Page 29 of All the Dangerous Things

I took the stairs instead of my usual exit, avoiding the chance of running into anyone who might be guarding the elevator doors in the lobby.

My heart was thundering when I reached the ground floor. With a steadying breath, I peeredthrough the small window in the stairwell door and saw one of my brothers’ men standing a few feet away, partially concealed by the thick shadows.

He leaned against the side of the building smoking a cigarette, and although he had a relaxed stance, I could see his gaze scanning the area with calculated precision.

Yeah… I needed to find another way out.

I stood there a second and wracked my brain for the best course of action.

The front was obviously not gonna happen, so I moved through the ground floor to the other back door of the building that opened onto a narrow alley.

I didn’t see anyone as I looked up at the screen that hung from the ceiling that showed the alley was empty. There was a security camera mounted on the outside corner of the building. If there was a guard, he was out of sight, so this was extra tricky. But this was the only feasible place I could leave from.

The camera rotated in the opposite direction, and I made my move.

I pushed the door open slowly, wincing at the soft creak from the hinges. I held my breath as I slipped out and pressed myself to the brick wall. Ifelt like my eyes were moving back and forth at a rapid pace, taking in everything as I checked to see if there was another Bratva member standing guard.

And then, I heard muffled voices around the corner. Ten feet away. I bit my lip hard enough I felt a flash of pain.

The shadows stretched long in the dim light. I brought the hood tighter around my face, tugging the two strings by my neck, and walked briskly around the building to the side street.

Before I left my apartment, I used a ride-share app to call a car, knowing my brothers probably put a tracking device on my own vehicle. They might have Gio’s address already, but I didn’t need them to be notified I left.

I only had to wait a few minutes before the car arrived. I climbed into the backseat, keeping my head down, and gave the driver Gio's address.

The ride felt like an eternity as the city rushed by all around me. My heart was pounding in my chest as I kept glancing out the window. I half-expected to see one of Dmitry or Nikolai's men tailing us.

But the streets remained empty, and after what felt like hours, we finally pulled up outside Gio's place.

I sat there a moment, just looking out the backpassenger window, and stared up at the warehouse-style building. It didn’t look like it held apartments within, not with the industrial architecture of it.

After tipping the driver in the app, I climbed out of the car, casting one last glance around to double check I hadn't been followed.

God, this was scary, but an adrenaline rush was pushing me along the tracks of this roller coaster ride.

The night was shrouded in a thick, almost eerie silence.

My nerves were frayed, but my determination was strong as hell. The mounted silver intercom glinted at me like a beacon. There was only one button on the panel.

Gio’s, I was sure, even though his name wasn’t printed on the label.

I pressed it with a shaky finger.

I glanced up and saw a camera pointed right at me. After a long moment, which was so damn agonizing, there was a crackle through the speaker.

“You’re brave, little Russian doll.” Gio’s voice was deep and sounded strange. Slurred maybe?

Obviously, I wasn’t surprised he knew it was me. I looked at the security camera again and pushed my hood down, staring right into the lens. The little redlight blinked back at me, like Gio himself was taunting me.

I said nothing, and after a prolonged pause, the door buzzed, and I pushed it open and hurried through it. Inside, there wasn’t anything but storage boxes lined up on the right, a couch and coffee table to the left, and another security camera mounted on the wall, facing the entrance.

There was the elevator I’d taken down from his place a week ago up ahead to my right, and a set of stairs straight in front of me.

I took the latter option two at a time. The stairs led to only one floor.

To one apartment.

When I stood in front of the heavy-looking door, I saw it was already open, the silvery brushed steel slightly ajar. I could sense nothing but silence and darkness beyond.

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