Page 43 of Dark Embers

He doesn’t argue. Just shifts gears and makes a U-turn.

Ten minutes later, my stomach drops when we pull into the driveway and I see nearly every light in the house blazing.

“Oh no,” I breathe, my heart pounding against my rib cage.

Before Oleksi can stop me, I’m out of the car, yanking the back door open and scooping up Elena. She stirs, letting out a sleepy whimper, but I don’t have time to soothe her.

I’m running.

Heart hammering, I throw the front door open and barrel inside. “Mom! Mark!”

“Sweetheart?” My mom appears from the hallway, dressed like she just stepped off a cruise ship in the Bahamas—sunhat, oversized sunglasses perched on it, and a floral tunic. Her eyes land on Elena and widen. “Is my princess—?”

“Are you okay?” I pant, chest heaving.

“Rina!” Mark’s voice calls out behind her, and then his familiar face appears from the bedroom, his shirt as loud and Hawaiian as hers. He steps forward immediately, arms out. “I’m so glad you brought her by. Let me—”

“Wait.” I step back, as Mark takes Elena from me, narrowing my eyes. “What the hell is going on here? Are you two doing some kind of kinky Hawaiian cruise roleplay?”

“What?” My mom looks at me like I’ve just slapped her and then gives a nervous laugh. “No, sweetheart! Didn’t you get my message?”

“No,” I snap, patting my pockets looking for my phone. “Shit. My phone’s in my purse and that’s still in the car.”

Carla sighs, shaking her head, just as Oleksi appears in the open doorway.

“Hi.” He gives her a polite nod.

Her eyes sharpen like daggers, shifting between him and me. “Hello, Oleksi. I assume this isn’t a coincidence, you showing up at my door at this ungodly hour with my daughter in tow?”

“Oleksi?” Mark repeats, his expression just as curious as my mothers as he steps from the kitchen, Elena now content biting on her icy teether in his arms.

Oleksi nods. “Sorry to barge in, but there was an incident at Sabrina’s and—”

“It was nothing,” I interrupt with a forced smile and sharp warning glare at Oleksi, but I can already see the suspicion in my mother’s eyes.

“Sabrina?” My mother drawls inthatvoice withthattone. It’s the same one she used every time I tried to lie my way out of something as a teenager.

“Seriously. It’s nothing.”

But Mark’s already pulling out his phone. “Let me just call Sam and—”

“No!” I bark, but it’s too late.

Mark hands Elena over to Oleksi, stepping into the kitchen with his phone already plastered to his ear, and I throw Oleksi a look sharp enough to draw blood.

“Sabrina?” my mother says again, her tone hinting at this being my last chance to come clean.

And I’m fucked if it doesn’t still make me want to crumble. “Okay.” I hold up my hands. “Two men…”

“Two Russian men,” Oleksi corrects and my mother’s eyes widen as she glances accusingly at him. “Not mine, or any of my family.”

My mother nods and looks back at me. “Russian men broke into your apartment tonight?”

“About two hours ago,” Oleksi interrupts again, sparking my anger.

“Can I tellmymother what happened?” I hiss at him.

Oleksi just shrugs. “Just keeping the facts straight.”

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