“I really like you too.” Kieri opens the entrance door, and as I step out into the brilliant sunshine, I spot the black Escalade I acknowledge as belonging to Pyotr Veles. He deliberate forward and left his signature sportbike behind to come back get me.

My eyes shoot towards Gleb, however his consideration is on Kieri.

“Thanks for looking for her,” he murmurs, his voice so low I virtually can’t make out the phrases. And earlier than Kieri can reply, he suggestions his head towards the steps, indicating the unconscious man nonetheless mendacity on my bed room ground. “I’d name an ambulance for him. Sooner moderately than later. They need to make it right here earlier than he wakes up.”

Eyes widening in shock and concern, Kieri nods. She casts me one final nervous look, and I smile at her reassuringly. Sure, Gleb is violent, terrifying, and lethal. However I do know with no shadow of a doubt that he would by no means lay a hand on me.

As he focuses on placing our baggage into the trunk of the SUV, I open the again door. I chunk my lips collectively to cease a sob from escaping when my eyes land on the article strapped within the center.

He even introduced a automotive seat.

35

GLEB

“We actually have to get on the highway,” I insist, rigidity thrumming by means of my physique as I stuff money into the examine folder on the little dinner the place we stopped for lunch.

Mel’s simply coming back from her toilet break with Gabby, and he or she nods, sensing my unease. “We’re prepared.”

Grabbing Mel’s outsized bag filled with all of the issues a toddler may want, I sling it over my shoulder and paved the way again out to the Escalade. I preserve my head on a swivel as my intestine tells me we’ve stayed too lengthy already.

We made good time heading out of Boston, however that did little to ease my nerves. I need to put as a lot area between us and that loopy fucking Irishman as I can. And although Mel’s not a complainer—neither is Gabby—we needed to make extra toilet breaks than I’d have most well-liked to accommodate the newly potty-trained little lady.

I do know the toddler is doing her greatest, and admittedly, she’s way more agreeable to an extended highway journey than I’d have anticipated. It appears that evidently Gabby is about as removed from talkative as her namesake would suggest. She rode the whole first hour in silence, content material to play with the stuffed rabbit her mom handed to her from the entrance seat.

However because the clock pushed nearer to 1 p.m., I knew we weren’t going to make it again to New York with out an precise break. So, we made a rapid pit cease on the outskirts of New Haven. Grabbing a chunk to eat on the truck cease diner appeared just like the quickest answer on the time.

Possibly not fast sufficient, although.

As I open the again door of the SUV so Mel can carry Gabby inside, I scan the quiet parking zone for any potential hassle. My eyes land on two males carrying fits, practically obscuring one of many truck cease patrons with their cumbersome varieties as they stand in entrance of the massive rig driver, holding up an image.

Blyat.

One’s positively my brother—a brother.

“Get in,” I hiss, catching Mel’s elbow and hoisting her into the again seat earlier than she’s completed buckling Gabby into her automotive seat.

“What…?” Mel’s eyes widen as she catches my line of sight, and he or she complies with out argument.

I shut the door behind her as quietly as I can, conserving my head turned away so I can watch them in my periphery with out calling consideration to my face. Nonetheless, they catch the sound and switch to look. Miko acknowledges me, his brows dropping right into a scowl as he bristles.

Then they head towards us.

Vinny will need to have woken up and instantly sicced his canines on us as a result of they weren’t forty-five minutes behind.

Rounding the entrance of the Escalade, I decide up the tempo, leaping behind the wheel and beginning the automotive earlier than my door’s even closed. “Buckle up,” I command, catching sight of Mel within the rearview mirror.

She’s nonetheless engaged on Gabby’s automotive seat.

“I do know, I do know,” she murmurs, her voice trembling with nerves.

Pulling out onto the principle highway, I make like I’m heading for the I-95, and as quickly as our pursuers are out of sight, I take a pointy jog onto a aspect avenue connecting again towards CT-15. It’s a slender, winding again highway that can take us to New York simply effective. And in the event that they suppose we’ve taken the freeway, we would simply make it out of this with out additional hassle.

“Jesus, Gleb,” Mel says from the again seat, and once I look at her within the rearview as soon as extra, she’s clinging to the door deal with to remain off the ground.

“Sorry,” I grunt. “Now buckle up,” I repeat as I punch the gasoline.

I hear the press of her seat belt a second later.

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