Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 52062 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 260(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52062 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 260(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
"Forget the pelmeni." His tone leaves no room for argument. "The weather service just updated their forecast. This is going to be worse than they thought. Short in duration, but the winds are going to be violent. If you don't leave in the next thirty minutes, you won't make it home."
Andrei's already moving, grabbing his coat from the hook by the door. "I'll warm up the truck."
Katya looks torn between her duties and the storm bearing down on us. "But you and Holly, you need food…"
"We'll be fine. There's enough in the freezer to last us weeks. Now go." He walks over to her, puts a gentle hand on her arm, his voice softening. “Be safe, Katya.”
She nods, untying her apron with reluctant efficiency. "Okay, okay. I go."
The next ten minutes are a flurry of activity in the kitchen, while Nikolai leaves to speak with his men.
The wind is really howling now. The windows rattle in their frames, and I can hear something banging against the side of the lodge. A loose shutter, maybe. Or a branch torn free from one of the massive pines surrounding us.
"You will be okay," Katya says, pulling me into a fierce hug. "Your husband, he will keep you safe."
I nod against her shoulder, not trusting my voice.
When she pulls back, she cups my face in her warm, flour-dusted hands. "You are strong girl. Stronger than you know. Do not forget."
"I won't."
"You be a good girl, yes?" she says. "And don't give Mr. Morozov too much trouble."
"I'll try." My voice comes out smaller than intended.
Andrei joins us and pulls me into a hug. "See you after the storm, Holly."
"Stay safe," I tell him.
He hesitates, glancing around for Nikolai. When Katya collects her handbag, he moves closer, his voice dropping low.
"Listen," he says, pulling a scrap of paper from his pocket. "This is my number. If you need anything, and I mean anything, you call me, okay? I know you don't have a phone, but the kitchen phone works. Just... if something happens, if you need help..."
I take the paper, my fingers closing around it. My throat feels tight. Has he picked up on the tension between Nikolai and me?
"Thank you, Andrei."
"He's not a bad guy," Andrei says quietly. "I know he’s gruff, but he's alright."
Then he's gone, jogging through the snow toward his truck, waving one last time before climbing in.
Katya is already in the passenger seat and gives me a small wave goodbye.
Standing in the doorway, I watch their taillights disappear down the mountain road as the wind bends the trees and whips snow across the driveway.
Behind me, I hear Nikolai's voice, still speaking in Russian. Then Dmitri and Alexei are leaving too, their SUV pulling away until I'm alone in the doorway.
Until there's nothing but the sound of the wind and the crunch of Nikolai's footsteps as he comes to stand beside me.
"Come inside," he says quietly. "Before you freeze."
I look up at him. Snowflakes are caught in his dark hair, melting against his skin. His blue eyes are softer than I've ever seen them.
"They're all gone," I say, unnecessarily.
"Yes."
"It's just us now."
"Yes."
The word hangs between us.
I step back inside, and he closes the door against the storm.
The lock clicks into place.
And we're alone.
19
HOLLY
The silence after they leave is deafening.
I stand in the great room, watching through the windows as the last taillights disappear down the mountain road, swallowed by the swirling white. The storm is building faster than I expected.
Behind me, I hear Nikolai moving through the lodge. The click of locks being checked.
A gust of wind slams against the lodge with enough force to rattle the windows in their frames, and I flinch. My hands curl into fists at my sides as I try to steady my breathing.
It's just a storm. You're safe. You're inside.
But my body doesn't believe the lie.
The wind howls again, louder this time, and the lights flicker. Once. Twice.
My heart lurches into my throat.
No. Please, no.
"The generator will kick in if we lose power," Nikolai says from somewhere behind me, his voice calm and steady. "We won't be left in the dark."
I nod but can't find my voice to respond. My eyes are fixed on the windows, on the way the snow is already piling against the glass.
Another gust hits and I hear something crack outside. A branch, maybe.
The fire in the hearth flares wildly, the flames dancing and twisting as the wind finds its way down the chimney. And suddenly, I'm twelve years old again. Alone, with the darkness closing in.
My breath comes faster, and my chest feels tight, like someone's wrapped bands around my ribs and keeps pulling them tighter with each gust of wind.
You're fine. You're safe. This isn't the same.
But the rational part of my brain is losing ground to the panic clawing its way up my throat.