Page 31 of My Wild Horse King

The six of them turn toward us slowly.

Aleksandr’s the one holding the phone, and he looks concerned. “Leonid’s not staying still.”

“What did he do?” Katerina asks.

“Well, rumors say he killed Putin. But it’s undeniable that he killed Europe’s last dictator—Putin’s favorite crony, the leader of Belarus.”

“But Lukashenko’s a pretty bad man,” I say. “Wasn’t he? Are people upset about that?”

“He invited the man to visit him in Russia, and then after Lukashenko accepted his invite, Leonid killed him,” Aleksandr says. “The execution has thrown Belarus into disarray, and in answer to that concern, Leonid announced that he’ll absorb Belarus into Russia once again.”

I don’t know enough about the region’s politics to really have any understanding about what all of that means or how it might have happened. They want me to be scared, or outraged, or upset, but it all feels very far removed from anything that might affect me here, in the United States. Surely the madman wouldn’t try to come here and start any fights. His armies would be half a world away, and we’re hardly Belarus.

“You need to pass this IPO to someone else,” Kris says.

And that’s it. That’s what she’s wanted since she walked into my life. She wants me to torch everything I’ve worked to build, weeks before the culmination of all my plans, because of something that won’t really affect me in any way. “I won’t do that.” I shake my head. “I have about three hours to sleep before I need to wake up and prepare for a long day of meetings tomorrow. It’s going to be hard to recover from today, but I think I can do it.”

Kris doesn’t argue, but she looks sick.

“You saw Aleksandr turn into a horse,” Mirdza says softly. “You still don’t believe us?”

I shrug. “I believe thatyoubelieve what you’re saying. It’s just that I’m not willing to burn my life to the ground over it. I don’t think you’re right about how this will affect me.”

“You’re right,” Katerina says.

I feel validated at first, thinking that someone in this mob of lunatics agrees with me. But then I realize she’s not talking to me.

“He’s too stubborn. It was a waste of time coming here.”

“You are also wasting your time,” Adriana says. “No matter what Leonid wants, no matter what you want, you’re not going to split me and Alexei up.”

The two women glare at each other, and I realize I’m not the only one with no one on my side. Katerina looks just as beleaguered as me, but hers is for a one-sided love, and mine is because I walked away from a toxic family situation.

“We need to figure out what Leonid’s plan is,” Aleksandr says. “And fighting among ourselves won’t help.”

“None of us are thinking clearly,” Kristiana says.

“We do need sleep,” I agree.

“But in the morning?” Grigoriy arches one eyebrow. “I plan to interrogate you.” He’s glaring at Katerina.

I don’t know her, and I definitely don’t like her, but I almost feel sorry for her. “Why?” I ask. “Is she a criminal after all?”

Grigoriy’s eyes when he turns to face me are dark. Shuttered. “Maybe. She’s the only one who really knows the maniac, and she hasn’t told us anything of value yet.” He grimaces. “But she’s going to.”

8

KATERINA

Kristiana and Aleksandr take one room.

Alexei and Adriana take the other.

Mirdza’s generosity results in the other two getting beds, but as a couple, she and Grigoriy score the air mattress in the office.

“But what about her?” Adriana’s scowling at me. “We can’t trust her, clearly. The last time we weren’t watching her, she ran to Leonid and struck some kind of deal for Alexei to be forced to marry her.”

“I didn’t strike that deal,” I lie. “I begged him to give Alexei’s powers back, and I told him you were leaving Russia. I swore Alexei wouldn’t be a threat.”

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