Page 21 of My Wild Horse King

“I was given this number by the secretary at your company, one Kalinda Roth.”

Kalinda never passes out my personal cell phone. It’s basically the entire first day of training. She’s been with us for four years. “I’ll be sure to talk to her. In the meantime, is there something I can help you with?”

“This is Daniel Belmont?”

“Speaking,” I say.

“My name’s Theodore Price, and I’m an agent with the Department of Homeland Security. Your name has been given as a sponsor for a visa for a young woman named Kat?—”

“Ho there, Theodore. I can save you some time. I have exactlyzeronon-US citizens I would sponsor for a visa. So you can go ahead and cross their name off. Or do you cross mine off? Either way, I’m really busy. You either have the wrong Daniel Belmont, or there’s been some other mix-up.” I hang up.

It’s probably a scam, but on the outside chance that the Department of Homeland Security is confused, it’s really not something I have time to deal with today. They can mark my name off and keep calling whoever they need to call about this illegal immigrant or whoever.

“Where can we go to talk that people will not see us?” the stocky man asks. “I’d rather not drag you somewhere, but I will if I must.”

“Destroying phones the entire way, no doubt.” I sigh. “My apartment is only two blocks from here. Let’s go there.”

They follow me through the stairwell into the main lobby and out the tenth street exit. They wouldn’t all fit into my car in any case, so we may as well walk. It occurs to me that I might be able to slip away from them, but my sister appears to be deadly serious about all this. I wonder what kind of mess she’s found herself in for it to be life and death, and for her to have the kind of tech I have only seen in science fiction movies.

“While we walk, why don’t you tell me whose life is at risk, exactly,” I say.

“Yours,” Kris says. “You couldn’t be bothered to answer the phone, and John just had a heart attack, and you practically ran away when I flew all the way out here.”

“John what?” That makes me freeze. “Is he alright?”

“He’s recovering,” she says. “I wanted to fly home to deal with him, but I came all the way here to save your ungrateful life instead. Because that’s what family does.”

She seems utterly serious. That gives me something to think about for the last block.

“This is a pretty nice building,” Mirdza says.

“Thanks.” I wave at my doorman, Norm. His eyes widen as we walk in, and I shake my head. He’s a pretty chatty guy, which is fine usually, but I don’t have time or the words to even try to explain my entourage this time.

“You’ve done well for yourself in America,” Adriana says.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “Did the three of you get some kind of Russian package deal? Or, like, how did you all wind up with Russian boyfriends?”

“Fiancés,” Adriana says. “Not that you asked.”

“Right,” I say. “Sure. Fiancés.”

“Therewasa deal on Match dot com,” Kristiana says. “Too good to miss. Buy one hot Russian lord, get two free.”

I tried to surreptitiously google Alexei Romanov as we were walking, but for some reason my phone wouldn’t load the page. Now that we’re not walking anymore, it finally shows up, and I can’t believe it. The Calvin Klein model reallyisthe failed Russian prince—standing right in front of me. “You really are Alexei Romanov.”

“I am,” he says. “Not that it means much. I lost the vote.”

The elevator doors ding before opening, and I step onto my floor, waving them all through.

“Whoa,” Kris says, looking around with wide eyes. “Is this entire floor yours?”

“Penthouse,” I say. “Gift from Grandfather when I graduated third in my class.”

“Wow,” she says. “Maybe I should’ve come to America, too.”

“You wouldn’t have met me if you had,” Aleks says softly.

“Which brings us back to our point.” Kristiana folds her arms. “Gustav’s never going to believe us unless you just show him.”

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