Page 17 of Cruel Redemption

“Good. That’s good. At least it’s a starting point.” I saw the distrust in her eyes. “Don’t worry. All you need to do is eat dinner, smile at your husband, and don’t let your in-laws suspect anything is wrong.”

“I think I can do that if you’re there. But only if you go,” she pleaded. My little sister had an ability to make me cave, even if I was the Pahkan.

I smiled at my sister. “I’ll get you through dinner,” I promised.

“And bring Enzo back?”

“Yes.” I stepped backward. “What time do we need to be there?”

“Twenty minutes.” She winced.

“Damn. Doesn’t give me a lot of time. I have something to do. I’ll meet you at the car.”

“Thank you.”

I put my arm around her shoulder. “Grab your things. I’ll be right back.”

Ten

Amara

It was hard to believe this was the place Luka had deposited me. It looked like a one-room fishing or hunting cabin. The walls were paneled in cheap brown flimsy boards with a floor that matched. There was a kitchenette with chipped formica countertops and a dorm-size fridge.

When had the Novikovs every had use for a house like this? My stomach rolled. I noticed the boarded windows. The extreme number of locks on the door.

This was one of their holding cells. This was what happened when someone was Bratva. It wasn’t how my Capos handled business or clients. I tried not to think about it. It was also a hundred degrees in here.

I fanned my neck as a bead of sweat rolled down my throat. The radiator attached to the wall made a hissing sound. I looked at my phone. There was no service here in the woods. Although, the way the bullfrogs broadcasted outside, I thought I might be deep in the bayou.

I didn’t know if I could trust this place. I realize there was no way for Ciro to track me. My hand instinctively moved to my neck where the device had been. It wasn’t until today I realized how the tracker had made me feel safe. I didn’t expect to miss it.

I approached the radiator and looked for a way to turn down the heat. I glared at the rusty knob. How did that work? I groaned trying to turn it any direction I could.

“Jesus Christ,” I muttered when I withdrew my palm from the handle.

There was a long slice running from near my index finger to my wrist. I winced at the new pain in my hand. It was bleeding. I rushed to the kitchenette and ran my hand under the faucet. There wasn’t any warm water, but the cool trickle felt good on my palm. It was a small relief to the sting of the slice of rusted metal. I found a towel in a drawer and wrapped it around my hand. How much worse was this going to get? How many times would I bleed? Be cut open? I felt a tremor in my knees. I had to steady myself.

I was supposed to be stronger than this. I’d experienced enough torture to know better than to let the small things set me off.

There was a bed in the corner of the room. As much as I wasn’t ready to nestle into this cabin, I was reeling with exhaustion. I sat on the edge. The box spring squeaked. I was second-guessing my decision when I heard keys rattling in the lock.

It was only for a second, but my body tingled with nervous adrenaline. Was it possible someone other than Luka would know how to access this place? I was frozen.

The door cracked and Luka walked inside.

I let go of the tension that had crept up to my neck.

“What happened?” His brows narrowed as he bent to examine my hand.

“I was trying to turn down the radiator.” I looked at him.

“I’ll bring something for it. I’m sorry.” He sat next to me and brought my hand closer. “I don’t know if we need Dochev for this one.”

“Wait? What? Where are you going? I’m going with you.”

He shook his head. “I don’t have a lot of time. Katya is waiting for me. We have dinner with the Petrovs in a few minutes. Stay here. I’ll head straight back. I swear.”

“You’re going to leave me here?” My voice cracked. “That wasn’t what I agreed to do.”

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