Page 37 of Runaway Queen

I couldn’t overcome my reluctance. What if Nikolai hurt him? There didn’t seem to be any lines he wouldn’t cross now. I couldn’t risk it.

Leo. The thought of my secret hung heavily over my head. Was Nikolai too far gone to be safe around anyone? What about his own son? I gnawed on my nails, a habit I thought I’d kicked a long time ago, but here it was.

As I stared at the phone, it chimed in my hand. A message from an unknown number.

Happy Halloween, prom queen. Did you enjoy our game?

I droppedthe phone like it had bitten me. I looked around the room. There wasn’t anywhere to hide in here. He couldn’t be here. He was just fucking with me. With shaking fingers, I picked up the cell.

You’re a fucking lunatic. Maybe I’ll go to the police after all.

It was onlya moment before he replied.

No, you won’t, and we both know it. Now, let’s get down to it. What do you pick for me? Truth or dare?

I swallowed hard.He was right. I wouldn’t go to the police. I couldn’t even tell my brother, unless I wanted my father to find out, and then Leo’s life would be in danger.

Truth.

Predictable, but fine. What do you want to know?

Are you going to kill me?

The question flewfrom my fingers before I could stop myself. He was typing for a while before his answer came.

No, lastochka. I’ll never kill you, you have my word.

My chest loosenedat that revelation. How fucked up it was that I’d even had to ask that to the father of my child, and the only man I’d ever loved, I didn’t want to think about. I was just setting my phone down when the last message came in.

After all, a swift death is a great mercy.

15

NIKOLAI

Iwaited for Sofia in the back of her shitty car, in the parking lot of the high school. Lying on my back and staring at the cloudy sky, with cut-out blue patches, I waited contentedly for my prey to finish work. It was quiet, with only the faraway sounds of students running outside on the track to break the stillness. Lying there, comfortable, warm and free, knowing that soon, Sofia would be near me, I felt the closest to content I’d felt in seven years. When the bell rang, she arrived quickly. She was fidgety, searching over her shoulder as she hurried toward her car. She knew I was near, she could feel it, she just didn’t know where.

She got in and locked the door without glancing in the back seat. Once the doors were locked, she looked out the window. I could see the line of tension in her shoulders.

“Looking for me?”

My voice sent a yelp from her, and she spun around just as I easily eased my body between the seats and into the passenger side.

She stared at me, her eyes round, mouth open with surprise. Her hand went for the door, just as I reached across her. This close, the scent of her light perfume and the addictive scent of her skin threatened to undo any kind of self-control I had around her.

“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you. Buckle up, safety first.”

“What are you doing? You’re just stalking me now?”

“Stalking is a pedestrian word for what I’m planning for you.” I put my own belt on and reached into my pocket to withdraw the butterfly knife that I’d picked up today.

Sofia stilled. “Are you threatening me?”

I tutted. “No. I’m reminding you that getting out of the car right now, calling for help, involving anyone else, won’t end well for them, so I wouldn’t risk it, if I were you.”

I flicked the knife open, moving it between my fingers with ease. Sofia’s gaze was riveted to the blade.

I smirked at her. “I’ll let you play with it later. I know you like your knives.”

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