Page 82 of Vasily the Hammer

“Who takes over if you’re gone? Is it Kostya?”

Vasily growls, actually growls, at that.

“That’s what I thought. You’re not giving your life up. You’re not handing the Bratva to him. And I’m not going to live another day at Tony’s house, but I’ve gotten back enough memories to fill a saucepan, so it looks like you’re stuck with me and Artom. So—”

He tugs my arm hard enough to unbalance me, forcing me into his arms and into a kiss that has everyone else gagging and snickering.

I scold him with, “I wasn’t done.”

“Go on,” he says, and every single person is behind me, so they all see his hands on my ass.

I sigh. “So I guess we’re going to have to figure out how to destroy Kostya and Tony.”

“Iwill figure out how to destroy Kostya and Tony.”

“We.”

From behind me, Dima says, “See, I told you she’slike this.”

Planning is a challenge. When Vasily says I need to return to Phoenix immediately and I start to fight because I refuse to be worthless or let everyone else decide what I can do, he’s clear that it’s only because I’ll need to drive back and he wants me to get hold of Artom as soon as possible. He assures me that it’s not because of Maria and even brings her in on a conference call to work everything out. The call goes on the road with Alex and me, since Alex is the only one available to drive who no one will recognize. Dima and Vasily are both well known in Phoenix, and a lot of people are looking for Kseniya. As soon as her pink and black hair is spotted, everyone’s going to chase us down.

Alex and I are average looking. No one will suspect anything.

The call lasts the entire two hours it takes us to get to Phoenix, and Maria opens the door for me at her place while she assures Vasily for the hundredth time that she will check the gun she’s going to give me, that my safety is her sole priority.

It’s still night when we’ve reviewed the plan for the final time. Vasily tells me he loves me and to sleep well. I tell him to sleep well. I tasted freedom, and it was lovely, and though I’ve agreed to return to Vasily, I recognize him for what he is: another cage. I don’t know yet if I’m the cat who enjoys her little outdoor adventures and then meows to come in or if I’m the mouse who’s only in my cage because I can’t figure out how to escape.

The guest room Maria has put Artom in is nice, the bed comfy and plenty big enough for both of us, but I can only sleep for a couple hours before nervous energy gets the best of me. It’s not so big a deal, though. I’ve got a crazy day in front of me, and I haveonly a few minutes left to my own thoughts as I throw together a breakfast for the four of us.

Artom awakes first. He’s immediately suspicious when I make him a hot cocoa instead of pouring a healthier drink, and he’s right to be suspicious.

“I have to go again,” I tell him when I take him out on Maria’s porch, where there’s a weathered wooden swing for two we can watch the sunrise from.

Artom doesn’t watch the sunrise, though. He stares right at me. “I don’t want you to go,” he sniffles.

“I know, baby. I don’t want to either. And... it might be scarier for you this time.”

His bottom lip quivers. “But it was scary then, too.”

“I know. I’m so sorry.” I hug him so I can hide as I dash my own tears. “I don’t want this either. But remember how Uncle D always told you it was for Daddy’s safety that we couldn’t be with him?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, now it’s for your safety that I can’t be with you. Just for a little while. You’re gonna stay here with Uncle Tony and Auntie Cami, and I’m going to help Daddy and Uncle D, and—”

“You saw Daddy and Uncle D?”

“I did, and they miss you so much and they’re so excited to get you back.”

I tell him what he needs to do, and he doesn’t like it, but I think he understands. Hopefully he inherited my flair for the dramatic.

Camilla is more complicated. I have to start the conversation confronting her about being less than truthful about my relationship with Vasily, and no one likes confrontation.

“I just didn’t want him to hurt you again,” she finally confesses after I push enough. “And... fine, I wanted you to stay here. I miss you so much, Laces.”

“That you’d trick me into living with Tony again?”

“Aww, he’s not as bad as he used to be,” she says like she really believes it.

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