Page 241 of The Harbinger

My patience fractured. “I know that, but where in the city?”

He spat out the name, and I fished out my phone, my fingers shaking with anticipation. The image of the building appeared on the screen, and I let out a cry of triumph, my heart pounding with relief.

I flung myself at him, my arms wrapping around his neck in a desperate embrace. “You’re a lifesaver,” I gasped, my voice choking with emotion. I pulled away, my eyes burning with tears. “I’m sorry.”

I bolted towards the driveway, my phone pressed to my ear as I dialed the taxi company. Miraculously, the driver I had just dismissed was willing to turn back. I raced down the street, and the cab pulled up as I reached the curb.

Clamoring into the back seat, I left my suitcase at his abandoned home and barked out Sacha’s work address. The driver swerved through the congested Moscow streets, and my mind whirred with countless possibilities. What would happen when I finally laid eyes on him? Would he be livid? Would he want to see me at all?

The cab skidded to a stop outside a towering office building, and I flung myself out of the car, sprinting towards the entrance.

I darted across the polished floors of the main lobby, my heart pounding as I bypassed the security checkpoint without stopping. The receptionist’s voice echoed after me, urging me to stop—that I needed to be checked in, but I ignored her. I needed to find him.

Stopping at the elevator, I pushed the button and waited.

Heavy boots stomped my way, and I glanced over my shoulder. Armed security guards in black suits marched my way, their attention fixated on me.

I pressed the button a little faster, but the light at the top, indicating where the elevator was, was on the third floor.

In a flash, I dashed to the left, slammed open the doors leading to the stairwell, and booked it up the level. I pumped my legs hard, my breaths coming in short, ragged gasps.

My pulse raced as I threw open the second-floor door and jammed my thumb into the button. The doors opened immediately, and I slid inside the empty lift.

The security guards rounded the corner, and my stomach dropped. I repeatedly hit the button to close the elevator doors, my heart assaulting my breastbone. Their imposing figures closed in as the doors began to close, their hulking frames slipping out of sight as the elevator doors slid shut with finesse.

I hit the button for Sacha’s floor and breathed a sigh of relief, the elevator moving upward toward safety.

As I rocketed upwards, my mind raced. Would he be upset that I caused such a ruckus downstairs? Would he be happy to see me?

Finally, with a soft ding, the elevator came to a stop. The doors slid open, revealing a sleek, modern office space. I stepped out, my eyes scanning the area for any sign of Sacha.

The air was heavy with tension, every sound amplified as I crept through the expensive office.

“I’m here to see, Sacha,” I said to his assistant.

“He’s in a conference. Have a seat.” She pointed to the waiting room, and I glanced back at the sliding doors where his office was.

“I’ll wait in his office then.” I darted towards his office and slid open the doors as she yelled after me, her finger stabbing the buttons on her phone.

“You can’t go in there.”

This was it. I’d give him the ultimatum. Take me back or release me.

His office was empty, except for Dmitri, who stood at the doors to the conference room. His brows furrowed with confusion as he stepped towards me.

“Mia. What are you doing here?”

“Chto ya dolzhen byl sdelat’ mesyatsy nazad.”What I should have done months ago.

I darted to the left, grabbed the cup that held the highlighters, and slammed it into the glass where his sacrificial knife lay.

Shards of glass splintered everywhere, my knuckles bleeding from the impact. I reached inside, took hold of the knife in my now bloody hands, and then marched toward Dmitri.

“Get out of my way,” I said in Russian.

“Ne delay etogo.” Don’t do this.

I sprang forward, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I evaded his grasp with a swift sidestep. My body spun on a dime, my hand tightly gripping the knife as I pried open the doors to the conference room.

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