Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Wait a minute, that's because I grabbed his phone by accident.
I go to put it back on the desk when I see a text come in.
Tatiana: Received the last payment. Thank you.
The last…payment? Is this another Tatiana? How common of a name is that?
I shouldn't be looking at his phone. I glance up at him and then back at the phone, confused.
"Oh,” I say with a forced laugh. “I took your phone by accident. Sorry.”
I put his back down and lift mine up, but I’ve forgotten what I wanted it for.
He doesn’t even look at me.
Milkshakes. I want Lev to pick me up milkshakes.
Why is Tatiana's name on his phone? Under normal circumstances, I know the right thing to do is to flat out ask him. But I happen to have a world of hacking experience at my fingertips, and I don't want to put him in a difficult position…
"Have you heard from Ollie today?" I ask. I’m nervous about his job right now.
"I have," he says but offers no other information. “The fewer questions you ask, the less I tell you, the better it is."
I watch him inspect my turkey burger and suddenly think he’s being ridiculous.
"Feeling alright?" he asks. He peers over at me and brushes hair out of my eyes. "Sweet girl," he says with a smile. "Tell me. What's on your mind? You look preoccupied."
Why is the woman who told me to come to you texting you? Is it a different Tatiana? Do you know her?
"I'm just nervous about everything,” I tell him, which is not a lie. Who wouldn't be nervous when you're told, "pretend everything's fine, let them think that you’ve become complacent. That's when they’ll strike."
What will happen when they "strike?"
Does anyone really know?
“I want you to talk to me, little hacker.”
He doesn’t always call me that anymore. It’s always something sweet or my name. My throat tightens.
Could there be another Tatiana? There must be. There’s no way…well.
Maybe there is.
Mikhail’s leaning over the Styrofoam trays. First, he checks all the food over carefully, moving things around with a plastic fork before he leans in and smells everything. Finally, he takes the smallest bite of each item on the tray.
“Alright,” Mikhail says, bringing me the tray with my food. “This is fine. No more ordering without going through me first, Aria.”
I feel practically smothered beneath his over-the-top protection, and today is definitely a day where I need some space.
“Thanks. I’m going to take this into the conference room if that’s alright. I need a little privacy.”
“A little privacy?” he asks curiously. “No, not now. Stay here with me.”
“Mikhail…”
“Aria.” The tone of his voice leaves no room for debate. “You know what’s at risk.”
Yes, I do. I know an attack is imminent and maybe I have gotten a little complacent from weeks of peace.
I need to know if that’s the same Tatiana. I know I could ask him, but — what if he lies to me?
I nibble my food, my appetite gone. I’m completely obsessed with the need to find out more information. Thankfully, Mikhail is occupied himself. I wait until he gets a call from one of his brothers, the only ones that get through when he silences notifications. I pull out my laptop and quickly open an incognito browser.
I was going to show Aleks how easily one could access our texts, so I have everything right at my fingertips.
My stomach flips with nerves when Mikhail’s voice grows harsh.
“What do you mean you can’t find him?” he growls into the phone. “Find him now. Stop everything else. Pause all operations. This is of paramount importance, do you understand me?”
He slams his phone down and curses. With a shaking hand, I hide my browser.
“Everything alright?”
He stews but doesn’t answer at first. Finally, he shakes his head. “Ollie’s gone radio silent.”
Oh no.
I knew this was a risk they took but the actual knowledge that someone might’ve made a move makes apprehension rise in the pit of my stomach. Where is he? How far have they all gone just to keep me safe? Or more accurately, the baby I carry, the heir to the Romanov throne, safe.
I swallow hard and feel like a jerk that I’m totally going to take advantage of this situation to get answers.
“I’m sorry, Mikhail,” I say. “Do you want me to help?”
I would and maybe could, but he shakes his head.
“Not yet, but thank you. Aleks has some ideas and I want him to follow those first.”
“Got it.” I pretend to be preoccupied while he makes another call. When he rises, his back to me, I swiftly pull up what I found. Right here in front of me, I have a transcription of every text conversation these men have had in the past six months.
With dread, I start searching. I don’t need six months.