Page 30 of Disguised as Love

Malik turned to Raisa. “You don’t get a say here, ‘Isa. Go back to California, your little lab, and your tiny little world.”

Then, he stomped away.

Raisa tugged at the locket around her neck.

Ilia materialized in the midst of all the chaos, and our eyes met across the room. We’d made a brief plan before we’d left this morning, because we both knew we needed sleep. The plan had been for him to cover her for a few hours this afternoon while I took over in the evening, and then we’d both be on alert again throughout the night. It seemed even more urgent that we be on our toes if the lion had made his way into the den.

Raisa turned and headed up the stairs. “I’ve got to prepare Mama.”

Ilia and I followed her as we had been since I’d picked her up in Stanford.

I stopped her with a hand on her elbow at the top of the stairs. “Ilia is going to watch over you while I get some rest. Don’t go anywhere without him. Nowhere.”

She looked like she’d argue, but then her eyes drifted down the stairs, and she sighed, nodding.

“You should get some rest, too,” I said softly.

“I will…later,” she said and then headed in the direction of her mother’s room.

I hesitated, watching her stride away with her bodyguard shadowing her. The temptation to go after her was so great it became a physical ache. And it was that ache that had me forcing myself in the opposite direction to the room next to hers. Exhaustion was layered over me, and I wanted to believe it was the tiredness and not weakness that had me wanting to surrender to her.

I had to keep it together. Which meant I needed rest. I needed a clear head.

I turned on my FBI phone, sending out a coded message.

ME: I’ve burned my welcome with Gennady. Volkov has plans for me and the Leskovs. Will know more tonight. Saw Yano. Think he’s pulling Malik around like a puppet on strings.

NOLAN: Jesus fucking Christ. What do you need?

ME: Backup. Any of the others have boots on the ground they can lend?

NOLAN: You’re joking, right? They’ll all shit a brick that you’ve invaded their space.

It was true. The other agencies might have assets on the ground in Russia, but they’d be pissed that I’d infiltrated the Leskov and Volkov clans and had closer eyes on the ball than they did. They’d rather see me hang than come to my aid. Thoughts of Raisa’s lips and the fear and determination in her eyes made me send the next message anyway.

ME: Ask.

NOLAN: It’ll cost us.

ME: Understood.

I switched off that phone, took out my personal burner, and typed out an obligatory text to Mom so she didn’t lose her mind.

ME: I think I saw the piano Bono had made for the Red Auction. I actually touched the keys. It was like hearing the gates of heaven open.

MOM: I heard it was bought by a Russian oligarch. What are you doing in Russia?

I ignored her dig on where I was, as I always did.

ME: Are you in Austin?

MOM: Yes, got back to the hotel around one after the show, but I’ve been up all night, writing new songs that came to me. When are you coming home so I can share them with you?

My mind filled with the beat-up baby grand shoved into the corner of Mom’s living room in her loft in the South Village in New York. The space was full of brick and wood and was littered with books and warm fabrics. I’d always felt like I belonged there much more than I ever had in the Beverly Hills mansion I’d spent my teen years in. Even with Nan watching over me as Mom toured, trying to lose the pain and guilt she felt over Dad’s death, I’d never considered California home.

ME: Hopefully, sooner than later.

It was all I could respond.

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