Thief (Boston Underworld #5)(37)
“Nakya, this is Mischa,” Nikolai introduces us. “You will go with him and do whatever he says.”
I’m passed off without a second thought, and Nikolai abandons me to the stranger as he walks down the hall.
“Come with me,” Mischa says. “We’ll go into the sitting room.”
I follow him on wooden legs. It doesn’t feel right. I think I might be sick, but then it occurs to me I haven’t eaten lunch today. That alone should have alerted me to the dangers lurking ahead this evening. Since the removal of the tube, Nikolai has been regimental about my meals. Every day without fail, they are delivered at the same time, and I’m not permitted to do anything else until my meal is finished.
But today he forgot. Just as he has forgotten about me.
A thought that’s only compounded when he parades another woman into the main room. Only woman isn’t really accurate. She is still a girl. Barely out of her teens, judging by her baby-faced features. Regardless of her age, there’s no mistaking her superiority. Nikolai refuses to divert his attention from her or the man at his side for even a second. Intuition dictates that this is the pakhan.
The men speak in their mother tongue, and the girl takes too much liberty allowing her starry eyes to roam Nikolai’s face. Her cheeks are pale and pink, her face hopeful and na?ve as she hangs on every word. Nikolai says something that makes her laugh, and he smiles at her. I can’t recall him ever smiling at me. I can’t look away from the horror show, even though I know I should. She is too innocent to hate, but I do. I hate her almost as much as I hate him.
“His fiancée,” Mischa says. “Anastaysia.”
Acid burns the back of my throat, and another wave of nausea rolls over me. It can’t be true.
“They are engaged?”
Mischa nods. “Soon, it will be official. Nika is lucky, it’s an honor many men would kill for. She’s a beautiful girl, isn’t she?”
I can’t say a word in her favor. I’m sure she is beautiful, but all I see is the vile creature stealing what doesn’t belong to her. It doesn’t make sense for me to feel this way. Not when he continues to throw me away at every opportunity.
Mischa watches me too closely, and I fear I’ve revealed myself. But when he leans in to whisper in my ear, it’s much worse than that. “It’s better you forget him now. In the end, it will save you pain. For tonight, you have me, and I promise you could do much worse with my brothers.”
Pressure weighs on my shoulders, and as if on cue, Viktor’s gaze moves to me. He asks Nikolai in Russian if the deed is done, and Nikolai assures him tonight.
Blue eyes collide with mine, but they won’t save me. Not tonight, and not ever.
“Mischa,” Viktor calls out. “Take the girl upstairs.”
Nakya’s face fractures under Viktor’s command, and I grow unnaturally still as Mischa drags her dead weight from the couch and up the stairs.
Red threatens my vision, and I desperately try to focus on Ana’s narrative about her end of year studies. The events of this evening are not happenstance. Mischa will take her while we dine, and I’ll be forced to endure the dinner without a show of emotion.
My best friend will be the one to ruin her.
Viktor’s methods are brutal but effective. It could be worse. I know it could be worse. But anyone who isn’t me is not an option. Even now, I can only think of how I will murder him when it’s over. But logically, it will still not change anything.
Nakya will never be able to look at me again. And that’s a murder of a different kind.
Viktor makes a toast, and I nod absently. I check my watch. It’s been two minutes. Ana won’t stop staring at me. She is desperate for my attention, and she should have it. There should be nothing else that exists outside her. She is the pakhan’s daughter.
Someone else approaches, and through my blurry vision, I make out Alexei’s face. He wasn’t invited, and even Viktor can’t seem to understand his sudden appearance.
“Lyoshenka. What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been assisting Nika with the acquisition of the piece you requested, and I’m aware this is not an ideal time, but a time-sensitive lead has just come through. Would you mind if I steal him away for a short while?”
It’s a lie, and it’s not well executed. Alexei is referring to the Rembrandt. Something he knows Viktor won’t say no to. Though I’m not certain he ever denies Alexei of anything he requests.
“Business is business,” Viktor says. “Ana understands that it always comes first. I will have a drink with Franco while we wait.”
Alexei nods, and I follow him wordlessly as he leads me upstairs. He is here for a reason, but whatever it may be, it’s not my primary concern right now. My concern is the closed door of Nakya’s room. The one where Mischa will take her and make her his before I rip his throat out for obeying orders.
Alexei turns to me, and I’m aware he requires my attention, but I can only focus on the door, listening for the slightest of sounds.
“Don’t you want to know why I’m here?” Alexei asks.
“You mean besides instilling hope that I will find Viktor’s impossible Rembrandt?”
“I heard of Viktor’s intentions this evening,” he answers. “And I know what you’re doing with the Valentini girl. I know your motivations for taking her, and why you requested those files from me.”