Getting a grip on the anxiety flooding my brain, I flagged down the first taxi to take me to the apartment, where I gathered necessities before rushing to the provided address.

The private airstrip was deserted at this ungodly hour. The sun was barely in sight when I entered the check-in area, where a familiar face awaited me.

My head shook in a frenzy, careful not to attract attention .

“You shouldn’t be here,” I murmured, slapping the man’s chest.

He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said casually.

“I am flying back to Italy on an urgent business. But you see, I had one too many last night, so I brought a hot date on board.” With a wink and a smile, he added, “Jenna or Katie, I can’t recall, but I’m sure the check-in lady will know all her details. ”

A sigh of relief escaped me.

Enzo didn’t waste any time picking me up and carrying me toward the jet while I used his body to cover my face.

He was the one I could always count on. It was time to repay him for all the good he had done for me.

“Thank you,” I whispered to his neck.

In the distance, the private aircraft, my means of the great escape, awaited us. This wasn’t forever. Just for a little while.

While the crew rushed the preparations for the takeoff, we sat in the comfy seats. Maxim’s leather jacket stolen from the car kept me warm. I wasn’t ready to take it off. Not yet. I refused to analyze what that meant.

An hour ago, I crossed him out, crossed them all out. Out of paranoia or fear for their immediate safety. It had to be this way. For now, or forever, that remained unclear.

Up in the clouds, I recapped all that had happened in the recent hours.

Enzo paid close attention, clinging to every word, and hearing the story out loud put things into perspective.

In need of a moment, I turned to stare out the window. The clouds wrapped around the aircraft, and I imagined what it must be like to free-fall through them.

Would it feel freeing? Or mediocre, knowing it was short-lived?

Taking our silence as her cue, the flight attendant brought us refreshments and cold drinks. When she retired back to the front of the plane, Enzo asked the important question. “What are you going to do? ”

“I need a minute to think,” I admitted. My mind was spinning, but somewhere at the core, a plan was forming.

“You pointed a gun at the Pakhan and made it out alive.”

Realizing I left out an important part, I expanded, “I might have fired at him, too.”

Enzo stared at me, his expression filled with pride. “On top of that, you refused a direct order and a million other reasons they’ll demand your head for.”

“Fuck his order,” I spat, shooting to my feet. “What did he expect me to do? Nod silently and let Malek whisk me away to his Russian fortress, where I’d be locked up for the rest of my life?”

A shiver ran through me.

“Play a docile wife, bear him little ones so he and Ilya can stay in power?” At my expense.

I paced the aisle of the plane, stomping loudly. The flight attendant peaked from behind the curtain, concerned, but Enzo dismissed her with a wave.

When it all dawned on me, I added the crucial piece. “Malek never saw me for who I am. I let him close, and his obsession will cost us all.”

There it was: the truth and the partial blame.

Emotions hit me out of nowhere. An uncomfortable burn rooted itself behind my eyes, threatening to spill the tears. A heaviness weighted down my entire being. In the sky’s safety, I broke down in front of a person for the first time in my adult life.

Quiet sobs sounded from my chest. I fought the urge to suppress the sounds. Enzo drew circles down my back, and it was his reassurement that made me let go of all that had been burdening me. I lost control, omitting everything that held me together.

Not only was I furious at Ilya for using me as a bargaining chip, but I also felt betrayed. By him, by my mother, or life in general. Everyone seemed to have abandoned me sooner or later .

Life took them away, leaving me with no choice but to take over.

Extinguish the wildfires they all left in their wake.

It would be so easy to resort back to being the girl hiding in the closet. Scared and hopeless. To not bother fighting anymore. Give up hope. Curse everybody to hell and back.

I couldn’t. That would mean they won.

I allowed myself this one moment of fragility. Let all the emotions out to make space for the strength to replace them.

Piece by piece, I will build back up.

“I can’t marry Malek, Enzo,” I forced out between hiccups.

“Understood.” He gave me a sharp nod, passing a bottle of fancy water.

“Do you think it’s selfish?” I sought his opinion, voicing the insecurity that made me doubt my actions.

Leveling me with a look, Enzo expressed his answer in a question. “To take control of your life?”

To refuse to give it up, I thought.

When we ran out of need for words, I resorted to playing out each scenario from start to finish. And when I finally considered all the options, I addressed Enzo, who patiently waited.

“I know what I have to do.”

With a subtle smile, he turned to me. “What do you need from me?”

“I need to get some sleep. Breakfast and coffee won’t hurt, and I’ll be on my way.”

“Where?”

“Everywhere. I think it’s time I got to see the world.”

Enzo tensed at the statement, not understanding my intent, but I quickly put him at ease.

“At least for a short while.”

I held Maxim’s jacket hostage, closed my eyes, and dreamed about a new world .

A better world. Within reach. To those who dared to get their hands dirty and build the path.