Page 4 of Unveiled

“Mmm. Keep working on the rest of the problems. Sometimes, you have to leave the part you can’t solve and work on what you can.” Before I turn to the dishes, I take the whitepaper sack and put it in front of him. “Here. Maybe this will help your concentration.”

He grins, forgiving me for my short temper, as he gleefully plucks a cookie out of the bag and takes a massive bite, crumbs flying everywhere. I sigh and walk to the washing machine. I’ll toss in a load of laundry and let that run while I tackle the dishes.

My father mumbles something unintelligible under his breath. I look at him curiously. I swear I heard something like, “Take her.”

Take who?

The remnants of my paycheck sit on the counter, stretched thin between rent, food, and clothes for Stefan. I’m lucky enough that I can still fit in my mother’s old clothes, but I swear Stefan grows an inch a day.

I grab the load of clean towels out of the dryer and pile them in a basket. I draw in a cleansing breath and release it. A stolen moment of quiet. I need to put Stefan to bed soon so I can get to bed myself. Four o’clock comes way too soon.

Where is Eli? He said he’d be by the bakery before close, but he never showed. He’s been vanishing for hours lately, sometimes days, and always comes back apologetic and exhausted. I half expected him to be here with my father, throwing back the vodka, but the silence feels heavier than usual.

Something is wrong.Verywrong.

I frown, staring down at the basket of laundry. Eli’s clothes are in a basket of his own since I won’t do his. I shove it out of the way when something clatters tothe floor.

I stare at it as the hair on the back of my neck pricks. It’s Eli’s mobile.

Something’s… not right about this. I pick it up, holding my breath. Eli never leaves his cell phone behind.

“Anya! Did you want the other cookie?”

“Take it,” I mumble absentmindedly as I lift the phone.

Why did he leave this? It makes no sense…

I type in his birthday and see it spring to life. Predictable. I frown at the blinking battery—almost dead—and plug it into a charger in the corner of the tiny laundry room.

There are thirteen unread text messages and as many missed calls. A chill skates down my spine when I see the nameSemyon.

My stomach churns as I scroll through them.It doesn’t make sense. If Eli left, why hasn’t he tried to contact me? Or is it because… he can’t?

I stare at the name on the screen again.

Semyon Kopolov.

My brother’s best friend. My mortal enemy. The man who destroyed my family and is responsible for my mother’s death.

My vision blurs. My fingers tremble. I shouldn’t open it. I should throw this damn phone across the room and smash it all to hell.

And yet, with a breath I can’t seem to catch, I click on the messages.

Semyon

Four fucking million. I don’t give second chances. I’m coming to collect.

Semyon

You betrayed us. I won’t forgive that.

Semyon

Pay up or I’ll take more than the bakery. You won’t like what’s left

I stare, my chest tightening, the words sinking in like a blow.More than the bakery?

What the hell else could he take? We don’thaveanything left—just this crumbling apartment, a failing business, and each other. My heart pounds with fury. SemyonknewEli couldn’t pay him back, and he let it spiral until it reached this point.

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