Page 65 of Wicked Arrangement

Without thinking about it, I start to walk, hoping to clear my head. It’s a stupid decision since I’m miles from anywhere. But I need to do something, movement might help.

As I’m walking and agonizing, I hear a ringtone that isn’t my own close by. Confused, I look around me at the empty expanse of highway surrounded by trees. There’s no one else here. I’m alone. Literally and metaphorically.

With a start, it dawns on me that the sound is coming from my purse. It’s only as I pull out the phone that I recall, it’s the phone Marta gave me. I forgot to give it to David yesterday. And considering they went to meet Marta today, the phone completely slipped my mind. The display shows that it’s Marta herself calling.

“Hello?” I answer, confused.

“Kim! Thank goodness, is David with you?” she asks sounding frazzled.

“No, I thought he was with you?”

“He was… everything was going amazingly, we were all getting on so well. But then I think he must have gotten overwhelmed by everything, and he ran off. Yaroslav and I split up to find him, we’ve been looking everywhere. I was hoping he might have the phone on him,” she explains, worry marring her voice.

“No, sorry I forgot to give it to him,” I answer truthfully, cursing myself now for not doing so. “I can come and help find him?”

“Hold on a sec, Kim, Yaroslav is calling,” she says before putting me on hold.

Moments later, she’s back on the line. “Hi Kim, thank god, they’ve found him. He and Yaroslav are heading home now, he’s safe. Crisis averted,” she says with a tinge of relief and sadness.

“Well, this crisis at least,” I blurt out.

“Are you having some sort of crisis?” she asks her voice so concerned I decide to open up to her, perhaps she can help me figure out this mess.

“Yes, it affects Yaroslav too, can we meet?” I ask.

“Of course, where are you?” she says without hesitation.

I explain how I’m in the middle of nowhere walking down the road.

“Okay, I’m not going to even ask why you’re wandering down the road,” she replies, “Just stay put and I’ll be right there. I’ll let Yaroslav know we’re meeting up, so he doesn’t worry about you. I’ll be sure to act like it’s a casual thing,” she adds, intuitively knowing I don’t want him to know something is wrong.

“Thank you, Marta, you’re a lifesaver.”

At least I hope she will be.

***

A couple of hours later and several coffees in back at the diner, I’ve been updated on their reunion and Marta is now fully aware of my predicament. Well, notfully,fully, I haven’t mentioned the baby. We’ve been running through solutions, but nothing seems to keep both of our brothers safe. Apart from the one thing I can’t accept.

“Kim, please. This is the only way. I’ll give the money to your brother. Jackson and I can afford it, and if that’s the price I pay to protect my brother, I’ll do it without hesitation,” she insists, not for the first time.

“Marta, it’s a lot of money, I can’t let you do that. Plus, shouldn’t you at least discuss it with Jackson? And what if Noah asks for more? What’s to stop him coming back?” I reason, wracking my brain for another solution.

She ponders this. “You’re right, it’s a gamble, most blackmailers come back for more. But what other option do wehave? Besides, it might buy us some time. And don’t worry about Jackson, I’ll speak to him.”

I let out a sigh, rubbing my eyes wearily. “Okay, thank you, Marta. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you, but I’ll find a way.”

“Don’t worry about it, I’m glad I can help,” she responds.

Deciding to just bite the bullet and get it over with, I call Noah.

“Hey, Sis, I hope you’re not calling to—” he starts but I cut him off.

“You’ll get your money. But then I want you to move, far, far away from here. Never contact me, Gran, or any of Yaroslav’s family again. If you do, or you try to do this again and get more money once you inevitably blow it all away, I won’t stop him from ending you the next time. Do I make myself clear?” I hiss, meaning every word.

I want to save him, but sisterly love only goes so far. If Noah tries to hurt me or my family, I won’t save him the next time.

“Understood,” he replies.

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