Page 170 of Fall into Savagery

It was times like this when I missed Gleb.

At least his presence had been somewhat comforting.

I waited outside as he checked to make sure it was empty before leaving me to do my business.

I quickly did and came up to the sink to wash my hands, looking at myself in the mirror. The happy girl staring back at me was foreign but not unwelcome.

I could get used to being happy, couldn’t I?

I practiced smiling in the mirror and grabbed some paper towels to dry my hands before walking out.

I bumped into another lady coming into the bathroom before I could leave.

I stepped aside and waited for her to come in, only she didn’t. She stood right in front of me.

My eyes made their way up, from her sneaker-clad feet, which were dirty and torn, to wrinkled jeans that had seen better days, to a black hoodie.

My eyes came to a stop on the gun she was pointing right at me before my eyes met deranged blue ones.

It couldn’t have been that long since I first saw her, but the change in her seemed drastic for such a short amount of time.

I blinked.

She shifted on her feet, wiping her nose with her free hand, her pupils dilated.

She looked strung out.

And desperate.

What a dangerous combination.

She smiled at me, and I resisted the urge to move back. “There is a gun pointing atyourprecious boys right now and a bomb planted outside the shop. One word from me and this whole place will be blown to bits. So you’re going to do as I ask, aren’t you?”

I swallowed, looking behind me for any of my guards. She shook her head. “Don’t. I don’t care if I live or die anymore. I will risk anything to get revenge.”

I shook my head. Get revenge? What did I ever do to her?

She started muttering something under her breath. Something about her next fix and a warehouse.

I tried to move back, but she steadied the hand holding the gun. I held up my hands.

“Ditch your cell phone.”

When I didn’t do as she asked right away, she jabbed the gun into my stomach. “Do it.”

Slowly, I pulled my cell phone out and placed it on the sink.

I would have cried out for help if I didn’t think my boys were in danger, and Alina might look strung out, but there was no telling if she was speaking the truth or not.

I didn’t want to risk my boys.

My heart beat erratically in my chest as I tried to think clearly about how I could get through this.

“We’re going to walk out in the back. You get me? You make any noise, and I will shoot you dead, bitch. So don’t test me.”

I let out a small breath of air I had been holding in and gave the tiniest of nods.

She meant it.

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