Page 5 of The Umarova Crime Family

I remember how caught on every word I was when he promised he’d make the person who stole my identity pay for it.

“I can’t fathom why anyone would hurt you. When you were dancing in that cage, I could tell there was something special about you, and I knew I was right. I am right. So, whoever attempted to ruin your life is going to pay with their own. That’s why I’m doing this. That’s why I make these promises and statements to you… because they will pay greatly.”

I was a fish hooked on the line when he told me all that. It was the first night I really felt myself becoming attracted to him. I remember how he kissed me after he said it and the feel of the cool chill of his gold chain as I wrapped a finger around it. He called me his malen'kiy krolik, and every time he did, butterflies soared through my stomach.

We can’t give up on Ruslan. We have to find him. I press the start button for the coffee and turn around, huffing in the process.

“Okay, what is the matter with you? You didn’t tell me the other night, and you’re just getting moodier.” Emily places her book on the kitchen table and rises from her seat.

I try to think for a moment how I could explain this to Emily, but it’s so fucking complicated. “I’m frustrated with a couple of things in my life right now. They’re not going according to plan, and I’m just pissed about it.”

Emily raises both of her brows and stares at me like she knows I’m lying. “That sounds like a load of horse shit.”

Well, because it is. I swallow hard and take a second to figure out how I’m going to tell her this. “I think you know I was seeing someone a couple weeks back.” Seeing someone is the easiest way I can explain what Ruslan and I are. At least, what I think we are. I’m pretty sure we’re dating, but he and I didn’t put a label on anything. With our chemistry, it feels like we’re officially together. Maybe whenever I see him again, we can have that much-needed adult conversation.

“I assumed you were, with the way you’d start daydreaming and all,” Emily cackles, lightening the mood a tad.

“All right, well, I was seeing a man named Ruslan. About a month ago, he told me he had to go away for a business trip. He lives overseas but comes to Atlanta for work,” I’m lying a bit, but I have to. Emily doesn’t need to know everything I know about him. “He was only supposed to be gone for a few days. I figured he might be gone for two weeks at the most, just to give him some more time. Well, he never came back. I haven’t heard from him since, and it’s very unlike him.”

Emily scrunches up her nose in annoyance, and I know what she’s probably thinking. Ruslan ghosted me, and I’m being paranoid, ignoring the signs that are right in front of me.

“How do you know he’s coming back?” Emily inquires.

“He said he’d come back.”

Emily rolls her eyes and licks her lips. She doesn’t say a thing yet, and I know she’s trying to be as tender with me as she can. I’ve been through some intense shit throughout my life, and every now and again, I notice Emily metaphorically puts white gloves on before she speaks to me. I’m not as fragile and broken as she thinks I am.

“What if he only said that to keep you off his case, Amelia?” I know she’s concerned, but she doesn’t have all the information that I do.

“He didn’t. Ruslan works in security and is very well known and respected. He left one of his colleagues here to keep an eye on me while he was away, and he’s literally outside in the blacked-out SUV right now. I’m sure you can see it from the living room window if you want to look.”

Emily’s eyes widen, and she looks at me like I have a couple screws loose. “You’re joking.”

She rushes over to the living room window and pulls back the blinds, proceeding to look out through the window. The coffee maker beeps in the background, signaling it’s done. I grab two mugs from the cupboard and make the coffee just as we both like it, creamy and sweet.

“I really thought you were fucking with me. No lie,” Emily says, shaking her head in disbelief as she comes back into the kitchen.

“Yeah, I’m not. I called the guy out in the SUV the other day. I asked him point blank if he knew where Ruslan was, and he told me he didn’t. I ended up getting enough information to figure out Ruslan told Danill, the dude in the SUV, to keep an eye on me. That’s why Danill isn’t out there trying to find Ruslan… because Ruslan gave him a job, and he knows better than to disobey him.”

“Holy shit. You said well respected. I think you mean feared too. Employees who are terrified of their bosses act like that.”

“Yeah, but Ruslan hasn’t contacted him either, so I know he’s in some sort of trouble.”

“Okay, so what are you going to do about it?” Emily asks as I hand her one of the mugs of coffee.

I blow on the hot liquid before taking a sip. “I don’t know, but I think I’ll find out soon. Come on.” I place the mug on the counter and head straight for the door. My hair’s up in a messy bun, I have an oversized Metallica T-shirt on, and I’m in a pair of shorts. Basically, I look like a bum, but I want answers.

I’m out the door before Emily’s even made an attempt to follow me. I walk straight up to where Danill’s parked, and he slowly rolls down his window.

He cocks both of his brows up and pushes his thick sunglasses down the bridge of his nose. “How can I be of service, Miss Amelia?”

“What updates do you have for me?”

Danill laughs, but he isn’t amused in the least bit. “I’ve been in communication with Ruslan’s brother, Lom, who’s handling the situation.”

I wait for him to say something else, but that’s all he tells me. “Seriously? That’s all you have to tell me?”

“His brother is handling it. I have a job to do, which is making sure you stay safe and don’t get yourself into too much trouble.”

---