Page 2 of Claim

When I head into the living room, Nikolai and his wife, along with Lara and Alexei are all reclining.

Clapping my hands, I gain their attention. “It’s time to go. Mother has some new guests arriving soon, and we need to go pack.”

Lara raises one eyebrow. “What, we’re getting kicked out? Who’s so important?”

I scowl at her. “It’s none of your business. When I say we leave, we leave.” The less they know, the better.

Alexei stands and stretches, ruffling his own hair before reaching for Lara. “Let’s go. He’s the boss.”

Nikolai also rises, but leans close. “What’s going on?” he whispers.

I shake my head and let my lips thin. “We’ll talk about it another time.”

“You aren’t in charge of me,” Lara huffs, but she moves to Alexei’s side.

She doesn’t know it, but I’m going to need her help in America.

I’ll save that conversation for another day.

“I’m going to say goodbye to Papa.” Katerina wraps her fingers around Nikolai’s wrist before disappearing down the hall.

Nikolai scoops up baby Elena, cradling her to his chest he turns to me. “Are they in danger?” he growls low enough no one else can hear him.

“Not if everyone leaves in time,” I hiss.

He can be the one to help me, and has learned long ago that I’ll fill him in when the time is right.

Just not now.

He nods, and uses his body to herd Lara towards the main door.

A thump echoes through the house from the back.

“Go!” I bellow towards my siblings before turning on my heel.

Sergy joins me in the hall as we both race towards the kitchen.

A young woman, barely eighteen, stands huddled in the utility area, clutching a dark silk shawl around her head.

I can only hope Nikolai got everyone out.

“Are you Sergy?” the girl asks as she turns, but when she sees me, her eyes widen. “You look likehim.”

“I know. I’m Mikhail. I’m going to get you to safety.” When I step closer, she pulls away.

Sergy charges in directly, flicking his gaze between the two of us. “I’m Sergy. There’s a safe area here in the back where you can stay until the transport gets here. Mikhail is the one who will be traveling with you.”

Her large brown eyes work slowly up and down me before she rolls her red bottom lip between her teeth. “Okay.”

Sergy glances to me. “I’ll let your mother know she’s early.”

Holding out my hand, I offer it to Zoya. “Come with me, I swear I’ll keep you safe.”

Her dainty fingers spread over my palm before she hesitantly follows me the back way past the foyer.

I hope like hell no one else sees her.

The level of hell my father will rain down on anyone who knows she’s here will be ungodly.

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