Page 69 of Defiant Devotion

“Hey, that reminds me.” I got up and walked over to a side table to grab some paper. “I need to send a letter.”

Irina huffed a laugh. “A letter. How old-fashioned of you.”

I ignored her teasing and began what would likely be the first draft of a letter to the Petersons. I thanked them and explained the vague details of why I couldn’t tell them who I was and why I’d taken their truck. Once Oleg woke from his nap, I’d have him send a hefty thank-you gift. Depositing it in an account with an untraceable large sum would be an ideal way to pay them back for saving my life and giving me a chance to get home.

Kelly rushed back into the room without Eva. Her face was pale and her eyes were wide open. Immediately, I set the pen down and stood, furrowing my brow as I studied her. “Kelly? What’s wrong?”

She lifted her hand. It shook as she showed us her phone. “I… I…” She forced a hard swallow. “I just got a call.”

Thunder boomed, and we all flinched at the loud sound.

“What call?” Irina got up, joining me in reaching her across the room.

Right then, Eva showed up in the doorway, her arms full of bags of food and more beverages for us so we could continue lounging and relaxing. Neither would be happening based on how freaked out Kelly seemed.

“Whoa. Hey. What’s going on?” She frowned, looking at each of us. Her expression deepened with more worry as she focused on Kelly. “Kel?” Setting the food and beverages down, she hurried toward us.

“I just got a call,” Kelly repeated in that shaky, scared tone. “I got a call.”

I shook my head, showing her this freak-out thing wasn’t going to roll with me. Gripping her upper arms and forcing her to lookat me, commanding her to ground herself and make eye contact, I ducked to level with her gaze. “Kelly. Breathe. Who called? What is it?”

More thunder boomed, and she slightly flinched this time. “A soldier.”

“One of ours?” Eva asked, standing at my side.

Kelly nodded, but it turned into a shake. “Yeah. A soldier.”

“Was it a Baranov?” I asked. It was or wasn’t. I wondered if she knew.

“It had to be.” She sobbed, covering her mouth with her free hand. “He said Rurik was killed.”

I looked at Eva quickly, seeing the same instant doubt on her face. “Kelly, who called? What was his name?”

“I don’t know!” Panic clung to her every word and hitched breath as she practically hyperventilated. “I don’t know. He just said Rurik was killed in the fight against the Ilyins.”

I shook my head again. “No. Kelly. A soldier wouldn’t— No. They would identify themselves and, no. Just calm down. Who called?”

“I don’t know,” she sobbed again. “He’s dead.”

“You don’t know that,” Eva said.

Kelly shook out of my grasp and walked away.

“Kelly, you don’t know that.” I didn’t walk after her since Eva was already there. Irina and I exchanged a worried glance.

“I do! I was just told!” Kelly insisted.

“It could be a ploy,” I said.

Eva nodded, gesturing for Kelly to give her the phone. “We’ll trace it.”

“What if it’s not a ploy? What if it’s true? What if it’s real?” She dropped to sit on the couch, then shot right back up to stand. “What if I’ve lost my husband? What if?—”

“What if it’s a ploy?” I replied loudly and firmly so she’d have no choice but to hear me.

Kelly hadn’t been born in this life. She wasn’t as versed with how things could go. Yes, she’d married Rurik and she was learning, but she had to get a thicker skin and gain some healthy skepticism we Mafia princesses had.

“I need to go find him. I need to see with my own eyes?—”

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