Page 62

I stared out of the tinted window, noticing the abandoned industrial building we were slowly approaching.

Nikolai instinctively kept his hand on his gun tucked into his side.

Meanwhile, I didn't bother bringing one.

I knew it would be removed from me before I get a chance to walk in that building.

I did, however, hide a knife in my socks that I wore with my boots.

And not the obvious side part.

The pocket knife rested under my foot, which was very fucking uncomfortable.

But it was the only way to sneak any sort of weapon in.

I glanced over as soon as my driver opened the door for me—allowing me to step down to the gravel that crunched underneath my high-heeled boots.

As expected there were already men standing in front of the doors and waiting to pat both of us down.

They of course removed all weapons from Nikolai.

Meanwhile, I practically held my breath as they patted me down, glancing inside of both my boots.

But luckily, they didn't ask me to take my shoes off and let me pass through.

The inside of the run-down building was just as I expected—dirty concrete floors, dim lighting, and large windows boarded up with cardboard.

Nerissa stood in the middle of it all with four men standing firmly behind her.

But I was not scared of her.

Much less even worried about her.

It was Arina and Yuri that I felt worried about.

She is not holding them here... is she?

"Hand them over," I spoke first as we slowly got closer to her.

"All in due time," Nerissa said, having the nerve to meet my eyes for once.

I swear once this is all said and done, I will carve her eyes out.

I will leave her blind.

"Sign over your end and it's all yours," Nerissa stated, motioning over to the contract one of the men held.

I raised a brow, "I prefer board rooms and lengthy meetings before I sign anything," I purposely said, knowing I needed to stall her.

Perhaps we make meeting arrangements.

But I knew that was unlikely with her.

"Sure," Nerissa said, motioning at the man to put the contract away, "I just keep Arina and Yuri until then."

I narrowed my eyes at her, "I only meet and consider this if you let them go," I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

"You forget I have the leverage, Koslov," Nerissa said, tilting her head at me.

I shrugged, "Then keep them alive and we arrange meeting," I said almost reluctantly.

But I knew Sevan had people surrounding this place.

We also have the executioners and different mafia's landing in Moscow so we will find other way to get them out.

But as she stated, they are Nerissa's only leverage.

She won't kill them just yet.

"See that is not going to work," Nerissa determined with pursed lips, "You aren't leaving here without signing this contract."

I lazily raised my brows, "This place is surrounded, Nerissa—I leave if I see fit," I said, taking a step back from her.

Nerissa tilted her head, "I am well aware we are surrounded," she said, glancing over to the man on her left.

Who slid a small remote from his pocket, immediately pressing two buttons.

I could hear the explosives distantly.

Until they slowly got closer, rippling louder and louder until it stopped.

Yet not a single one of us flinched.

We only stared at each other silently.

"Now with no weapons or defense, I think I will put you with the others," Nerissa determined as I suddenly began calculating my next moves.

But there are four men and all I have is knife tucked far away from a quick reach.

So I shrugged, "I do not mind waiting you out," I determined, knowing in order to stall her I would have to take the fall for everyone else.

Besides, I want to ensure Yuri and Arina are well.

"Me either," Nerissa said, motioning her men toward us.

And while two grabbed my arms—the others grabbed Nikolai's arms, who remained silent to follow along with my plan to wait Nerissa out.

Past the main area of the industrial building there were doors.

Nikolai was taken through the right doors while I was taken through the left.

Where I immediately noticed the metal bars that made up three divided cells.

Only one was empty while two people sat in the others.

Arina and Yuri.

Although, Yuri looked asleep as he laid on the thin sleeping bag.

And Arina sat in the corner of her cage with her knees to her chest—glancing up at our footsteps.

"Via," Arina immediately said, standing from her spot to walk to the edge of her cell.

Which looked newly built, given the clean metal installed from the floor to the low ceiling.

It contrasted the run-down state of this building so I could only assume Nerissa has had this planned.

"How are you feeling? Are you fed?" I asked her, walking into the cage that the two men opened.

And I could've easily fought them and won with their guards both down.

But it wasn't about that.

It's about my lack of weapons.

How I have a child and an older man to protect.

I wait for Sevan—she will know what to do.

She hears everything on the wire that I still have, so that makes me feel much better.

"I am not fed—they do not care for us at all," Arina mumbled, glancing over to Yuri, "He has had no food and barely any water, Via."

I clenched my jaw as I eyed his body, knowing they had been held here for close to twenty-four hours now.

And they've been given nothing?

"He also does not have his pills and-and—"

"We will figure this out," I immediately cut Arina short with reassurance.

But I could see on her face that my words didn't hold weight.

She is scared.

I think I might be scared too.

But not of dying.

Or even having to endure torture.

I am scared of people close to me dying at my hands.

Months ago, I would have laughed at the outcome of all this.

But now...

Now I am different person.

"Via," I heard Yuri suddenly mumble, furrowing his brows as he blinked his tired eyes open.

"Do not speak—save your energy," I immediately said, but Yuri only shook his head.

"You should not be here, it is a trap—"

"I do not care," I cut him short with firmness, "I walk into trap to keep you guys safe," I clarified.

"So you have plan?" Arina whispered hesitantly.

I nodded immediately, "I have Sevan—that is more than enough," I assured them both.

"I am very happy you and Sevan found each other," Yuri added, which felt almost completely unrelated to our current topic.

"Stop that," I said, glancing past Arina to Yuri in the cage further down, "You do not talk like you are dead man."

Yuri forced a weak hum, "I only show my gratitude—especially for taking us both off of the street," he said, continuing to do exactly what I told him not to do.

"You will also have gratitude for when I get you out of here as well," I determined, twisting his words back to him.

"Very grateful," Yuri said, his words weak and tired, "I am grateful for your kindness even if I have not been entirely honest with you."

I raised a brow, "What do you mean?" I immediately asked.

Arina shook her head, "No papa—"

"Nerissa was very kind to us on the street and offered me large amount of money to get something on you," Yuri explained, roughly clearing his throat, "It was before I knew you and I am very sorr—"

"Nyet-nyet," I cut him short, shaking my head a few times.

This cannot be true.

He is not the mole.

Ivan is the mole.

His absence only clarifies such.

"Papa stop," Arina forced out, and I could easily notice the glossiness coating her light eyes.

"This is not true—it can't be true," I said, turning away from them as I tried to gather my breathing.

And my emotions.

Because my heart has never felt so heavy in my chest.

It is almost concerning how deeply I feel right now.

Everyone around me feels so disloyal.

My father.

Yuri and Arina.

I am unsure of Ivan's intentions as well, considering all of this stuff happens and he is not here.

"I am sorry, Via," I heard Yuri force out in a whisper.

I shook my head, "Shut up," I mumbled, briefly closing my eyes to think about all of this, "Just everyone needs to shut up—I am thinking."

"But Via—"

"Arina I am serious," I said, not bothering to look at her.

Mostly because I couldn't.

I cannot look at either of them now.

It was a mix of disappointment, betrayal, and disgust all growing around me at once—unable to truly process it all.

I just stared ahead silently, trying to not care about all of this.

But then I began thinking about past instances.

Was Arina in that store stealing medicine on purpose?

Did they know I would invite them to stay at my compound or would they have tried until I did offer?

Maybe their job was merely to befriend me.

Either way, Ettore said to handle this mole situation.

And I know exactly what he means by handle.

He'll want Yuri dead.

And I...

I can't fucking do that.

No matter the sting and aftermath of his careless actions.

I still care about him.

My father would be disappointed.

But I think I am more disappointed in us all.

For their actions—my forgiveness, and then my father being the liar at the top of the pyramid.

It is all disappointing.

"Via."

I shook my head, "I am thinking," I said, not bothering to stare away from the dirty wall.

At least until I realized the deepness of the voice.

Nikolai.

He was walking toward my cell with a few men escorting him—which naturally made me furrow my brows.

What is happening?

I glanced over to the door of my cell that they opened—shoving Nikolai inside with me.

"Nerissa she..." Nikolai trailed off, watching the men close the cell and walk toward the doors, "She wants me to convince you to sign it all over."

I shook my head, "Nyet," I immediately shut his idea down, deciding to wait for Sevan's arrival.

"But she will begin killing us," Nikolai whispered, eyeing Arina and Yuri off in their separate cages.

I shrugged, "They are both traitors anyway," I mumbled back, even if I did not necessarily mean it.

It burned my throat to even say it.

But my ego is fighting me on this.

Fighting me on what is right and wrong.

And they lied to me this entire time.

"What about us?" Nikolai asked me, wanting to know my game plan, "You are okay with us dying too?"

I shook my head, "Sevan handles this," I assured Nikolai.

Who nodded almost hesitantly.

Especially when those doors opened again.

And in walked Nerissa with a few men following behind her.

"It is time for you to sign this," Nerissa said, motioning the men over to unlock the cell.

Which made Nikolai immediately step in front of me—pushing one of the men away when they tried to walk toward me.

But then came another.

And unlike Nikolai, I did not bother to fight.

I have not fought this entire time actually.

Because I save my energy—I choose which battle will be the best.

"I know you assume Cortez will show up," Nerissa said as we walked toward the doors.

And I couldn't help but briefly glance over my shoulder, noticing Arina who was seated in the corner of her cell with her knees to her chest, then Yuri who still laid flat and silent, and Nikolai, who watched us walk away.

"She will," I said as the men firmly closed the doors behind us—walking back out into the main area.

"But do you want her to, is the question?" Nerissa said as we stopping in the middle of the abandoned warehouse, "She knew we were sisters. I was supposed to be your replacement if you chose not to sign her agreement."

I shook my head at her attempt to turn me against Sevan, "Okay," I calmly said, not bothering to give into her lie.

Until something flashed in my head.

Words specifically.

I recalled them from the time Sevan had me locked in that dark room.

What she had told me.

"You think I need you Zinovia?" Sevan asked, tilting her head as she eyed my face, "I can have you replaced by tonight."

Was she... did she have Nerissa as my replacement?

"It's clicking isn't it?" Nerissa said, eyeing my face for a moment.

I shook my head, refusing to give her that satisfaction.

Refusing to believe Sevan had lied to me as well.

Has everyone lied to me?

"Imagine I did take your place..." Nerissa murmured, her light eyes tracing my face, "Perhaps I would be the one on Cortez's arm—"

"I kill you," I cut her short, lunging towards her.

But with her men restraining me, I could not do much.

All Nerissa really had to do was take a calm step back from me.

"I think I will leave you to process this information," Nerissa determined with a deep sigh, "Maybe after you will have decided to sign it all over."

I shook my head at her words—knowing I would not give my deserved power up.

Even if everyone is liars.

They are all fucking liars.

I trust no one anymore.