Page 168 of Lethal Legacy

“Smart, I’d say.” Abby squeezes my hand reassuringly. “Listen, I can’t stay long. Gregor’s stressed out of his brain about Nikolai coming in tonight. There’s loads of stuff to do. Dimitry usually helps, but he’s been MIA the last couple of days.” She grins at me. “I blame CEO Man. Apparently some deal came off and they got stuck into the vodka last night. It must have been some celebration. Dimitry didn’t even make it home.”

I force a smile as if I know what she’s talking about. “Yeah, I gather it all went well.” Even if I’m relieved to know it was Dimitry with Roman last night, it seriously irks me that Abby knows more about what happened than I do.

“Here’s your package.” She pulls a thick padded envelope out of her bag. It’s post stamped from Seattle and has the logo of a popular online store on it. The description on the international sticker describes the contents as books.

“Thanks for this, Abs. They’re for Papa.” I hate how easy it is to lie to her. “He’s starting to read again, but it’s really hard to find books in his language here in Spain.”

“You mean in Russian.” She gives me a complicit smile. “I’m not totally clueless, Luce. It’s pretty obvious where you’re from.” She mimics zipping her lips again. “But I know, I know. Secret squirrel and all that.”

I swallow hard and give her a weak smile. “Thanks. I’m... sorry, Abby.”

She waves me off. “We’ve all got our secrets, chica.” She gives me a slightly pained smile. “Even me, believe it or not. I get it.” She hugs me briefly. “I’ve got to go before Nikolai the Knob turns up.”

I can’t help but snort at that. Abby’s always had a way with nicknames.

“Take care, okay?” She looks around at the slow-growing dusk. “I’m amazed CEO Man let you come down here alone. You should get back, yeah? Even I’m not a fan of the marina at night.”

“Go, go. I’ll be fine.” We kiss goodbye, and I take off down one of the small alleys behind the dockside warehouses that lead back to the main road. It will only take me ten minutes to get back to the villa.

I’m halfway down the alley when I hear footsteps behind me. I speed up slightly, keeping my eyes on the streetlights up ahead. I wonder, rather tiredly, if I’ll ever stop fearing the sound of footsteps following me.

They’re getting closer.

Resisting the urge to turn around, I speed up into a partial jog. An old joke of Abby’s runs through my mind:Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean somebody isn’t following you.

Channeling Abs makes me smile. I’m almost at the main road.

“Darya.”

Lance Ryder.I’d know that British private schoolboy voice anywhere.

My blood runs cold. I break into a run, but a hand closes around my arm, jerking me to a halt.

“Let me go.” I swing around, trying to wrench my arm from his grip.

“I’m not trying to hurt you, Darya.” His polished features are as smooth as ever, his gleaming smile as unsettling as I recall. “I’m trying to help you. Roman Stevanovsky isn’t who you think he is.”

“I don’t care what you have to say.” I’m trying to keep hold of my bag with the package in it while also twisting out of his hold.

“He’s been buying up Borovsky safes at auction anonymously for years, Darya.” His clasp on my arm is like a vise. “He knows who you are, and he knows why the Orlovs want you. Do you think it’s a coincidence that he’s got you in his home, under such close watch?”

Every word feeds the fears that have been churning inside me since I opened that door this morning. But fears or not, I’m not taking advice from a snake like Ryder.

“I told you to let mego.” I finally manage to pull free of his grasp. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I glare at him. “I have nothing to say to you. Stay away from me, unless you want Roman to come after you himself.” I back away down the street, still watching him.

“I’m not the only one who knows where you are, Darya.” His eyes flash nastily. “If you trust me, I can help you. I helped your brother, Alexei. He’s here, did you know that?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say again. I’m almost at the road. “Just leave me and my friends alone.”

I back onto the pavement and collide with a passerby. My bag falls off my shoulder. “Disculpe me,” I stammer, swiping my bag hastily off the pavement, my heart thudding.

“Nada.”The woman steps around me, giving me a kindly smile.

I don’t bother looking around for Ryder.

I just run.

Irun the entire way back to the villa, looking over my shoulder every few steps. I can’t see Ryder, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t still watching.

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