Page 136 of Caged

Call me protective, I love that little girl.

He lets out a low laugh. “I’ll get you another coffee.” Pushing away from the table, he disappears into the main door.

Out of all of the shit that we’ve gone through, it’s strange that I’m so worked up over something as mundane as the teacher saying Elena “talks too much”.

There are worse things in the world.

A clicking sound makes me turn to watch an elderly woman with a stooped back hobbling closer. I give her a neutral polite smile when she catches me looking, then turn to my cup.

It’s a bit of a surprise when she slides into the seat next to me where Nikolai had sat just a moment before.

“Can I help you?” I try to hide the mild irritation at her gall.

“Oh, dear, goodness yes.” Her eyes crinkle heavily as she squints up at me. “You seem to have something that belongs to a very close friend.”

Her face makes her look in her late seventies, but the hand she pats mine with is that of a young woman.

My guard goes up immediately. “What do you want?” I hiss, glancing around.

Her fingers wrap around my wrist with surprising strength. “What I sent you to retrieve for me.” The woman’s voice flattens into the crooning husk I remember from just a few short weeks ago.

Tatiana.

But, how? Peering closer, I can just make out the edge of a quality mask obscuring her features. A gray wig covers her long locks of black hair.

Fuck. How did she find me here in Las Vegas of all places?

“I gave you the diamonds,” I say low enough that no one else can hear me.

She slowly nods without blinking. “Yes, but that was for rescuing you. I still need the information you were tasked to bring back to me.”

Wait.

“I’m confused. I gave it to your guy the morning we were captured.”

She leans away and inhales sharply. “Fuck,” she whispers.

The hard tip of her cane handle digs into my ribs as she moves closer. “You were told to give it to no one else.” Twisting the dull edge, she grinds into my side.

Panic starts to flood through me. She’s right. I broke the only rule she set in place.

Sweat trickles down my spine.

She turns, tilting her head toward the coffee shop.

“You have twenty four hours, or I’ll let slip to the wrong people where you are. I’ll find you on the Strip tomorrow.”

I don’t hear the cane as she moves away silently.

Frozen in fear, I’m staring at my empty cup when I feel Nikolai brush my leg.

“D’yavolitsa? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. What’s wrong?” His warm palm runs up my arm, but it doesn’t bring me any peace.

My stomach twists. We just escaped from hell, I’m in no hurry to go back.

I’m tempted not to tell him.

“Mila. No secrets,” he growls.

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