Page 9 of Scarlet Promise (Yegorov Bratva #4)

Chapter Seven

ALINA

I set a ringtone on my phone rather than just silent or vibrate. I want to know if—when—Ilya calls.

It’s been three days. I stopped calling after the second day, when his phone went to silent.

Three days, which all feel like a decade each since I was rescued.

And no Ilya.

It hurts.

Albert licks my hand, his way of trying to bring me comfort, show me support.

“Solidarity,” I say to him. “Solidarity. Don’t worry. He didn’t abandon us. He couldn’t, not when you’re here. He’ll be back when Demyan stops being a meanie.”

Demyan. My heart twists at the thought of my domineering brother.

This is the darker side of him, the side Erin had to deal with at the beginning, when he decided she hid Sasha from him. He didn’t give her his real name, and her brother PI found out who he really was but never told her Demyan’s name.

My brother, the king of fairness and critical thinking in matters of the heart.

I just never expected him to turn all that on me.

No, I did. I just didn’t think it would be to this draconian extent.

Just like I never thought he’d scare Ilya off.

Scare, or give Ilya the excuse to back away from me.

As Albert pushes up against me like he’s telling me I’m wrong and Ilya will be back, I shut my eyes and hug him close.

I’m dressed but still in bed. I can’t see the point of going anywhere. Even in this damned mansion, I’ve got a bodyguard following me about. He’s most likely standing outside the door right now.

My phone starts to ring. Albert lifts his head as I pick it up and hit answer.

“Hey, Isla.”

“Welcome to your daily check-in. How are you?”

I giggle. “The same as I was last night and at lunch and?—”

“You can’t be too careful with check-ins. The more the better.”

“I’m good,” I say. “I promise.”

“I’m your number one support person.”

“Between you and Albert, I’m supported up the wazoo.”

“Is…is that a compliment?” she asks.

I pet Albert. “Sure is. Albert’s my favorite support animal, and you’re my favorite support friend.”

She laughs. Then she covers the phone to say something to someone.

“Are you at work?” I ask. “In the office?”

“Today. I had to be here for a meeting. It’s over. I’m now doing slacking off.”

“Isla, don’t get into trouble.”

“This business would fall apart without me. I do all their calls and research for grants from home. Saving whatever for a super- rich charity is hard work.” She pauses. “Are things with Demyan good?”

I sigh. “Not so much. Demyan’s got me under twenty-four-hour surveillance, and I haven’t even left the mansion. I can’t pee without him getting a report on how long I’m in the bathroom. It’s a wonder I don’t need to fill out a permission request to go.”

“It’s not that bad,” Isla says. “Is it?”

“Worse. I hate it. There’s a bodyguard outside my bedroom door.”

“Well, we’ll have to fix that. Don’t want the bodyguard getting too bored. We need a girls’ night soon. Or even a coffee.”

“I know,” I mutter. “I know Demyan means well, but he’s driving me insane. He’s angry, snapping at me, and then acts all contrite and sweet. The last one is as bad as the anger. I think it’s anger, thinly veiled. And on top of it all, I haven’t heard from Ilya. At all.”

“Maybe Demyan’s blocked him from calling.”

“No, I don’t think Demyan controls the cell phone providers.”

I even checked to make sure Ilya’s number wasn’t blocked. I also set up my security on my phone. Demyan can’t get into it unless he steals my face.

Before, I never bothered doing that. It seemed annoying, and what did I have to hide? If someone stole it, I could shut down service to it.

And I don’t have any secrets. Plus, all my photos are in the cloud and on my computer.

But now?

Demyan’s made me protect my phone from him.

He means well, but he’s pushing a wedge between us.

“Maybe he’s busy,” she says. “It’s Ilya. He’ll contact you.”

“I guess. I just want to know he’s okay. I’ve called him numerous times, and he hasn’t called back.”

“Really?” Isla asks, making my heart sink like stone.

“Really.” I take a shaking breath. “Do you think it’s me? That he’s angry at me? Or did Demyan say something?”

“Ilya? Mad at you? I doubt that. He could never be. Not past a tiff anyway. I told you, he worships you.” She pauses. “Demyan… Well, he might have said something to him, but why would Ilya listen?”

“He’d listen if Demyan told him it’d be in my best interest.”

“You need to talk to him. Going over and over this without talking to him is crazy.”

“He won’t answer the phone, and I can’t go there. The bodyguard?” I remind Isla.

“Well,” she says, “you know what they say about mountains… If you can’t go to the mountain, get the mountain to come to you.”

I laugh. “That’s not what they say.”

“How do you know? They say lots of things.” Isla lowers her voice, turning serious.

“Call him and keep calling until he answers. Tell him you want to see him and work it out from there. Your brother, no matter who he is or how powerful he is, shouldn’t have any control over your life, and you know it. ”

“I wish it was that easy.”

She sighs. “It is, sweetie. It is. Boundaries exist for a reason. If you told your brother you’d cut him out of your life, I bet he’d back down.”

Or double down.

But she’s right. Eventually, Demyan would back down.

But his version of backing down may not be hers. Or mine, for that matter. In her little scenario, he’d back down and open his arms. In mine, he’d back down and then close himself off. I’d be part of his life, but on the periphery.

Isla doesn’t know Demyan like I do.

I’ve seen him at his worst. Thing is, he’s never directed that at me.

It’s hard to navigate.

All I want is to see Ilya.

To be with him.

“I’ll call tomorrow,” Isla says. “Got to get back to things if I’m going to pick up Maize from my mom’s on time. She’s got a tango class or something to go to, so I can’t be late.”

“Say hi to your mom, and give Maize a big hug for me.”

“Do it yourself next time you see her.” She laughs. “But I will. Call him.”

When she hangs up, Albert looks at me, shifting so his paws are on my thighs. Then he rests his head on them when I don’t move. I stroke his soft fur, the sweet dog soothing me just by being here. Being him.

“I love you, Albert,” I whisper.

He lifts his head and yawns up at me, which I take as an “I love you, too.”

Finally, I gather the nerve to call Ilya again.

This time, he answers.

“Alina?” The careful way he says it hurts.

“Ilya, you’re picking up.”

His breath sounds against my ear, and I press the phone tighter, wishing I had my AirPods, wishing I’d thought to do FaceTime.

“ Malyshka ,” he murmurs, his voice warm and soft and full of everything I need. “I thought maybe it was Demyan.”

“No, I have my phone again. Didn’t you hear my message the other day?”

“I did. I just… Shit, Alina, I’m sorry. For it all.”

“For marrying me?”

“Yes, no. How can I regret that? I should, because if I’d been less selfish, you’d have never been kidnapped and?—”

“Ilya.” I look up at him. “You couldn’t have stopped me. Any more than you could have stopped me from caring for you.” From loving him. I close my eyes. “Thank you for bringing Albert, but next time, take me to him so we’re all together instead.”

There’s a sharp, harsh laugh from Ilya. “I’ve been an ass to you. I’m sorry. I just… I convinced myself you were better off without me.”

“I’m not. Ever. I belong with you, Ilya. You and Albert. We’re a team. I want to see you…”

“Any time you want, you can come home.”

I snort. “Demyan’s got a bodyguard for me.”

“Fuck. Demyan’s not going to allow you to up and leave, but I still have privileges at the Yegorov compound. I’m still part of the team, as far as anyone knows.”

“Sneak in.”

“I’m not?—”

“It’s the easiest thing. We can work out how to approach Demyan.

Because I’m not staying here. If the bodyguard must come to your mansion, so be it, but we need to work out the details.

” I stop. “And I just want to see you. I need to see you. I was so scared when I was taken. And all I want is to be in your arms. You and Albert, Ilya. Maybe Erin will help us.”

I know she will. She may be Demyan’s wife, but Erin believes in love. She believes in choice. She’s the calm to Demyan’s storm, the softness to his steel, the reason to his set ways.

“Do you think she’ll help?” he asks.

Ilya already sounds dubious about sneaking in, because I know him. He’d rather face this straight-on, and he can. After I’ve had the moments with him that my brother stole.

“Yes,” I say. “I do think she’ll help.”

He sighs. “Okay, if she can help set it up, I’ll be there.”

“I’ll call you with the details,” I say, then we hang up.

Albert and I do a little dance before we leave the room, the bodyguard trailing us down the stairs.

Erin’s in the small room she calls her study, where she and her good friend Kara run their little business from. It’s still in its infancy, but Erin tells me she’s good at it, and it gives her something to do when she’s not running around after small children.

I turn and glare at the bodyguard. I can’t remember his name. I don’t want to because that’s the start of some kind of bond, so he’s just Bodyguard in my head.

“No. You stay out here.” I point to the opposite wall. “Over there.”

I close the door on him.

Erin tucks a lock of blonde hair behind her ear. “You should be nicer to Z?—”

“No names. I don’t want to know it.”

“To your bodyguard. He didn’t choose the job. Demyan did, and I’m sure he’s bored senseless.” She closes her computer and rises, coming around to me and leading me to the sofa where we sit. “But you didn’t come in here to talk about your bodyguard, did you?”

“Nope.” I let out a breath. “But first, how’s work?”

Erin smiles, getting up and going to the wet bar. “Soda, tea, coffee, bourbon, or water?”

“It’s a little too early for booze. Just water.”