Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 92160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
It wasn't just his brother going behind his back.
She let her own son bear the brunt of it.
And she let her other son pull the trigger.
Fury rises in my chest.
His mother shakes her head, her eyes cold and calculating.
"Matvei loved those cousins of his way more than his own brother. Just the way he treated him after he betrayed them was enough to show it. We all knew it."
I'm struck by how horrible she is.
She was complicit in all of it.
It's because of her.
"Run, you stupid little bitch. I'm glad you're not having his baby. We don't need your kind around here. Pack your bag and fucking run. He'll find somebody else. Somebody better. Somebody who can have his babies."
I stare at her.
"What do you think you know about me?"
“I know everything. I was there the day Gleb supposedly betrayed everybody. I know exactly why he sent them after Polina instead of you. I knew the Irish were going to take you in. You young kids think you know everything, but some of us have been here for decades, way longer, before you were born, and we have connections.” She points a long, pointy nail at me. “Some of us have alliances in places you haven't even thought of. So take your bag, and I'm going to make this very easy for you. It was too much for you. You needed to run. You had nowhere to go, but this was no place for you. So you left. You're going to write him a note and make sure he never finds you again."
I shake my head. “No.”
"Yes," she says, her voice like steel. "I want you out of my son's life. You don't deserve a penny of his money or a second in this town. You're nobody. You're nothing."
Every word falls like a sledgehammer. And in the weight of realizing I can't give him the one thing he needs, I feel like nothing. Like nobody. My throat tightens.
But I will not be bullied by the woman behind this, especially not before I tell him everything.
She raises her hand as if to slap me when someone grabs me from behind and pulls me back.
I scream.
“Hey. It’s me.”
I look over my shoulder to see Yana holding a gun. She speaks into her phone. "Please tell him we've detained Irma."
I can leave now before there's no turning back. Before he's married to me. Before he actually cares. This is it. This is the time.
I pick up my bag, my hand shaking. It's time for me to do what I do best—become invisible. Disappear. Just like the little ghost he says I am.
"I don’t think so."
Vadka stands in the doorway, tall and strong, the square cut of his jaw firm, glaring at Irma.
"When Rafail finds out what you're complicit in…" he begins, and Irma’s eyes go wide.
"I don’t take orders from him."
I move to the side. They won’t see me, maybe they’ll be distracted.
"No," Yana says smoothly. "We're well aware. But your husband does, doesn’t he? I was under the impression that my brother pays your credit card bills, your rent, and the stipend you both receive since Gleb was killed. No?"
"I'm not giving any of that up. It’s my right!"
Keep them talking. Keep them talking.
I could take my bag and slip out the back door. I don't want any of them to see me.
Yana looks at me. "The decision to stay or go is up to you." Her voice drops, softer, almost pleading. "Please don't go."
She turns back to Irma.
"And I'm going to tell him what you did,” Yana says.
"Bitch," she snaps.
Yana laughs, a pretty, tinkling little sound, and Vadka growls. "For fuck’s sake, don’t make me shoot a woman, Yana."
I stand at the door.
If I don’t go now, I never will. One look at him—one word—and I’ll fold. He’ll ask me to stay. And then I’ll be trapped in this house forever.
It's not just that I won't get another shot at this. It's that if I see Matvei, if I take one look into his eyes, I won't be able to walk away.
I have to go.
I stare at my bag. I stare at the exit. Vadka and Yana hold my space, letting me go, knowing that Matvei will lose his mind. When he gets here, he’s going to be distracted. I could—
Tires squeal outside, and Irma's eyes go wide.
Oh no. It’s too late. Rodion and Matvei are back.
It's too late.
Matvei and Rodion are running toward us.
The moment his eyes land on me, I feel it… like gravity just doubled. His gaze drops to the bag. The energy between us tightens like a wire about to snap. His jaw clenches. His shoulders square. We both know exactly what this is.
There’s a shriek behind us.
His mother is running.
“Matvei! They’re trying to kill me!” He freezes, shocked.