Page 57 of Day Shift

After meeting Conan and experiencing a taste of freedom, I couldn’t go back to that life.

But there was a big problem—Frankie Moretti. The marriage contract had been signed long ago to form an alliance between our families. The wedding was scheduled for June twenty-ninth—less than a week away. The thought of the contract made me want to vomit.

I thought about Club Xyst and my friends—Lucian, Lachlan, Julian, and Gabriel. They must be worried sick about me. What did they think had happened to me? Had they gone searching for me, delving into my secret life? Worry began to rise in my chest. Viktor would do anything to keep my true identity hidden, including murdering anyone who stood in his way.

Flashes of my special relationship with Lucian made me shudder. He was the reason—the only reason—I’d learned how to thoroughly enjoy sex. It was strange to think about how similar Lucian and Conan were, how they knew how to play my body. Yet, Conan was different… I’d given myself over to him both physically and emotionally even though what we had was still in the beginning stages. I was his blank journal, open to whatever story we wanted to write together.

I adored Lucian, but we’d always had a firm understanding that our relationship was no strings attached. There could never be anything permanent between us, so it was easy, controlled. But with Conan, we were just two normal people getting to know each other with the possibility of…falling. Now, though, that possibility was shattered. There was no way I’d involve him in the nightmare that was my life. No, he deserved so much better than what I could ever offer. Hell, who was I kidding? I had nothing to offer. How was I even going to explain to him who I was now that I knew what my father had done to him and those he cared so deeply about? It was best for me to slip out of his life and figure out how to protect him before either of us caught feelings.

“I need to get out of here,” I whispered, panic setting in. “I can’t let them get hurt because of me.”

The knowledge of Viktor’s ruthlessness sent shivers down my spine. He would order a hit on the Thorin brothers without a second thought. Atticus, Samantha, Conan—they were all at risk because of my mere presence in their home.

Tears streamed down my face. I had to protect them all. I had to leave and face my past, find Nikolai, and figure out a way to escape the mafia’s grip. I couldn’t let the people who had been good to me suffer because of my screwed up life.

With a shuddering breath, I wiped away my tears, determination replacing my fear. Finding Nikolai was my top priority now. He was the key to finding a way out. But first, I had to get out of here without drawing any attention to myself.

I stood up, my resolve strengthening. “This ends now,” I muttered, slipping the necklace over my head. The pendant rested against my chest, a reminder of who I was and the strength that was in me. I would need every ounce of that strength if I was to save the people I cared about.

The clock was ticking. I had to act fast.

I moved to the bathroom sink and washed my face with cold water, hoping to lessen the swelling and blotchiness of my face. My mind spun with questions. Where did Nikolai fit into all this? The memory of him stepping in front of me and blocking my path at the arraignment flashed in my mind. At the time, I had brushed him off as some curious guy trying to get a glimpse of the Jane Doe from the wreck. Why the hell didn’t he say something to me? Why did he act like he didn’t know me?

Anger bubbled up inside. Why hadn’t he come to the hospital? If he knew where I was, why stay away? Was Viktor keeping him from me, or was Nikolai just as filthy as our father? The thought of my twin being involved in our father’s dirty dealings twisted my gut.

“Why didn’t you come to me on our birthday, Nikolai?!” I shouted, feeling the sting of his absence all over again. Every year, no matter what, he had found a way to be there—but not this year.

I paced the room, trying to think. I needed answers. Although I dreaded what I had to do next, I couldn’t stay here and put these good people at risk. Viktor wouldn’t hesitate to kill them if he thought they were harboring me.

The best thing I could do was leave and find Nikolai. Maybe he was at the Volkov estate on Fox Island. Normally, if he was in town, that was where he would be staying. But now, with the change of ownership, I had no clue. Just then, I remembered tucking my bag in a closet inside the house on the day of the wreck…and losing my phone in the garage. I needed those things in order to function. The laptop Sam had given me was helpful, but it wasn’t the same as having a phone with all my contacts, apps, and passwords. Not for the first time, I wondered about the New York City socialite who now owned the estate. She had to be involved in the mafia, but was she Russian or American?

I bet the woman had never even laid eyes on the place, and if anyone was there right now, it would be Nik. There had to be a connection between him and the socialite; I just knew in my gut. I didn’t want to take the time trying to use the laptop to hunt for a roundabout way to contact him, because that might attract attention.

Not having my phone was annoying, so I decided to just wing it and order an Uber out to the estate. I was grateful Sam had given me a gift card to buy a few essentials while I was in the hospital. I hated not having control over my life or the ability to act independently. Hopefully, I could sneak in and get my things and then get out quickly if Nik wasn’t there.

I glanced at the clock. It was still early, so I had time before anyone came home to leave without getting caught. Somehow, I’d explain it to them later. I couldn’t imagine their reaction to finding out who I was. What an honest-to-God clusterfuck my life had turned into.

Grabbing a small backpack, I packed some things, taking only the essentials.

Murphy padded over, jumped up on my knee, and nudged my hand with his wet nose, as if he knew exactly what was happening. I scratched behind his ears. “All right, buddy,” I said softly. “Time for me to go.”

I leaned against the doorframe of the guest bedroom, trying to steady my nerves. Leaving this place meant stepping back into a world I hated, but I didn’t have a choice. I had to protect the people who had shown me kindness and find a way to reclaim my life from the grip of the mafia.

“I can do this,” I said to Murphy as we headed down the stairs. “I have no other choice.”

Just then, it hit me hard that the amnesia hadn’t been a prison—it had been an opportunity for a fresh start. The wreck, the mental freedom I’d experienced over the last month, had changed me forever. I stood there in limbo between a past I no longer called my own and a present that wasn’t real.

I glanced around the living room and, taking a final, resolute breath, headed out the door, ready to face whatever came next.

Chapter twenty-eight

During the drive to Fox Island, I was as tense as a tightly wound spring. I sat back, my mind firing off a thousand questions a minute. Why had Nikolai acted like he didn’t know me at the arraignment? Was he under Viktor’s orders? That thought made my blood boil. The idea of him being involved in kidnapping Samantha and plotting against the Thorin brothers gnawed at me. If he’d had a hand in that, I’d make sure he answered for it.

The estate slowly came into view, looming ominously against the tranquil forest of the island. The mansion was a monstrosity that screamed old money and power. It had an air of intimidation about it and was completely out of sync with its peaceful surroundings.

I leaned forward once we were close to the edge of the property. “Just here is fine, thanks,” I said, keeping my voice even. The last thing I needed was to storm in through the front gates like a bull in a china shop. Caution was my ally here.

The driver shot me a questioning look through the rearview mirror, his eyebrows drawing together in confusion. Clearly, dropping a passenger off in the middle of nowhere wasn’t his usual fare. But he didn’t press me, just nodded and pulled over. As soon as the car came to a full stop, I slipped out, my nerves tingling with anticipation.

---