Page 3 of The Runaway

“Uh- about half an hour. To be fair, once we get there, we’ll probably have to ditch the limo. Traffic is insane at this time of day. After 3pm, it’s pretty much at a standstill.” Cocking my head, I frowned while my mind tried frantically to keep up with Reece. Sitting back, he nodded slightly. “I guess it’s better to see the city that way rather than craning your head out of a car window.”

3

Joci

“Joci.” I blinked, tearing my eyes off the golden glitter of the city that never slept. Ophelia put a hand on my shoulder, and prickles raced down my spine as she smiled at me. “Want to go in and eat?”

“Oh- um…”Not only do I have to learn to speak better English… I have to learn to read it, too.The thought dragged down my cheeks, and I turned my gaze back at the letters hanging above the store. What did they spell? What was this delicious smell? “I’m too excited to be hungry.”

“We are— that’s why we came this way. Reece suggested this place. Even if you don’t eat, you should come in with us.” Oh, right… I forgot that tidbit of information; I was so distracted by everything… everything— everything I saw and all the thoughts rampaging around in my head.

“No- it’s okay. I’ll walk around, and you call me.” Speaking English got a little easier every time I opened my mouth, and Ophelia smiled despite the worried wrinkle between her brow. Truth be told, Carlyle Santino would be stupid not to have people following us aside from the ones we know about. Slowly, Ophelia nodded, and I inhaled through flared nostrils in a bid to calm my racing heart.

“Okay. We’ll be here for a while, probably.” I held myself stiff as Ophelia’s hand fell from my shoulder. She, Sascha and Reece walked in, his hands moving animatedly as he described all the wonderful things about this restaurant. Glancing up at the sign again, my frown darkened before I started down the sidewalk.

“Maybe… I shouldn’t have been so quick to be on my own…” My murmur was lost in the noise of the city. New York City was a fancier, better version of Moscow, but the noises were always the same in places like these. The only difference was that the sky was lighter— rose higher— seemed endless. In Moscow, the sky was fake. I was a prisoner whose cage was painted to mimic the real world.

But here, in New York City, I had the chance at freedom, even though it would be an uphill battle. Flopping my head back, I paused my shuffling to stare, unblinking, at the sun glinting off the endless expanse of windows reaching up— up— up… The sky was no longer something I looked at, but lookedthroughat all the beautiful, wonderful, mesmerizing strata that animated it. No longer was the sky flat, but thick and dense with crystals and angles and barely any dead, empty space.

Somewhere, in one of those tiny, hollow crags, was where I belonged. Somehow, I would find a place that fit me and only me, and I would slowly but surely carve away more space when needed.

I’m getting philosophical with my freedom.Lowering my head, I reached to rub my eyes as a sigh built deep in my chest. Could I really believe that Aleksander would keep his word? Nothing he’d said on the plane was untrue. I was a nuisance to him, and from a certain standpoint, I was lucky that he hadn’t killed me in that cell five years ago. He would never have a use for me. I would never make a difference to him.

But every one of those people— thoseirritants— didn’t exist anymore in this or any world. Could I rely on Aleksander’s pathetically flimsy sense of guilt, if that was what this offer even stemmed from? Anatoly and I had dated, and not even seriously, for a few weeks, and Aleksander had said so himself… that Anatoly’s childish tantrums were a problem. Was that why he’d kept me around? To remind his little brother that not all things can be accomplished by throwing himself on the ground and screaming?

If so, whynow? Surely, this was Aleksander’s best chance to get rid of me. He very well could just leave me here, in America, and forget about me. Everything would be fine on his end.

My head started to ache from all the questions barraging the backs of my eyes. Shaking my head roughly, I sucked in a sharp, loud breath and grit my teeth.Whatever Aleksander’s motives aren’t my problem anymore. I’m taking this opportunity, and he wouldn’t have offered if he wasn’t serious. This serves him no purpose— there’d be no contact, after all. He wouldn’t break his own rule and drag me back. His pride won’t let him.

Stuffing my hands into my jacket pocket, I kicked my short heel against the sidewalk before starting off again. This city was so filled with people that the air wasn’t as cold as it should’ve been. Puckering my lips, I could only faintly see the puff of air when I blew. My jeans kept the nip at bay as I walked aimlessly, and I paused at a crosswalk to wait for the light to turn.

Despite the evening drawing closer and closer to night, the city was so bright andalive. People swarmed the streets in beautiful clothes, and I paid no attention to where I was going as I watched them all. Words I didn’t know swarmed around me, and tension zinged up and down my spine.

There was one word Ididrecognize in English- Bar. Ducking into the first one I came by, I licked my lips heavily as the familiar smell of alcohol and fried food curled into my nostrils. Reaching to run both my hands through my hair, I weaved through the crowd towards the bar.

The selection was impressive, glittering along the back wall in pretty bottles with pretty colors. Stuff I’d never seen before called to me, and I sat on a free barstool to take off my jacket. If one thing was international, it was a bar, and my gaze roamed down the rich mahogany to gesture politely.

“Hey- I.D. please.” My lips parted in an ‘o’, and I pulled out my passport as the bartender propped his elbows on the bar in front of me. “Oh- uh- Hey, Carly! Come here real quick!”

“I’m 27.” A female bartender bounced over as I spoke, and my cheeks flamed at how bad I sounded. Pointing at the birth date printed on my passport, I gnawed on my inner cheek as surprised, brown eyes met mine.

“Oh-h that’s cool. We haven’t had a Russian in here for a while. You can serve her, Cade.” Just like that, she flounced away again, her blonde ponytail swished around behind her. Blinking at how easy that was, my brows drew as I turned to the man— Cade— while he nodded in acknowledgment.

“What can I get you?” He spoke slower, and relief slumped my shoulders as I put my passport back in my inner jacket pocket and fastened the zipper. Gazing at the wall of alcohol, I decided to try something I hadn’t had before; tequila wasn’t easy to come by at most bars in Moscow. Pointing at a bottle that caught my eye, a small, apologetic smile stretched my lips.

“Is this your first time in America?” Cade was easy, and I nodded quietly as he grabbed the bottle to effortlessly pour me a shot. “How are you liking it?”

“Um- not long here.”Jesus, kill me now.“First day.” Embarrassment threatened to melt my cheeks, but Cade simply hummed softly with no change in his expression. “My English is bad. Sorry.”

“It’s fine.” Pulling out his cell phone, he opened the device to hold to his face, and curiosity sloshed up my throat. He said something in English that I couldn’t follow before holding out the phone and tapping a button. “How long are you going to be in the city? You can download this app to help you if you want. It’s called Translator. Very original.”

My brows nearly flew off my face at the electronic voice that spewed out of the phone’s speaker, a squeak of surprise escaping me. Instantly, I whipped out my phone, and Cade smiled warmly as I navigated the screen with tingly thumbs.

“Yes— um, I am moved here. Nothere, but… America.” Waving my hand in an all-encompassing gesture, I tapped the ‘Download’ button with a satisfied huff. “Thank you.”

“Sure. Do you want any food? Have you ever had fried mozz?” The confusion on my face must’ve been enough of an answer, and Cade snatched a small menu to hold it out for me. “These are the prices. Do you have dollars on you?”

“I’ll handle her tab, Cade.” A second, deep voice sounded from behind me, and I twisted as a handsome, blonde man in a suit sidled up to the bar. “Can I get another beer, too, please.”