The confused expression on my face quickly morphs into understanding. According to all official records, Kira Petrova died in this prison today. That’s all that matters to them—that I’m dead and gone. I nod slowly, feeling guilty for being grateful to a woman who took her own life. “Who am I?”
“You’re Nadia Utkin, attaché for the Canadian Ambassador. You’re here on a diplomatic goodwill assignment to help orphaned children.”
The two guards carry Kira Petrova out of the room, and Sasha walks in with a garment bag. “Here you are, Miss Utkin. Your change of clothes just arrived.” Tears glisten in her eyes as she passes the packet to me. “I hope you have a safe trip home. I’m sorry you were in a car wreck during your first trip to Russia.” She lightly strokes the still visible wounds on my face.
“Thank you.” I can barely choke out the words.
She leaves us alone, and Silas turns to face me now that we’re alone. “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m sorry I had even one doubt about you and your intentions. This is all my fault—everything you’ve been through over the last week. If I’d had my head screwed on right, this never would’ve happened.”
I step toward him and put my finger over his lips, shaking my head. “Viktor played us both from the beginning, Silas. He made sure our paths crossed then took advantage of our connection. Since he held all the cards, there wasn’t much we could’ve done to change the outcome. If it wasn’t here, it would’ve happened somewhere else. And I forgive you for questioning me. The story he told was a good one, and you’re trained to be suspicious of everyone. It’s part of who you are now.”
He bends over and places a soft kiss on my lips. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
“Don’t think you’ll ever get away with that shit again, though. You used your one free chance. If there’s a next time, you’ll pay dearly for it.” I narrow my eyes at him, but I can’t contain the smile that immediately follows. I’m just so happy and relieved and elated and grateful to see him again at all.
“Never again, baby. Let’s get you out of that prison uniform and into your regular clothes. We have to move quickly now.” He sheds his uniform and puts on a tailored suit in record time.
He doesn’t have to tell me twice. In seconds, I’m out of the lifeless tan garb and dressed in a beautiful blue shell dress and matching jacket. Silas clips the required Kremlin identification badge on the lapel of my coat before pulling more tricks out of his pocket.
“So I get a facial prosthesis too?”
“Yes, we can’t look like ourselves when we walk out of here. Too many people in this building can recognize both of us on sight.” After a couple minutes, he completely changes my facial features, making me unrecognizable as Kira. “Can I escort you out, Miss Utkin?”
I glance at his badge and smile up at him. “Yes, Mr. Fedorov. You do know what that name means, don’t you?”
“Absolutely. It’s Greek for ‘gift of God.’ I think it fits me perfectly, don’t you?” The teasing, playful glint in his eyes is back.
“Of course. Most days anyway.”
“Most days? How about today?”
“Most definitely today, without a doubt.” My knight in shining armor. The crazy American who broke in a Kremlin-run prison to free the woman he…what? What am I to him?
“Yes, I love you, baby. With all my heart, I do, and I’ve never said those words before to a woman outside of my family in my life. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me for the rest of yours.”
“If you insist. Let’s hope that’s a long life, with too many years ahead of us to count…and not only the next few minutes while we’re escaping from this building.”
When we step off the elevator on the main floor, the buzz of workers hurrying from one place to another is a stark contrast to the dungeon we just left. No one even bothers to pass a glance our way. Our indistinct features and visitor passes don’t draw the kind of interest and respect the high-ranking officials here do. We head straight for the door that leads outside and to freedom. Every half second that passes only increases the panic rising in my chest. We’re so close but so far away.
Stepping out into the sun has never felt as wonderful as it does now. After the last week of torture, waiting to die, and trying to live, my emotions are all over the board. Silas puts his hand on the small of my back and leads me to the waiting car and driver. He’s arranged the entire setup and ensured every detail is authentic to our cover. When we slide into the back seat, he tells the driver to get us to the airport immediately. Then he hands me a passport with my new name and picture on it.
“How’d you get a current picture of me?” I’m wearing the prosthesis in the passport photo.
“I’m hurt that you doubt my skills like that, Nadia.”
Hurt, my ass. That smile is one of pure pride.
When we get out of the car at the airport, I use all my willpower not to run straight out onto the tarmac and hop on the first plane out of the country. Silas gives no outward indication of being rushed or worried whatsoever, but his eyes scan the area for possible threats more than usual. He’s ready to fight our way out if necessary.
He reaches for the door leading into the airport terminal to open it for me but pauses for just a second. “I have a surprise for you before we leave.”
“Silas, I appreciate the gesture, really I do, but can’t it wait until we get home? I’ve had enough excitement for one day.”
He offers me a small smile, but there’s a hint of sadness in his eyes. Then he pulls on the door, and I start to walk through. My feet suddenly stop moving, and my lungs stop working. My eyes bug out of my head, momentarily unable to comprehend the sight directly in front of me. I cover my mouth with my hand to prevent the squeal that's building inside me from erupting.
“Mama? Daddy?” I rush to them. Arms wrap around me from everywhere, squeezing me with all the love my parents have in them.
“I couldn’t let you leave without saying goodbye this time. The good news is they’ll be able to visit us now that Kira is gone.” Silas stands beside us, watching our family reunion after too many years apart.
Daddy holds me with one hand and grabs Silas with the other, pulling him into our tight circle. Through his tears, he somehow manages to speak. “Thank you for this, Silas. I thought I’d never get my little girls back.”
Mama cries and repeatedly kisses both Silas and me. We’re causing a scene in the middle of the airport, but I’m not even worried now. These few minutes are worth the risk. Then a different kind of panic grips me.
“Mama, Daddy, what about Amber? Did Sasha get her out?” I search their faces, praying Sasha was able to pull off one last miracle for me.
“See for yourself.” Silas points toward the security line.
A beautiful little girl waits with her small suitcase, sitting in a chair beside the security checkpoint agent. Her eyes land on mine and a bright smile covers her face.
“Sasha brought her to our house a couple of nights ago. We explained she’d be reunited with you soon, but that you’d look different because you had to hide from some bad men, too. She understood that and promised she wouldn’t tell anyone who you are,” Mama explains. “She’s not your daughter, though?”
“She is now,” Silas replies while watching Amber. Then he looks down at me. “She’s our daughter.”
I jerk my eyes up to meet his. On the one hand, I’m shocked at his declaration, then I realize I shouldn’t be. The man only has one weakness, and that’s his love for children. I’ve seen it in the way he loves his nieces and nephews. In how he competes with Shadow and Bull for the honor of being the favorite uncle. In the way he spoils them and dotes on them with complete ease.
“Ours?” Tears again… I thought I’d have run out of them by now.
“Ours.”
Chapter 24
Silas
We’ve been back in the US for two weeks, staying at my brother’s house for a little rest and relaxation now that we’ve closed
the case against the congressman. Senator Hunt was more than willing to work with us on tracking Viktor’s digital fingerprint through his files. But Viktor himself is like a ghost in the wind—he’s out there, but he’s hiding.
Most of Kira’s wounds have healed, all except her hand. That’ll take several more months before her fingernail is back to normal. Every time I even glance at it, I’m reminded of how narrowly I made it there in time to stop her execution. A few men who were still loyal to her father agreed to help get her out of the country.
If they hadn’t agreed, I would’ve shot them all on the spot so they couldn’t stop me and still gotten her out. Of course, her father didn’t take much convincing at all. I sensed he was ready to storm the dungeons himself.
Kira has asked several times about the woman who took her place. Survivor’s guilt still bothers her at times, but I’ve assured her what I told her about the woman was true. She retaliated against a cruel man for the hell he’d put her through, and the officials sentenced her to die for her actions. She didn’t regret what she’d done, though, and chose her own path out of this life. She has my respect for sticking to her guns the way she did. And she has my eternal gratitude for giving me a last-minute Hail Mary to save Kira.
“Here’s a question I haven’t asked you yet.” Kira has peppered me every day with one question after the other about how I got there, how I found her, and how I was dressed in a Russian military uniform.
“There are no questions left in this world you haven’t asked me. I’d bet my life on it. This is worse than a hostile interrogation.”
“Don’t bet your life on it—you’d lose. I don’t want to lose you again.”
“Fine. I’d bet my truck on it, then.”
“Does that mean I get your truck when you’re wrong?”
“No.”
She laughs, shakes her head, and rolls her eyes at me. “The last thing I remember is being locked in the cabin of a boat. Amber and I lay down on the bed to get some sleep, but I was on a plane bound for Moscow when I woke up. How did that happen?”
“The best we can piece together from our contact in Havana is Viktor introduced an aerosol sleeping agent into the boat’s cabin to make sure you didn’t fight. Then he had Amber and you transferred to the plane.”
“Told you I hadn’t asked that question before.”
“I’m pretty sure you have. Maybe even twice.”
“Liar.” She swats my arm playfully. “Our vacation is almost over. The real world waits for us to rejoin it. I have to figure out what I’ll do for a living now. My Russian spy career is over, you know, since I’m dead and all.”
“Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to convince Graves of that? That man is way more distrustful than I am. But he does have a job offer for you if you’re interested. You wouldn’t have access to any of our files, just to be clear. But he’s willing to give you a chance.”
“That’s amazing, Silas. What’s the job? Not that beggars can be choosers, but I’m obviously curious.”
“Linguistics. Translating documents and verbal conversations for us. Detecting any hidden messages or ciphers.”
“Sounds like that’s right up my alley. I can’t wait to find out more about it.”
My family walks out the back door, joining us on the deck. Noah walks straight to the grill and fires it up, while Brianna and Chaise try to corral the younger kids. Amelia and Amber dash out of the house, running as fast as their little legs will carry them, and dive right on top of me. I pretend to be hurt, as if those little girls could do any damage to me, and I wait until they check on me to reveal my hand.
When they squat down level with my face, patting my head, I suddenly fly up with a roar and grab them in my arms. They squeal and laugh, only pretending they want to get away from me while I act like a monster. Then they settle into my lap, each in the crook of my arms, and lean back against my chest.
“My double A batteries.” I kiss each of them on the head.
“We’re not batteries, Uncle Silas,” Amelia says then cackles.
“You could’ve fooled me. You have way too much energy. You’re always running. You never slow down. You two sound just like batteries to me, little girl.”
“Big brother, you look good with two kids on your lap. I bet you’d look even better with two more.” Chaise sits down beside us with her daughter asleep in her arms. “You’re behind the rest of us. You’re the oldest—you’re supposed to be setting the example for us youngsters.”
“You’re so funny, Chaise.” My deadpan expression only makes her laugh harder at me. “Hey, where’s Shadow? I’ve only seen him once since we’ve been back.”
“Oh, he’s still in the doghouse with Elle. He hasn’t been around as much lately.” Noah tries to suppress his grin, but it’s still there, bright as the sun anyway.
“Did he ever find her?” I look over at Noah to gauge his reaction. He coughs to try to hide his laughter.
“Um, no, he hasn’t. The infamous CIA officer who has ways of finding someone in the WITSEC program halfway around the world can’t find his own wife here in Miami.”
“He knows she’s still in the area?”
“Yeah, he’s isolated and analyzed every single background noise he hears—when she’ll take his calls, that is. He’ll think he has it figured out, but she’s never there when he arrives.” Noah shrugs but doesn’t seem overly concerned about her whereabouts.
“You know where she is.”
“I have an idea. But she doesn’t want to be found, or she’d tell Shadow where she is. I’m giving them time to work out their problems without interfering.”
“You’re watching him squirm. You should feel bad—he has helped you out of all kinds of problems.” Then I think about what I just said and realize it doesn’t sound like my brother at all. “Oh, I get it. She asked you not to say anything, didn’t she?”
“She made me swear. It’s killing me that I can’t even give him a clue or a hint.”
“You better not, Noah, or you’ll find yourself in the same situation. You know I love Shadow like a brother, but he’s put Elle through enough. This time, he gets to see what it feels like to be left out.” I love my sister-in-law. She keeps my brother in line better than his commanding officers ever could.
“Yes, ma’am. You know I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you. The food’s ready. Come and get it before it’s all gone.”
We gather around the grill and table, piling food on our plates as if we’ll never eat again. When we’re all settled in and enjoying our meal, Kira’s phone pings with a text message. She picks it up mid-bite and glances at the screen before dropping her fork and choking on her food.
“It’s Viktor. He sent a picture of the dead woman from Moscow, Silas. He knows.” Her hands shake, and she’s breathing so fast, she’ll hyperventilate soon.
“Kira, calm down, baby. Listen to my voice right now. He won’t get to you again—I won’t let that happen. You’re not going anywhere either.”
Her phone vibrates in her hand with another text, and all color drains from her face. She drops her phone on the table, and her hands fly to her mouth. From her reaction, that’s the only way she’s containing a scream. I grab the phone and look at the picture on the screen.
This picture is of Sasha. She’s been brutally murdered.
Working on autopilot, I grab my phone from my pocket and call Dmitri. “Get Nat and get out of your house right now. Take her to the place no one knows about. You remember the place we used to talk about, right?”
“Yes, I remember. We’re leaving now.” He disconnects, not wasting time asking questions. He knows I would only mention that in a dire emergency. This situation positively qualifies.
“Kira, your parents are okay. They’re going into hiding now until we can get them out of the country. If they make it to our secret place, we can extract them without Viktor or anyone from the GRU ever knowing.” I hold her hands in mine, waiting for my words to
sink in and make sense to her.
“Okay,” she stutters, her teeth chattering. “Sasha. Oh my god, he mutilated her.”
“I know, and I’m so sorry, baby. We tried to get her to come with us, but she refused. She said that she was home. She was born there, and she would die there. She knew the risks she faced, but she wanted to give you the best life she could because she loved you.”
“Mira? Is Mira okay? Find my sister.”
“I’m here, Kira. What’s wrong?” Mira joins us, walking hand in hand with Brad. She rushes to her sister’s side and wraps her arms around her. We give Mira the abbreviated version of what’s happening.
“We have to kill him, Kira. He won’t ever stop coming after us if we don’t. You, me, Mom, and Dad—and anyone else we love—will always be targets.” Mira hugs Kira and tries to quiet her tears.
“You’re absolutely right. I’ll do it—I’ll find him and kill him the same way he killed Sasha.” Kira’s fighting to regain control of her emotions and think somewhat rationally.
“You’re not doing anything of the sort. If you get involved in anything to do with this again, we’ll both be exiled to Siberia. You’ll have to trust me to handle it once and for all. Now that he’s contacted you, I’ll find him. Don’t you worry, baby.”
She nods and leans against me. I wrap my arm around her and hold her against me. We quickly change the subject so that the kids don’t get overwhelmed with our stress. Kira picks at her food, not really eating much but also not wanting to appear rude. Plus, Amber encourages her every couple of minutes to eat because the food her uncle Noah made is so good.
Kira can’t resist that little girl.
When Brianna brings out the dessert, Shadow lumbers in, looking like a shell of his former self. He’s in pain, suffering every day without his better half. I know a little about how he feels. The week that Kira was missing and I didn’t know if she was still alive was pure hell, and we hadn’t even been together for long at that point. Shadow and Elle have a long history together, one he likely relives every night without her.
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