I can’t even look at him, because I know his wrath won’t be easy to handle.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Rai asks.
“I wanted to, but you were so busy with your marriage and the Bratva, and I couldn’t add more to it. Besides, I wanted to do something myself for once instead of always relying on you.”
“That was foolish, Anastasia.” Vladimir steps from the door, his bulk eating up half the space. “Even though we covered for you and returned the funds out of our own pockets, Adrian found out about what you’ve done and that nearly cost your father his position and life. Ours, too. He pulled a huge favor from the Pakhan in exchange for not harming you or exposing what you did.”
My head whips up. “I…didn’t think it’d come to this. I’m so sorry.”
“Apologies don’t fix what’s already broken.” Papa is still not looking at me, his face closed off and his expression dark. “You’ll not leave the house until you receive further instructions.”
“But…”
“That is final.”
“Please don’t hurt Babushka. Please.”
“That depends on how you act from now on.” Papa looks at me and I wish he hadn’t. He appears so much older, so much sadder. “You’ve disappointed me, Anastasia.”
He stands up and leaves, and I finally let the tears loose.
Home sweet home.
35
ANASTASIA
It’s been three days since I came back to Papa’s house and it feels like two months.
Maybe two years.
Being in the unknown about Babushka’s and my fate is slowly killing me. Rai promised that she won’t let anyone hurt her, but even she has no say whatsoever when Papa decides how things will go.
I have no access to my phone, which I predicted, and I threw away the one I used as Jane, so no one can retrieve it. Also, since Papa found out that the way I got all those funds was through hacking, he had Vladimir confiscate my laptop as well.
So I’m sort of cut off from the world, but I’ve figured out a way to follow Sandra’s case, and it’s through the most traditional way possible. TV.
I don’t want to watch it in the main hall since anyone can walk in, so I sneak into the staff’s quarters.
Distinct chatter in Russian reaches me from the kitchen, where many guards sit down for snacks or meals.
I slip into the adjoining room and leave the door ajar so I can continue listening to the rumble of their voices. The moment they stop talking, I’ll know I have to leave. The last thing I want is for them to report my sneaking around to Vladimir. Or worse, Papa.
He’d really lock me up in my room this time.
I turn on the TV and scroll to the local news channel, keeping the sound as low as possible.
My heart pounds when images of the Bell case fill the screen. Sandra is mobbed by reporters, but Knox singlehandedly pushes them off her and tells them his client has no statements to make.
This was during yesterday’s hearing. The reporter says that they’re being backed into a corner and the testimony of an important witness from Switzerland is very likely to be rejected. That leaves Sandra’s side with fewer options and their mission is starting to look impossible.
My feet tremble and it takes all my strength to remain standing. I know, I just know that the Bratva has something to do with it.
It doesn’t matter that I left, Kirill and especially Adrian won’t stop until they get what they want.
I press Pause on the picture frame that shows Knox grabbing Sandra’s elbow while he and Lauren guide her away from the crowd.
It’s a bit blurry, but I can see every line of his face and the cut of his jaw. I can even see the frown in his forehead and that perturbed look in his eyes. My shaky fingers reach out to the screen and I run them over his face, lingering on his cheek and mouth.
God, I miss him.
I miss him like I’ve never missed anyone before, and the knowledge that this ache will never disappear splinters the bones in my ribcage and digs them into my heart.
As I look closer at him, I notice something is wrong. I don’t know if it’s how dark his eyes are or how stiff he appears, but it’s there and I can’t look away from it.
The need to find out what’s wrong and make it better overwhelms me. But what can I do when I’m under house arrest?
“So this is the reason you returned.”
My body goes rigid at that familiar voice. The chatter of the guards from the next room is still ongoing, so I thought I was safe.
But I can never be safe from Adrian. I slowly turn to face him and he’s leaning against the wall, watching me and the TV screen as if he’s been here for a while. Maybe ever since I first got here.