SHE’S ASLEEP WHEN I return to the room. Her chest rises and falls in a soft rhythm. I sit on the edge of the bed and lean in, pushing blonde hair off her face. She’s perfect.
She’s Victor’s daughter, I remind myself. I’m here to collect her. I’ve been checking my phone, waiting for the message to come in, to deliver her to the can. I already know the answer to the message. I won’t do it. I can’t give her up. But I don’t know how to keep her. Oleg is a huge problem… or he could end up being part of the solution. I place a kiss on her cheek, and I hear the one word echo through my mind that seemed to be there from the start.
Mine.
She is mine, not Victor’s. I touch her face again. What did she see at the mill? What kind of man places his daughter in a dungeon like that? The most ruthless leader of them all. The leader of the Bratva. That would have caused shock waves through the Bratva. Why hadn’t I heard about it? I try to jog my memory, but I have no recollection of it.
I’m ready to get up when my phone beeps from the bedside table. I’m staring at it like it might reveal who it is before I walk around and pick it up.
It’s a message from Gail to meet her at the club. She got my little message. Leaving Mila here is far safer than taking her with me.
I get dressed and feel uneasy leaving Mila like this. I have the chip in her neck to track her, but I don’t want to have to track her. I place a handcuff as carefully as possible around her wrist and click it closed. She stirs slightly as I fasten the other one through the bar of the bed. It isn’t ideal, but it will have to do for now. I take one final look at her before leaving and making my way to Gail’s.
I sit outside, my instincts, which have kept me alive this long, keeping me in the car. It’s all too easy. Her showing up here doesn’t make sense. Or, I could be getting paranoid. She sent men, and each time they didn’t arrive back. Maybe she’s given up trying to kill me, or maybe this is an ambush.
I ring her number, and she answers on the second ring.
“Turn on the neon sign,” I say into the phone.
“What?” She sounds alarmed. She’s moving quickly.
“I’m waiting, Gail.” I know she should have reached the switches by now.
“Turn it on,” I repeat.
“It’s not working.” Her lie is swallowed so easily.
“What’s waiting inside the club?” I ask. “Or should I say how many?”
“You killed Dimitri.”
“I collected Dimitri. He ran. There is a clear difference.”
“He’s dead. That’s all I know.” She’s angry.
“This is why women will never rule. You’re too emotional.”
“You know you left my daughter fatherless.”
Guilt churns in my stomach for the first time. He told me he had a daughter. I swallow that bit of information and tighten my hold on any guilt I feel.
“I leave a lot of daughters and sons fatherless. It’s my job. You know what I do. You know what I am.”
“My men—where are they?” Her voice is more controlled now. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she didn’t really care that much for Dimitri, that he’s just a smoke screen.
“Dead. Every one of them.” She knew that already. I check the front of the club. She’s stalling me again. I turn the engine on and pull away from the curb of the club. As I drive past, I see several men making their way along the wall. The first one runs out onto the street as I move past.
“I will find out where you live and end your life.” I speak clearly as I glance in the rearview mirror.
“You’ve pissed off some very powerful people, Nicholai. I like you. So there is your warning.”
I laugh at the arrogance. “Warning?”
“I hear you have precious cargo.” My heart pounds heavier, and my stomach sours as I think of Mila back at the motel. I push my foot harder to the floor. Did I make a mistake leaving her alone? Or am I being followed? I quickly bring up the tracking app. She’s still at the motel, and the dot is blinking in one spot. I’m hoping that means she’s asleep.
“You need to be more comprehensive about what precious cargo means.” I want to keep her on the phone, but Gail isn’t stupid.
“Goodbye, Nicholai.” She hangs up, and I curse her as I speed back to the motel. We need to move. They could be following me.
The moment I burst through the door, Mila screams and tries to scramble off the bed, only to be dragged back by the cuffs.
“What the hell?” She’s yanking on them.
“Get dressed.” I take the cuffs and remove them from her wrists. She doesn’t move.
“Now, Mila!” I’m shouting, and I stop and take a calming breath. Turning to Mila, I kneel down in front of her.
“I think they know we’re here, so we need to leave.”
“Why are you helping me?” The question is so heavy, and I honestly don’t know how to answer it, so I don’t. Instead, I stand and can’t help but run my hand along her soft skin.
“Please, get dressed.”
She gets up and silently puts on her clothes. All I can think of as I stare at her is that I can’t lose her. And this is why I should never let anyone get close. It’s dangerous. Mila is dangerous.
I keep checking the rearview mirror, but we aren’t being followed. “Get some rest,” I tell Mila as the sun rises.
“I got some sleep. Why don’t you sleep and I’ll drive?” I’m ready to laugh, but I’m exhausted and not sure how long I’ll be able to stay awake. I pull over and get out of the driver’s side. Mila climbs across, and she’s grinning when I climb into the passenger seat while readjusting the seat.
“I’m driving The Collectors car,” she sings. The childlike excitement in her eyes leaves as I quickly tighten the cuff around her wrist.
“What?”
I tighten the other one to my wrist. “Can’t have you pulling over and running when I fall asleep.”
She pulls my arm, and I try to pretend it isn’t painful.
“How the hell can I drive like this?” She yanks my arm again, and I pull her as I close the door. Her cheeks grow red with anger, and I suppress the smile that tugs at my lips.
Lying back, I close my eyes as she starts the car. My arm is yanked every two seconds, and I lean more toward Mila, until my arm is nearly on her lap. I like the heat of her skin under my fingertips, and that’s how I fall asleep, with the smell of Mila and the warmth of her leg pouring into the tips of my fingers. They skitter across her skin every few moments until my mind drags me into a dark sleep.
My arm is pulled again.
“Nicholai.”
I’m alert at the urgency in Mila’s voice.
“We’re being followed.”
I sit up straighter, and she pulls my arm back toward the steering wheel. The visor has a small mirror I look through as I take the key out of my pocket. A red sedan is behind us.
“How long has it been following us?” I uncuff our hands.
“I’m not sure. I’ve only noticed it the last two turns, but I have no idea how long it’s been following us.”
“Take a left off this road,” I say, and watch as we slip off the road. The red sedan doesn’t follow, but I make Mila take several lefts and rights. The car would attract attention in its condition.
We pass a sign that says 23 kilometers to High Park.
“Keep going straight.” I take out my phone as a message from my gate at home is telling me I have two visitors. I pull up the footage and pause when Oleg’s face fills the camera. He drives off. The second car has tinted windows. No one gets out, but it pauses for a moment before driving off. I close the phone and glance at Mila. She looks tired. We need to rest.
I continue to give her directions until we come to a set of large green gates. “When we go in here, you’re my girlfriend. We had a rough night. That’s it.”
I glance at Mila. Her fingers tighten around the steering wheel. She turns to me. “Okay.” Her voice is small.
The part I need to tell her is that if she knew who I was, then she would have heard of The Handler. I look back at the gates. I have nowhere else to take Mila. My car is identifiable. I have no cash, only a card they can trace.
“Have you heard of The Handler?”
Mila’s eyes grow wide, confirming she has. “Is this his house?” She ducks down over the steering wheel, looking up at the mini castle.
“Yes. He might help us.”
Mila’s attention returns to me. “Might?” She’s suppressing a smile.
“This isn’t a joke.”
Her smile slips. “I’m sorry. I’ve heard of The Handler, but to think I’m going to meet him is exciting.”
“Girls don’t normally get excited over our titles.” In fact, they run the other way.
“I grew up with Eric, and he never shut up about all the high hitters, so it rubbed off.” She shrugs. “I suppose.”
Eric. That boy’s name again. I don’t like it.
“Just let me do the talking. And remember, you’re my girlfriend.”
Her cheeks pinken and she tucks a strand of blonde hair behind her ear.
“We better swap.” I get out and walk to the driver’s side as she climbs into the passenger. I pull up closer to the gates and hit the bell. I know there are cameras everywhere. The Handler is Bratva’s personal hit man. He needs to be protected at all times. It’s been years since we saw each other.
The gates pull open, and I glance at Mila. “Don’t say who you are,” I tell her before driving up the drive.
“Who my father is?” she says, staring out the window.
“Yeah.”
I don’t think anyone knows what Victor’s daughter looks like. I hadn’t known, and right now, I hang onto that as we pull up outside Lucca’s house. The front door opens, and two large men step aside as Lucca jogs down the steps. His arms are wide and he’s wearing a grin.
“Oh my God,” Mila whispers, and I’m tempted to look at her, but instead I climb out.
“Nic.” Lucca embraces me, and I pat his back heavily.
“Lucca.”
He pushes the sunglasses onto the top of his head. Silver eyes take in my car. “What the fuck happened?”
His eyes skip across all the damage and to Mila, who steps out of the car. My stomach tightens, and I try not to flinch as she moves around the car.
“Lucca, this is my girlfriend, Mila.”
Lucca turns to me. “Girlfriend?”
I get the question. In our line of work, you don’t get attached. He nods his head, and his sunglasses fall back down on his face.
“Hi.” Mila speaks softly, and I hate the awe I see in her eyes as she looks up at Lucca. He towers over her at six feet seven inches—he’s a big guy. In prison, no one fucked with him, and anyone that did was found hanging in their cells the next day.
The blue silk shirt billows out as he jogs up the steps of his house. His security moves back and lets us in.
“So great to see you.” He takes off the glasses once we enter. His dark hair is slicked back. I remember it being longer when we did time together.
“I need a place to hunker,” I tell him.
Lucca moves up to me. “My home is your home.”
I grip his forearm. “Thanks, brother.”
This is what we do. We have each other’s back when we need it. I never thought I would need anyone, but I also never thought someone would need me. I turn to Mila, who’s watching us.
“You want a drink, sweetheart?” Lucca talks loudly to Mila, like she can’t hear him. Women always flock around him, but if they aren’t on top of him, he doesn’t have much time for them.
“No, thank you.” Mila frowns before glancing at me.
“She can hear you, Lucca,” I sneer.
He slaps my forearm.
“Let’s have a drink.” His gaze flickers to Mila. It’s like he’s trying to tell me to lose the tail.
Lucca claps his hands loudly, and a tall brunette wearing a leopard print dress appears in the doorway.
“I’m not a dog, Luc.” The brunette slams a hand on her hips. She has no fear of Lucca. Has he settled down too?
“Anita, this is Mila. Can you show her to a room and give her some clothes? You know, make her feel welcome.”
Anita’s silver eyes roam my frame before she turns to Mila.
“Let me show you around, kitten.”
Mila’s gaze jumps to me, and I nod at her. She forces a smile at Anita and they leave.
“She’s my sister.” Lucca fills in the blank as I follow him out of the hallway.
Now he’ll want to know why I’m here. I’m not sure how much I want to tell him.