Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Because even I still don’t understand what his words mean.
But I didn’t think Adrian would believe Yan had betrayed him. He’s such a bastard for suspecting his closest people.
“Mommy.” Jeremy tugs on my dress.
“Yes, angel?”
“I want to bring my war zone here.”
“Okay.” I pause before complying. “Can you do it, Kolya?”
“I’m taking care of Yan.”
“I’ll do it.”
“It’s better if you don’t. Boss doesn’t like it.”
“I told you, I don’t care what he does or doesn’t like.”
Kolya remains there for a few seconds and when it’s clear that I won’t budge, he releases a small sigh. “Very well.”
“I wanna come too! I wanna come too!” Jeremy releases me and goes to his father’s closest guard. “Take me, Kolya.”
“Keep an eye on him.” Kolya tips his head in Yan’s direction and I nod.
After the door closes behind them, I pull the covers up a little over his body. “I’m sorry your boss is a major fucking jerk, Yan.”
His lips move in what resembles a smile before his eyes open. When he speaks, his voice is hoarse. “He always was. Are you only seeing it now?”
“Yan! Do you need anything? Should I get you water or food or—”
My words cut off when he lifts his hand and wraps it around mine. “Thank you for saving me.”
“Sure…”
The look in his eyes coupled with his touch is throwing me off. There’s something behind them, but what?
As if sensing my reaction, he pulls his hand from mine. “To show my gratitude, I want you to go somewhere.”
“Somewhere?”
“Kolya is the only guard inside. So you won’t have anyone to stop you now that he’s not here.”
“Stop me from what?”
“The second story, Mrs. Volkov. The one you’ve been looking at for weeks.”
My heart leaps to my throat as his words register. He noticed.
I have contemplated going up there ever since I had the chance to come here and visit Yan, but Kolya always, without doubt, escorts me out after every visit.
And I haven’t had the courage to come back during the night, especially with how often I pass out due to Adrian’s thorough fucking.
“Kolya is Adrian’s number one man and confidant,” Yan says. “His loyalty lies with him and always will, no matter what the boss does. Make no mistake, if he finds you, he won’t hesitate to sell you out, so you better hurry up.”
“What about you, Yan? Wouldn’t this get you in trouble?”
“I’m just a patient asleep. I’ll pretend I know nothing.” He winks, and my heart thunders.
Holy shit. I saw that wink before, but where? Where?
“Go,” he whispers.
A part of me doesn’t want to, a part of me wants to bury my head under the sand like little Miss Ostrich.
But that part doesn’t win.
Because the biggest part of me wants to go up there and see what’s going on. Maybe if I do, I can find a solution to the situation I’m in. Maybe I can finally get rid of the nightmares.
I squeeze Yan’s arm as a message of thanks, then leave the room. I go up the stairs two at a time because I know Kolya won’t take long to return. As soon as I’m on the second floor, a gloomy sensation crawls up my skin.
Marionette strings snap in my neck as I take mechanical steps down the hall. I shouldn’t know where I’m going and yet, it feels like I do.
I don’t open the first or the second door and, instead, stop in front of the last one to the right. The one with the window I saw that day.
My fingers tremble as I turn the doorknob. I expect it to snap shut and lock me out, but a soft click echoes in the air.
As it opens, the hinges make a small squeaky sound like the ones from horror movies and heart-pounding thrillers.
I don’t know why I think a monster is waiting for me on the other side.
It’s not.
It’s way worse.
Someone lies on a simple bed.
Wires are hooked to the person’s arm. They’re still, unmoving, like they’re dead. But the beeping machine to the right shows a normal beat.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
My sweaty fingers release the doorknob as I approach the bed slowly. My feet are about to fail me, my heart is thudding so loud, it would’ve broken the machine if it were attached to one.
My palms cover my mouth as I stare at the person lying there.
She’s wearing a white nightgown like in the nightmare, her dark hair splaying all over the pillow and her skin is pasty white.
The woolen sheet covers her to the breasts and her hands are crossed on her stomach as if she’s in a casket.
Lia Volkov.
The real Lia Volkov.
I thought she was dead. How could she be…? Why is she…?
My thoughts tumble over each other with no clear direction as a sickening feeling settles over my stomach, demanding I throw up my breakfast.