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MIA

I fucked up.

I fucked up so bad.

I fall to my knees and put my head in my hands. I want to scream so badly. Everything was going so well until Brad’s call. Why did this have to happen now?

Why didn’t I get a chance to tell Yulian the truth?

He told me he loved me. That he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. He was ready to make me the happiest woman on earth.

Now, he won’t even look me in the eye.

It’s all your fault. The guilt burns a hole through my heart. You should have come clean earlier. While you still had the chance.

But I didn’t. I lost my chance. And now, I might lose him, too.

Forever.

Maksim punches the counter. “ Blyat’! ” It’s odd, seeing him this furious. He’s usually much more composed. But then again, he isn’t usually under this kind of pressure, either.

I’ve hurt so many.

Without realizing it, I start sobbing.

Maksim’s swearing pauses.

I hear him walk up to my side, touch my shoulder. “C’mon, Miss,” he says gruffly. “Get up. It won’t do you any good to cry yourself hoarse on the floor.” His tone turns grim. “And it won’t do Kalinda good, either.”

Kallie. The reminder makes me shoot to my feet. “I’m sorry,” I say. “You’re right.”

My best friend. She was taken by Prizrak—by Brad— because of me. Brad wants to trade her. He won’t let her go until he’s had what he wanted all along.

Me.

And Eli.

I clench my fists. No. That won’t happen. I won’t let it. I’ve come this far to save him—I won’t let Brad sink his claws into him now.

But Kallie…

She’s my friend. My best friend, my ride-or-die. She’s saved my ass a thousand times—with work, with Eli. After the fire, she went above and beyond to make sure there was always someone with him. She’s gotten me out of trouble over and over, and now, she’s the one in trouble.

Because of me.

I sit down heavily on the couch. I’m drowning in guilt. I can’t see a way out. “What are we gonna do?”

Maksim sits down next to me. He’s fidgeting, I can see—another reminder of how much is at stake. If he’s reining it in right now, it’s for my sake alone. “We can’t afford to wait. That much is for certain.”

Of course. If Brad gets impatient, there’s no telling what he might do. He was never the best person, but when he’s beaten? That’s when he’s at his worst. He’ll do whatever it takes to win—hurt anyone.

And I can’t bear the thought of Kallie being hurt.

“You need to get through to Yulian,” I plead. “He… he won’t listen to me right now.”

But Maksim gives a firm shake of his head. “He won’t listen to anyone. He never does when he’s hurt.”

Hurt. That word stabs me like a knife. I did that to him—I hurt him. Kept a secret I never should have kept, made him think I didn’t trust him. Worse, that he can’t trust me anymore.

After all his progress, all his growth… I put him right back on square one.

It’s all my fault. If it hadn’t been for me, we’d be working on a plan right now. We’d be halfway to saving Kallie. No—she never would have been kidnapped in the first place.

And Yulian…

“I need to fix this.” I stand abruptly. “I—I need to talk to him.”

“He’s not in a good mood, Mia.”

“Kallie doesn’t have the luxury of waiting until he’s in a better mood.”

I start to go, but Maksim stops me.

“Brad… He asked for your son.” His gaze bores into me. “What are you gonna do? If push comes to shove, which way will you choose?”

His question paralyzes me.

Eli… I can’t give him up. I won’t. I’ve come too far to let him down now. He’s my son—he’ll always be first in my heart.

But Kallie… She’s my world, too. She was always there for me, always treating us like family. If I turned my back on her now, how could I live with myself?

It’s impossible. A cruel, impossible choice.

Unless…

Unless there’s a third option.

All my life, I’ve been dancing to the tune of someone else. Been working with what I was given, head bowed. Not a word of complaint, not a single protest.

But that’s over now.

It’s high time I started making my own rules.

“Maks.” I realize my voice is shaking. “If… if I asked you for something, would you do it?”

“Of course,” he answers without missing a beat. “You’re the pakhansha. ”

“Even if it goes against what Yulian would want?”

That gives him pause. “I’m afraid you’ll have to be more specific.”

“I can’t. If I tell you, you’ll get in trouble. It’s best if I’m acting alone.”

His brow knits at that. “Whatever you’re about to do… it won’t hurt Yulian, will it?”

“No.” It comes out more forceful than I’d intended. “Never.” Never again, my heart corrects. “But it might save Kallie’s life.”

Maksim straightens up. His forehead is beaded with sweat, face as pale as I’ve ever seen it. He should be in bed right now, recovering from his surgery, but here he is, bargaining for Kallie’s life.

If there was any doubt he was the right one for her, there isn’t anymore.

“What do I do?” He squares his shoulders. His eyes shine with a new, determined light. “What do you need?”

I exhale slowly with relief. It would have been hard to get this done alone, but with Maksim, I can do it.

I hope I can do it.

No—

I have to do it.

“Get the car ready,” I tell him.

“Got it. And what will you do?”

I pick up something. Two things. One tool I’ll need, and another I hope I’ll never have to use.

“Exactly what I have to do.”