Page 12 of Slipping into the Dark Side

His patheticness annoyed her. “Can you stop? I just stabbed your arm. You’re not dying.” She shoved him in front of her, “Is there another way out of here?”

“Why would I tell you?”

She gripped his shoulder, digging her nails into his skin, “Because otherwise, I’m gonna push you through that room, and all the men in there will know how you really thought I had an itch.”

Though there was some hesitation, the boy’s embarrassment won out. “To the left. There’s a secret exit that will take you through a tunnel.”

Tatianna patted him, “Good boy. Now you’re going to wait five more minutes, and then you are going to tell them a group of men came through those tunnels and stole me back. You followed as much as you could but were stabbed in a brutal brawl. Sound good?”

He bowed his head but ultimately agreed.

Tatianna slipped to the left. The hall was dark and got colder the further she went; on the left wall of the dead end was a piece of fabric covering a hole in the concrete. She pushed through it, feeling along the wall as she went. It was completely black, and she could hear her panting. She was terrified she wasn’t going to make it. Five minutes hadn’t been enough time, but she knew any longer, the men would come looking for the boy.

Tatianna picked up her pace. She could hear the echoes as the men shouted from the church. Up and up, she climbed till she came out through a hollowed-out tree. She didn’t know this town as well as she knew her own, but the best thing about Fedor’s estate was that it was on top of a hill and overlooked the city below. With a few turns, she found his house all aglow and ran.

Yakov watched Fedor pace for the third hour. He sat in the leather wingback chair with a glass of whiskey in hand. The phone was propped just an arm’s length away. Hour after hour ticked back, and Yakov, for the fifth time, blandly responded. “I’m sure she’s fine.”

“What if they abuse her? Oh, my Tati. She’s too fragile. I can’t. If someone hurts her, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

Yakov continued to observe him. He had no idea what kind of woman he was marrying, did he? It was sad, really, that he was so gullible. But it helped Yakov figure out why Tatianna was staying with him, and it made Yakov adore her even more.

What he wasn’t prepared for was when Tatianna entered the room. Yakov stood with his mouth dumbly open and his thoughts quiet. Her feet were covered in dirt. Her dress was torn and dirty, and her hands were stained red. She was disheveled but not exhausted. She smiled through the terrible welt on her face and watched Fedor continue his pacing. Though she had noticed Yakov, she didn’t acknowledge him.

“I’m okay.”

The words shot Fedor into consciousness, and he rushed to her, swinging her around. “Oh, thank God! Where have you been? I’ve had my men searching everywhere. I even called Mr. Morozov to aid me.”

Tatianna met Yakov’s gaze from over Fedor’s shoulder. She was calculating, but Yakov wasn’t about to give her anything. He shifted, grabbing his watch off the table and slipping it over his wrist. “Are you well, Miss Nevsky?”

Tatianna pulled back, but Fedor kept his hands on her hips, surveying the damage. “I’m fine. I managed to escape on a technicality.”

“Who was it?” Fedor asked, “Where are they?”

“In a church off Levick. They were all in black masks.”

Yakov took up the cue. “Allow me to take care of it, Fedor. I am well versed in retribution.”

Fedor nodded, careless, running a hand through Tatianna’s hair as he stared at her. “I’m such a fool to allow you out of my sight.”

Tatianna pressed a smile, but it was weak. She was surprisingly tired now. The rush of adrenaline was running out, and her leg throbbed. For a moment, the world spun, and Fedor was quick to whisk her off her feet, promptly setting her on the couch before he called for a doctor. He propped her leg up and yelled for a maid to clean her up.

The whole time, Yakov studied her. Perhaps she did love Fedor with how she batted his hand, laughed at him, assured him she was fine, and brought him in for a sweet kiss. It was vexing. It would take longer than he intended to get her by his side.

Yakov fixed the collar of his jacket before he began working the buttons. “I’ll be off now.” He turned to the other exit so as not to pass her, but Tatianna wasn’t about to let him leave without notice.

“Thank you, Mr. Morozov, for coming to my rescue.”

Yakov kept his back to her. “Anything for family.”

The way he stood was telling. Why not face her? “Please don’t venture out so late. I’m sure Fedor can find a room for you.”

Yakov waved a hand and left.

But he wasn’t about to go home. His car was waiting for him, and with a cigarette between his lips, he dived into the backseat as two of his men sat across from him. One lit his cigarette, and the other handed him a gun. After so many days of being the head of the family, he had gotten them well-trained to do what needed to be done without saying it. And those that couldn’t grasp it would find themselves doing bitch work that no one else wanted to do, like cleaning up bodies.

But there would be no need for cleanup tonight.

They pulled up beside the church, and his guard quickly opened the door for him. He blew smoke out as he climbed the stairs; a quick glance at his watch told him it was just after late-night mass, leaving it empty aside from one priest that stayed in case a stray wandered in looking for some forgiveness. Yakov waved a hand at him, and the man wisely dived out of the church.

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