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)
I tear through the lodge like a madman, checking every room, every closet, every possible hiding place.
That's when I see it.
The back door.
It's open.
Goddamnit, Holly.
She’s out there somewhere. Alone and vulnerable.
Jesus, she doesn’t understand the gravity of the situation.
Or maybe she does.
And she would rather take her chances out there than in here with me.
I grab my phone and dial Dmitri.
"She’s gone," I say before he can speak. "I need to fucking find her now."
31
HOLLY
The truck bounces along the snow-covered road, and I stare out the window at the white landscape blurring past. My eyes are swollen from crying. My throat is raw. But at least I'm away from the lodge. Away from the insanity of Nikolai’s world and the shattered remains of what I thought was the truth.
At least now I can breathe.
"Thank you for coming," I say quietly. "I didn't know who else to call."
“It’s okay, I’m pleased you did.”
I don’t know if it’s because I feel shattered about everything that’s happened, or if I’m imagining things because I feel emotional. But there is something different about Andrei this morning. He doesn’t seem as lighthearted and sweet as the boy in Katya’s kitchen.
He could barely make eye contact with me when we met at the end of the driveway.
Didn’t ask questions or seem to want to talk when I climbed in the car.
He’s probably just tired.
Or maybe I am.
“I hope I didn’t interrupt your sleep. I know it’s early.”
Andrei doesn't respond.
I glance over at him. His hands are tight on the steering wheel, his knuckles white. His jaw is clenched, and he's staring straight ahead at the road with an intensity that makes something cold curl in my stomach.
“And I appreciate you driving all the way out here to pick me up.”
Again, Andrei says nothing. And the unease in my stomach spreads.
"I just need you to take me to a hotel in town," I say. "Somewhere I can think. Figure out what to do next."
Finally, Andrei breaks his silence.
"I can't do that." His voice is flat and empty. "I'm sorry, Holly."
My heart skips a beat.
"What do you mean you can't?"
He doesn't look at me. Just keeps staring at the road, his body rigid with tension.
"Andrei." I sit up straighter, my heart starting to pound. "Please. I can't go back to Nikolai."
"I'm not taking you to Nikolai."
For one brief second, relief flickers through me. But then I see his expression, and the relief dies as quickly as it came.
"Then where are we going?"
Silence.
"Andrei, where are you taking me?"
"To someone else."
My blood turns to ice.
"Who?" The word comes out as a whisper.
He doesn't answer.
"Who are you taking me to, Andrei?" I demand, my voice rising with panic.
His grip tightens on the wheel. "Just some guy."
"What guy?"
"A man who approached me in town a couple of days ago. A rich suit type. Russian." Andrei's jaw works like he's chewing on something bitter.
My asshole grandfather?
“He said he knew where I worked. Offered me money. Big money.”
“For what?”
“Feed him information on what was happening inside the lodge now that Mr. Morozov was back in town.”
“And you did?”
“It was a lot of money, Holly.”
“For you to betray Nikolai.”
"I’m over a barrel. I owe money. Lots of money. Made a few bad bets and racked up a debt I can’t pay. I’ve spent months holding the wolves at bay. Waking up in the middle of the night wondering if today was the day the men I owed came looking for payment. Then this guy shows up in town. Offered me a lifeline out of the shit I was in.”
“And what does he want now?”
“Told me to offer you my number in case you ever needed it. Said if I could bring you to him, he’d triple the money he was paying me.”
Fear funnels through me.
“Andrei, please. You don’t need to do this.”
“Yes, I do, Holly. I need that money.”
“Nikolai will offer you more.”
“You’re kidding me, aren’t you? Nikolai will kill me the moment he sees me. He doesn’t forgive. He’s ruthless. He will see this as a betrayal and make sure I pay with my hands, my feet, my mouth, and my eyes.”
He’s right. Nikolai will tear him to pieces and then set fire to them.
“You know this man you’re taking me to wants to kill me, right?”
I can tell by the look on the on Andrei’s face that he does. But still, he tries to make himself feel better about betraying me by suggesting otherwise. “You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do. They’ve already tried.”
He glances at me. “I’m sorry, Holly. I’m just doing what I have to.”
With a sinking feeling I realize I’m not gonna be able to talk my way out of this. But it’s not in my nature to not try to fight back.
“I can’t let you do this, Andrei.”
“You can’t stop me.”