Page 58 of Day Shift

The car pulled away, leaving a cloud of dust behind. I took a moment to survey my surroundings. The estate was quiet—too quiet. It appeared well maintained, not like a place left to fend for itself as I remembered from the day of the wreck. The grass was freshly cut, the flower beds were neat and free of weeds, and there was no sign of police tape.

No cars were in the driveway, which helped me relax a bit. The place seemed deserted, but I knew better than to let my guard down, so I moved cautiously, my every sense heightened. Gusts of salty ocean air hit my face, and the scent of pine from the surrounding forest grounded me. I walked along the edge of the property, my sneakers crunching on fallen leaves and twigs.

Slipping through a gap in the hedge, I found myself closer to the back of the mansion than I’d guessed. A bit of a lucky break. The garden was immaculate, filled with blooming flowers and neatly trimmed bushes. It was the kind of place you’d expect to find in a glossy magazine.

I scampered forward and crouched behind a row of rose bushes. The mansion’s back entrance was a few yards away. The house was dark, no lights on anywhere that I could see. Maybe no one was here, and I could get in and out quickly. How long could it possibly take to check the closet for my bag and run down to the garage for my phone? God, I hoped they were still there. Taking one last look around to ensure no one was watching, I made my move.

I reached the service entrance—the same one I’d slipped through a few weeks ago—in only a few hurried steps. To my disappointment, the door had been replaced with a metal one. There was no way I’d be able to get through it. Leaning down, I picked up a stone and grazed my thumb over it, wondering whether I could break the window and climb in. I had to assume a security alarm would sound, like the firing of a starter’s pistol in a race, once I smashed it. Get in, get out—that was all I had to do. I paused, listening for any signs of life inside.

Nothing.

I took a deep breath, steadied my nerves, and with a quick move, struck the pane with the rock. The shattering of glass was loud, making me wince. Using another rock, I broke out the remaining glass. I tossed my backpack in and then slipped inside.

I had barely gotten a few steps in when I heard rapid footsteps coming toward me. My heart hammered against my ribs as adrenaline surged through me. I tensed, my muscles coiling for a confrontation.

Within seconds, a shadow descended on me. A hand grabbed my arm, twisted it behind my back, and forced me to the ground. I struggled instinctively, but I was overpowered and pinned to the ground with a knee in my back.

“Get your filthy hands off me!” I spat, kicking out.

“Anastasia?” The grip loosened, and I rolled over to find Nik staring down at me in shock.

Recognition flickered in his eyes, his expression morphing from fury to shock. “Ana? Holy hell! It’s you? I could’ve killed you!” he bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls, the Russian accent thicker with emotion. “The only reason I didn’t pull my gun was because I didn’t want to make a bloody mess in the house and have to clean it up!”

“Nik, you idiot! Get off me!” I shoved him away, fury and relief mingling inside me as I scrambled to my feet.

He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a deep sigh. “I thought you were just another unfriendly trying to take me out. This place was empty since the FBI raided it last December, until I arrived a month ago. When I got here, I discovered it wasn’t just the FBI that had taken a look around. I sure as hell never expected you to show up unannounced and break in. Surely you know better than to be so damn reckless!”

For a while, we stood there, catching our breath. Suddenly, Nik’s face broke into a grin, and he pulled me into a giant bear hug, lifting me off my feet and spinning me around.

“God, Ana, I can’t believe it’s really you! Are your memories back? Are you okay? How did you ditch the Thorins?” He set me down but didn’t release me, scanning my face for answers as he held me by the arms.

My relief at seeing him for the first time in over a year was short-lived. The anger I’d pushed aside when my memories of him returned came rushing back. I shoved him away, my hands trembling with rage. “Why didn’t you come to the hospital, Nik? Why didn’t you acknowledge me in some way? You left me helpless with nothing and no one! How could you be so cruel?”

His face fell, guilt replacing the joy. “Ana, I…I was trying to protect you.”

“By ignoring me? By letting me think you didn’t care?” Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them back, refusing to let him see me cry.

Nik reached out, but I stepped back. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I thought it was the only way to keep you safe from Viktor. He’s more dangerous than you realize.”

“Safe?” I scoffed. “I was lost, alone, and terrified. You had no right to make that decision for me.”

Nik sighed, rubbing his face. “I was trying to navigate this predicament without getting us both killed. But you’re right, I should have been there for you. I’m sorry, Ana. Truly.”

I crossed my arms, glaring at him. “Sorry isn’t good enough. How about you start by explaining why you didn’t come and visit me on our birthday like you always have in the past? Or why you didn’t come to the hospital when you found out about the accident? Oh, and how about at the arraignment, when you stepped right in front of me, refusing to move?” I snapped, still high on adrenaline.

Nik grabbed my face in his palms, his touch rough but familiar. “Ana, you think I’d miss our birthday on purpose? You know I’d show up unless I absolutely couldn’t.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

“I arrived in Tacoma to take care of some business before flying out to New York. Just as I was about to board, the FBI picked me up. They hauled me down to the police station and held me for questioning in relation to Volkovi Notchi activity.”

My heart pounded at the mention of our father’s crime syndicate. “How long did they keep you?”

“Overnight. I got out the next day and tried to call you, but you never answered.”

He dropped his hands and stepped back, his expression tightening. “I tried, Ana. I tried a bunch of times. When I finally made it out to the estate, it was swarming with cops. Some crazy woman had broken in.”

I folded my arms defensively and fixed him with an icy glare. “Funny. You know good and well that woman was me. I had no idea the house had been raided six months ago. And with your disappearing act, what was I supposed to do—sit on my hands? Of course not. So I came to find you as fast as I could get here. I was shocked to find the house in such disrepair and wrapped in police tape. Someone’s always been here when I arrived, but not this time, so I had no choice but to let myself in. Then, out of nowhere, there were police sirens, and I knew I’d triggered an alarm. You had vanished, and I had no plausible explanation to give the police for why I would break into the house—that is, unless I linked myself to our father, and we both know how disastrous that would have been.” My gaze dropped to my toes and then shot back up as my shoulders sank. “I’ll admit, I got nervous, panicked, and ran because I didn’t want to blow my cover.”

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