Page 74 of Cruel Promise

“Of course, it isn’t. If it was, I would already be back at Yale. But for some reason … I can’t leave knowing he’s in danger. So, just tell me where he keeps his guns.”

“I know he has one in the library. It’s behindFrankenstein.”

“Thank you.”

“Ava.”

I glance back. “What?”

“He doesn’t deserve you, you know.”

“I know.”

“So, why try and save him? Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad someone’s going to try. But why you?”

“Honestly? I have no idea.”

The truth is I have some idea. I just don’t want to voice it out loud.

The gun is much heftier than the other one I found under the couch. This one is almost too large for my hand, but I grab it anyway. I need some amount of protection if I’m going to go through with this crazy plan.

I go to the first place on Dimitri’s list.

It’s a rundown bar in a sketchy part of the city. I can feel people’s eyes on me as I enter. This isn’t a place for a girl like me.

But I need to save Nikolai. He’s the devil I know, and without him, this world will eat me right up.

I walk up to the bar, which is sticky when I put my hands on it. I immediately remove my hands. The bartender, an older grizzled looking man, eyes me over.

“Are you sure you’re in the right place, sweetheart?”

No. “Yes. I’m looking for Maxim.”

He stares at me blankly.

“Maxim … the biker?” What was his last name? “Baranov.”

The bartender’s eyes widen slightly. “What’s a slip of a thing like you doing looking for him?”

“Uh, he has something I need.”

“I bet,” he scoffs.

It takes me a moment to realize the bartender thinks I’m talking about sex. That only makes me think of the night in the bathroom when I touched myself before Nikolai. It’s haunted my dreams since then.

“I just need to talk to him,” I say, recovering from the insinuation.

“About what?”

“Does it matter? Do you know where he is or not?”

He shrugs. “He ain’t here. Sorry.”

I grip the sticky bar. “But do you know where he is at this exact moment?”

“No clue.” He tosses a dirty rag over his shoulder. “Now, are you going to order or what?”

I leave after that.

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