Page 93 of Toxic Salvation
“We just got here!”
“Someone’s following us.” His tone is tight as he scans the store. “Where are Charity and Luka? I told you three to stick together.”
“Luka was right next to me a second ago, and Charity was busy flirting with you. Is it one person or more on our tail?”
“One that I can see. But he might not be alone. Why the hell did I listen to you?” He spots Luka and Charity on the other side of the store and waves them over frantically. “We have to go. Now.”
“We just got here!” Charity complains, holding an armful of lacy sleepwear.
“Stay close to me.” Pavel’s fingers fly over his phone screen. “Let’s move.”
He types frantically as we exit the store and hurry down the crowded mall corridor. The crowd seems to have doubled in size, and Pavel’s anxiety has tripled.
“What’s going on, V?” Charity whispers as we struggle to keep up with Pavel’s pace.
“Pavel thinks we’re being followed.”
“Are we?”
“I don’t know. Either that or he’s being paranoid. But Pavel’s not really the paranoid type, so?—”
BANG!
The sound is so loud and so much like a gunshot that I drop to the floor instinctively, pulling Luka down with me. Several other people drop, too. Charity stays on her feet, scanning the area.
“Was that a gunshot?” Luka whispers.
“Probably just a car backfiring,” I try to reassure him.
“Get in here.” Pavel herds us toward the nearest store: a baby boutique. “Now.”
“Vesper’s right, Pavel.” Charity tries to calm things down. “It was probably a car backfiring. Or a balloon popping. Or?—”
“Doesn’t matter. Until we know for sure what it was, I want you three in the back. Find an empty dressing room and stay there.”
“Wait—where are you going?” I grab Pavel’s arm as he moves past me.
“I have to find the security detail. I’ve been trying to reach them, but there’s no signal on my phone. Stay here. Get in that dressing room and don’t come out until you hear my voice. You understand me?”
He looks so serious that I nod immediately. “I understand.”
He waits until we’re safely in the dressing room before disappearing around the corner. Watching him leave makes me more nervous than I expected.
“Vesper.” Luka trembles. “What’s happening? Is it Ihor? Is it my mom?”
I drop to my knees and take both his hands. “Don’t worry, honey. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
“But you’re pregnant. I should be protecting you.”
I give him my most reassuring smile. “How about we protect each other?” When he nods uncertainly, I kiss his forehead. “Ihor’s not getting anywhere near you, sweetheart. I promise.”
33
KOVAN
I’ve made so many mistakes already today, and it’s not even two in the afternoon.
As I jump into my SUV and race toward the mall, I catalog every fuck-up in my head.
