Page 28 of Runaway Queen

His familiar voice made me feel things I didn’t know how to process. When I’d lost Nikolai to prison, forced into a lie by my father, I’d lost my brother as well.

“Nothing, I mean, I’m not sure. Probably nothing. I just wanted to see what was going on. How’s father?”

“Still alive, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

A fucked-up pang of disappointment went through me at those words. What kind of monster wishes for their father to die? I could only be what he had made me.

Ren cleared his throat. “I’m glad you called. I was trying to figure out a way to reach you.”

“Why? What is it?” I held my breath, my heart beating painfully. That damned shortness of breath that I always got before a panic attack. I forced my breathing to calm, counting in fours to slow down the creeping anxiety.

“He’s out. Nikolai Chernov walked a few days ago.”

Somehow, I’d known my brother was going to say those very words before they hit my ears. It might have felt impossible, but it was inevitable. Of course he’d find me.Of course he would.

“He’s really free?”

“Yeah, he’s really free. Fuck knows how, considering what he got up to inside. I have no idea, except that Ronan Black might be able to argue Lucifer himself back into Heaven. He’s out there, Sofia. I thought you should know.”

“Does Father know?” I gripped the phone tightly.

“He knows. He isn’t happy about it.”

“But he can’t do anything. That wasn’t the deal. He can’t break it now. Nikolai Chernov is safe from the De Sanctis family,” I reminded my brother. I knew I didn’t have to. We were both aware of the terms I’d agreed to years ago, but I needed to hear the words to reassure myself.

“Frankly, I’d be more worried about the De Sanctis family being safe from him. He visited your grave. Security informed me. He burned down half the fucking chapel on the grounds. Not only that, but he’s also targeting De Sanctis men. He’s graduated from lunatic to serial killer in prison. You need to be careful.”

A fist of agony and guilt clenched around my throat, choking my words. I nodded, a lone tear dropping down my cheek. When I thought of Nikolai, the tears were never far away.

“Anyway, I better go. These calls should be short. Don’t forget your end of the deal,piccolina.”

“I know. I know the bargain I sold my soul for. You don’t need to remind me.”

“If he finds you, call me right away. If he’s a threat… call me right away.”

“If he’s a threat, then no one can save me from him. Calling you won’t help me. No one will be able to help me.” That simple fact was absolutely undeniable. My confession remained unspoken.Ithink he’s already found me.

Ren was quiet for a long moment before sighing. “One day, this will all be over, and you can come home.”

“Home? Casa Nera was never my home. It was only ever my cage.”

And Nikolai Chernov was the man who had set me free, and I’d thanked him by betraying his trust.

It was a debt I could never, ever repay.

My greatest sin.

11

SOFIA

“When you’re planning this painting, I want you to think about the negative space,” I said to my class on Monday afternoon.

A hand shot up.

“Yes?”

“What’s negative space?”

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