Inside Danger (Outside The Ropes Book 2) (10 page)

Rusnak drove away, still not speaking, and every minute that passed a dark sense of foreboding spread through me. When the screaming silence became unbearable I spoke, but kept my eyes on the passing tree line outside my window. “Demetri, what happened to him—”

“He went back to Russia,” he cut me off with a sharp tone.

I snapped my eyes to him, taken aback by his response. He shot me a hard look, challenging me to deny what he said.

“He had never planned on living here for long,” he continued evenly, but his knuckles turning white as he gripped the steering wheel gave away his concealed emotions.

I should go along with his story, I knew. But if he was going to kill me, this may be my last time for any answers. “Was it my fault?”

“That’s not clear. If I knew it to be your fault, we wouldn’t be here right now. I will find out though.”

My hold on sanity was slipping as my panic took over, and all I knew was I wanted out. I didn’t care what happened to Damien anymore.

“I didn’t mean to do anything. I don’t need Damien killed any—”

“Tcht,” He shushed me with a flick of his hand, dangerously close to my face. “Damien is not my concern, never was. Except to keep him from hurting you.” He pulled his hand back to the steering wheel and his voice became level as he continued, “You can talk to Nick about those details.”

My breathing thinned as I considered having to talk with Nick. If Rusnak didn’t want me dead, I knew Nick did.

“You were too close to everything where you were, I heard it was affecting your training. You’ll have a new trainer at our DC gym. I’m taking you to an apartment near there to live at until this is cleared up.”

The elevator dinged our arrival on the fourteenth floor and the doors slid open, letting me escape from the small box. Rusnak strolled to the end of the hall and the door opened before he even touched it.

A slight woman, probably in her late twenties, held onto the door. Her camisole top rode up as she leaned on the door jamb. Stretching one arm out, she pulled him to her by the collar of his coat and pressed her lips to his.

Their brief kiss ended and she swiped her green eyes to me. Her face hardened as she stepped back, letting us enter.

I followed Rusnak down the entry hall. He stopped at the second door and pressed it open. “You can sleep here.” He set my suitcase down inside the door but kept walking to the living room at the end of the hall.

I glanced in the room, it was sparse but a decent size bedroom, and then I continued to the living room.

The girl ran her fingers through her dark auburn hair with frustration. “How long does she have to stay?”

“She’ll stay as long as I please. This is my place, not yours.” He pushed the laundry basket on the floor with his foot. “And clean this place up and put on some damn clothes.” He sneered at her tiny pajama shorts.

I hadn’t seen him yell before and the girl rightfully flinched away. But her small chest began to rise and fall as she stepped close to him with a glint in her eye. “I remember and I will,” she spoke low as she rubbed her hand over his chest. Her gaze travelled past him to me for a second. She pressed closer to him and cooed, “Why don’t you come help me in my room?”

He dropped his hand onto her hip and nodded.

“Make yourself at home,” she tossed the words as she passed by, leading him into a room attached to the living area.

I went back to the bedroom Rusnak put my bag in and sat on the bed. I wouldn’t unpack. I let my surroundings sink in, but I couldn’t allow myself to believe this was it.

Considering my recent arrangements, this didn’t seem bad at all. My life had prepared me for new places and the awkwardness of living with strangers who weren’t always thrilled at your presence. I knew I could take that tiny girl in the other room if need be, and she could be useful with the way she distracts Rusnak. Something else had to be coming.

After a while, Rusnak walked into the room followed by the girl. She had changed into a dark wrap dress and was making a show of adjusting it as she entered. But Rusnak looked as fresh as ever, not a hair out of place, as he tossed my cell phone onto the bed.

It bounced in front of me once before I snatched it up.

“You’ll be getting a call from your new trainer and Nick.”

I twisted my phone in my hand, watching it carefully.

“If you choose to go anywhere, keep that phone on you. I’ll contact you later.” He crossed his arms, waiting for me to acknowledge his words.

I nodded, speechless, and then he walked out of the room.

The girl introduced herself as Kiera, told me I should clean up the living room and even pulled out some cleaning supplies, then shut herself into her own room. I cleaned for something to do. Plus, putting my space in order always helped me feel better, even if it was only slightly better.

As I put the vacuum back into the hall closet as a knock on the front door echoed around the apartment. My muscles shook with the sound.

Kiera popped out of her room and raised her brow at me. “It’s going to be for you.”

She walked past me, checked the peephole, and opened the door with a sigh.

Nick didn’t even wait for her to speak before he strode in.

I forced myself to stay completely still even though I wanted to run and lock myself into another room. But Gage followed behind him, taking away my ability to move. He nodded to Kiera as he passed by her.

Nick paused in front of me, dark eyes staring me down. Kiera shut the door, it snapped him out of it.

“Don’t you have somewhere to go, get out of here,” Nick stretched some money out towards Kiera as she walked towards us.

Her gaze travelled between the three of us, Nick and I practically at a face off and Gage beside her.

“Take it.” Gage inclined his head to the money Nick held out.

My body ticked, a bomb counting down the seconds until destruction. Gage’s nonchalant look didn’t hold any promises, but Nick’s dangerous glare did.

She snatched the money out of his hand. “Fine. But you better not mess up anything.”

When the door clicked closed, I moved before Nick could, wanting to keep space between us.

Nick followed me into the living room and Gage leaned on the wall near the hallway, blocking that exit.

“Sit down. Rusnak told me ya had something to say, that’s the only reason I’m here.”

With shallow breaths, and shaky knees, I sat on the couch.

Nick sat on the opposite end of the same couch, body turned towards me. “Speak now, little one, before I lose all patience.”

I swallowed, trying to unstick my tongue. “I, uh.” I took a breath and started again with a clearer, stronger voice. “I want to call it off.”

He circled his hand, gesturing for me to continue.

“After last—” I cut myself off, not wanting to remind anyone of last night. “I don’t need Damien killed. I want it called off.”

Nick’s loud laugh made my heart speed up.

“What do ya think this is? Ya can’t set events in motion and call it off because ya lose the stomach for it. I warned ya from the start.” He paused, licking his lips and narrowing his eyes as he leaned closer to me. “This isn’t your call anymore. Damien will die. Not for you, but for what he did last night. But you, you still owe us.” He leaned back with a laugh, eyes scanning over me. “Stupid little girl got in over her head.”

I leaned forward, head in my hands, my thoughts and stomach swirled. So it was Damien who killed Demetri. Now I knew it was my fault, but I couldn’t get out of anything. I was trapped, with no hope.

Nick pulled one of my arms away, making me stumble before I caught myself and looked up at him.

“I don’t buy this innocent act, little one. This was your choice. You started it, and when I prove your part in what happened, I will end it. Demetri should have never trusted you.”

Something clicked in me, a puzzle piece finally falling into place, a piece I didn’t even know I was missing. But it strengthened me. I hadn’t been putting on any act and I needed to, it was expected. If I was stuck in this now, I needed to be sure that I wasn’t viewed as an easy target. Plus, I had nothing left to lose.

I ripped my arm away from his grasp. “Don’t fucking touch me.”

He snatched my upper arm, yanking me across the couch, dark eyes going black with anger. “Ya need to learn some respect, little bitch.”

In the same second, Gage was there, between us. He pulled Nick up to standing and pushed on his chest, forcing him back.

“Cool off,” he demanded, eyeing him down until Nick took his own step back.

I sat myself up, watching this exchange, taking gulps of air to calm my racing heart.

Gage whipped around to me, leaning over me with his hands on my shoulders, pressing me back into the couch. “Watch your fucking mouth before you get yourself hurt.” He shook me once and leaned even closer to me. “Regan look at me.”

I slid my eyes up to meet his piercing blue ones, lit with anger.

“Watch what you say and who you say it to.” His voice was a low warning, laced with a threat.

He released me and straightened himself up. “Let’s go,” he commanded to Nick, still not taking his eyes off me.

When Nick began walking down the hall, Gage finally turned away, ripping his eyes from mine. Then he disappeared down the hall too and the door slammed shut.

MY MIND WAS SPINNING, BUT GETTING NOWHERE. I sat on the couch, trying to figure out the maze I was stuck in and what path I should take. But every direction seemed to be a dead end or riddled with obstacles.

When the front door opened, I didn’t move. I waited for whatever was coming next with a mounting agitation. I didn’t want to keep waiting, especially when it was only going to get worse.

Kiera’s heels clicked as she walked into the living room. She tossed her purse on the side table as she looked down at me. “You’re still here? I was wondering what I’d come home too.” She sat in the chair to the side of me and began removing her shoes. “Well, if we’re doing this roommate thing, I think we need to get some rules straight. This is my home, my stuff, and you need to ask before you touch any of it. And for food—” She cut herself off as I stood up.

I wasn’t about to sit and listen to her giving me orders. I had enough people I had to listen to and she didn’t rank with them. Without saying anything, I walked away. I stopped by the room I was assigned, picked up my cellphone and book bag, then walked out the front door.

My heart thumped, skipping beats, as I made my way to the street. I didn’t pause in my path till I reached the corner. I didn’t know if I was allowed to leave, but at this point I didn’t care. I half expected to be tackled to the ground any moment. But as I kept walking, a tingly excitement pulsed through me.

Street lamps and shop windows lit up the sidewalk as the evening sun barely glowed. I turned left onto a main street, people walked all around me and traffic lined the roads. If I stayed in populated areas nothing could happen. I would have to return to the apartment, I knew that, but the brief freedom was enough to encourage me to keep walking.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, jerking me back to reality. I was on a leash.

I didn’t recognize the number on the screen. Stepping away from the main path of foot traffic, I stood just to the side of the entrance to the subway system. Street performers began playing music, a loud banging, and I had to grip one ear shut to hear the voice on the phone as I answered.

“Where are you going?” a male voice I didn’t recognize asked.

“For a walk. Who is this?” I tried to put an edge to my voice, but my shallow breaths made it difficult.

“That doesn’t matter. You can go on your walk. You can go wherever you want.” Satisfaction was evident in his voice as he added, “Within reason.”

A cold chill skittered over my skin, but it only made me tense and defensive. I started walking again, but felt eyes on me everywhere.

“You’re going to have to be more specific.” I sprinted through a crosswalk as it counted down the last seconds before it turned red.

“Careful now,” his voice was light.

I stopped dead when I reached the curb. Was he referring to my comment or my actions? I looked around as his breathy laugh reached my ear.

“What does that mean?”

“Stay within reach. You can figure it out,” the silky voice instructed. “Luckily, Anatoli has a far reach. Enjoy your walk.”

I hung up and gripped the phone in my hand, restraining the part of me that wanted to throw it into traffic. Sliding it back into my pocket, I decided to test the limits some. If they weren’t going to tell me how far was too far, I’d figure it out myself.

The dimming light of the evening made a familiar anxiety begin to rise in me, but it was easier to push down now. I wouldn’t let the darkness control my actions anymore, not when I had real threats at all hours.

With no real direction, I walked wherever the crowds were, finding safety in them, but still kept a watchful eye. DC was larger than Baltimore and the streets unfamiliar, I walked slow, making sure to memorize my turns.

After several blocks a storefront sign sparked my attention, DC Small Arms Range. The neon sign shown a smoking gun, and I stepped into the shop.

A round man waddled from a back door. “What can I do ya for?”

Walking in had been a compulsion, not thought. I licked my lips and walked along a glass display case, looking at the guns laid out. “Is the range open?”

“Sorry Miss, just closing it down for the night. But we’ll be open tomorrow day if you come back.” He stepped over to the case where I stood and cleared his throat with a phlegmy cough. “You own a gun? This one here,” he jabbed a fat finger at a gun with a pink handle, “just came in. An STI Elektra.” His cheeks squished up in a smile as he opened the case and took out the gun.

“It’s the right size for you. Small, but unlike other 1911 9mm’s, this one can shoot.”

I watched him with the gun, my palms tingling. He must have seen something in my face because he continued his pitch.

“It has an aluminum frame, beveled magwell, fixed tritium sights.” He stopped and eyed me. “We have it in black, too.”