22. Chapter Twenty-Two

In the end, Heath and I decided not to tell Gwen our main theory about Sarah. It didn't change all that much. The dead human was getting what she wanted. The Russians killed her, and her plan for a little post-mortem revenge through me and my family was happening.

There was no reason for my sister to know she got played, thanks to her good heart and her relation to me.

The landing was rough, but we endured it. From my first time in Japan to my first time in Russia, I wasn't sure how to feel as Hisao and his copilot opened the door. This time, there was no fancy staircase to get on and off of the plane. Instead, something that appeared handmade was brought over. I considered jumping as I saw Hisao and the unnamed copilot leave. It was a small wooden ladder. The jet wasn't very tall, but when Heath coughed behind me, I decided to climb down like my brother.

I took in the scenery as we congregated on the grass strip Mischa called a runway. There were mountains, hills, and trees everywhere. It was so much greener than I expected it to be, but I knew that was because of my own lack of knowledge about the region. People only spoke about Siberia in terms of how cold it was and the permafrost. Part of me had expected a harsh winter landscape in June, which made little sense as I took in the landscape and thought about it. The only thing that turned the wild landscape into anything remotely human was the three small buildings and a cellphone tower at one end of the runway. Humans had brought technology to even this wild place.

"It's a little cold here," Heath said softly.

"It's not so bad. Colder than Texas, sure, but it's an acceptable summer temperature," I countered. I tapped Hisao on the arm. "Where's Mischa?"

"She'll be here," he promised. "It might take a few moments. This is an outpost."

Thinking about the cell tower, I took a moment to check my phone and saw a missed text message. The number wasn't saved, but when I clicked it, it had two messages. One declared it was Sergey speaking, nearly a day ago. Another was only two hours before, telling me I only had forty-eight hours to decide what to do. He had even been nice enough—or cruel enough—to attach a picture of my family. They looked terrified but unharmed.

It was a kick in the gut. I shoved my cellphone back into my pocket, not showing Gwen. She didn't need that on her.

My sister didn't notice, but the two men in our little group did, probably from my scent. Both turned to me, giving me their own version of curiosity and concern. Hisao's was cool as if he didn't understand what my problem was and maybe didn't care. Heath's was genuine, the hurt clear in his eyes as I hid my phone.

"Sergey wanted to remind me time is running out. We spent twenty-four of the seventy-two-hour grace period on planes," I explained. No one needed to see the picture. "Family is unharmed for now."

"Did they send evidence?" Hisao was stupid enough to ask. I glared at him as Gwen grabbed my wrist.

"Did they?" she demanded. "Did they send pictures?"

"Yes," I answered, my jaw tight. "I'm not showing you, Gwen. They're alive and unharmed. You don't need to see them in captivity. You don't want a visual to give you nightmares at night."

"Do you think it will?" My damn sister glared at me. "I want to see them. I'm not that—"

"If she doesn't want you to have nightmares, it's because she will," Heath growled. "Trust Jacky."

That was when Hisao grabbed me and pulled me away from the group.

"Do you have nightmares?" he snapped.

"Wow." I was really hoping he would hear how incredulous I was because it was better than being pissed off. "That's not your business."

"But the fucking werewolf knows?" His nostrils flared, a sign he wasn't just upset, he was pretty pissed off.

And I had no way to fire back.

"Because he and I went through a lot, I've told him on occasion," I admitted. "It's not frequent enough to be a problem. Sometimes, it's the vampires, sometimes, Carey getting hurt. It's normal shit, Hisao. It's not every night or even every week. It's just…sometimes." Shrugging, I dismissed it. It didn't seem like a big deal to me and didn't impede my normal life.

"My apologies." His grip softened as he nodded. "I wish you talked to me or anyone in the family about it. I think I might be jealous of this friend of yours. I'm your brother, and you know I've seen things, yet you don't talk to me about these nightmares."

My heart ached.

Oh. He…he wants to be my brother.

"Do you have them? Nightmares?" I asked softly. We were far enough away from the group, my sister couldn't hear us. Heath probably could, but I didn't know if Hisao would have a problem with that.

"This conversation isn't about me," the Assassin answered stiffly.

Oh, yes, it is. It's been about you since you dragged me away from the group. I'm not the one with the problem.

"Okay. I'll consider your offer next time." I tried to step away and found Hisao's grip wasn't that loose. His dark gaze was overbearing as he nailed me with it again.

"Some of us don't like how close you are to that werewolf, Jacky. I recommend you do more than consider it. We're family." His eyes flicked toward Heath, then back at me. "He might be a strong ally, but he should not be the first person you call for help—"

"I didn't plan to bring him. He knew the Russians could be involved and offered his services—"

"How did he even know Everett called you?" Hisao asked.

"I was having dinner with his family…" I was caught. "I understand. I'll…I won't put myself in that position anymore."

"With everything going on and those human organizations sniffing around him, I recommend you don't. And please, call your damn family when you need help," Hisao growled. "One, it's safer. Two, we want you to. We want to help you, Jacky. We would never leave you hanging out to dry. This is your twin, and she needed help. We would have respected your need."

"I thought…" Shaking my head, I knew it was worthless to tell him what I had thought.

"Did you think Father would be angry? Because I can tell you, he's angry you didn't reach out sooner."

"I didn't want to pit Hasan as the Tribunal werecat against a werewolf pack," I explained. "Hisao…We could accidentally start a war."

That made a difference.

"Ah… yes," he agreed softly. "Don't worry. We have no intention of taking action as a family. I…I understand your reasoning and will pass it along to Father. I'm certain it will cool his temper."

"Really?" Now, I was really disbelieving.

"I've often done things to stop the very same thing," he said softly. "Things Father can never know about, and he knows that. He worries about you at your age more than the rest of us. We can talk more about it later. I hear Mischa's truck."

I listened, wondering if I could catch it. Once my brother was silent, I could hear the rumble of an engine. We watched in that direction, and two minutes later, it showed up in the tree line and came down a dirt road. My sister was standing in the passenger's seat, waving. I didn't know who was driving.

"Welcome!" she called out.

Hisao and I went back to Heath and Gwen, ready to meet the wild, gorgeous sibling that was Mischa. Her blonde hair caught in the wind, left to fly around loose. Her blue eyes were noticeable at twenty feet, practically glowing. Even in the wilderness, she wore designer brands and looked like she could step off a magazine cover or a runway. In a sense, the Russian beauty and Hisao matched. As she jumped out of the truck, she adjusted the long designer trench coat she was wearing as Hisao walked toward her. She smiled as she caressed his cheek. They looked beautiful together, the same height, both around five foot nine, his dark hair and eyes versus her splash of color.

And I was wearing the same t-shirt I had left home in two days earlier with a pair of old jeans and tennis shoes that wanted to fall apart from the abuse I had put on them.

When Mischa turned to me, the smile didn't leave.

"Sister," she greeted, leaning in to kiss both my cheeks. For a moment, she hovered and whispered in my ear. "Don't ever say I don't love you."

Then she was gone, shaking Heath's hand, then Gwen's.

"It's good to see you again," Heath said with politeness I was certain was an act. There was something tense about him, but I didn't think my siblings would notice.

"You and your Talent," Mischa said with a wary eye at my werewolf. "It throws me when I can't smell people, Heath Everson."

"You get used to it," I interjected before the conversation could take a turn. "Mischa…this is Gwen."

"I know Doctor Duray. Hisao told me what you learned. I was the one who told her to stay away from you. Isn't that right, Gwen?" Mischa turned on my twin and grinned, all her teeth showing in a dangerous display.

"It is," Gwen agreed, nodding. "I didn't see another option."

"Not killing a werewolf or trying to meddle in their pack was an option. You just didn't take it," my werecat sister snapped. "Definitely twins. Both of you can be downright foolish."

I felt that. Like a slap, it struck me and threatened to put me off balance, which was what Mischa wanted. She was trying to take control of the group and making sure none of us would feel like we were in the right place to fight her. I thought it would continue, but when I looked at her again, daring to see what was coming next, Hisao was by her side.

"Sister—"

"No, Hisao. You might have a soft spot for Jacky after everything she's been through, but this needs to be said. Only a band of idiots tries to test their will against a pack as strong as the Russians." Mischa leveled her gaze on Heath. "And you. You could have told Jacky just how powerful they are. Are you trying to let my sister walk into her death? She seems to find trouble—"

"He tried to convince me to stop before it ever really started," I snapped, stepping between her and Heath. "He's here because I would have done it all without him, and he knew that."

Mischa's hard blue eyes were like ice. We stood at very nearly the same height, able to glare at each other.

"And what are you so angry about?" she asked softly. "Is this about Gwen?"

"Damn right, and your current attitude. You want to be mad? Be mad at me. I'm the one who fought contacting the family. I'm the one who decided I would stay and do whatever was necessary to protect my twin. Heath was just along for the ride and trying to help me. He has contacts and information I needed." I stepped closer to her. "You should be grateful. Without him, I would have done this all on my own, and there's a chance I could be dead already. If there's anyone you shouldn't be mad at, it's him."

"We'll talk about that too," she hissed. "Get in the truck."

I stomped around her, grabbing my twin as I went.

"She's awful," Gwen mumbled as we climbed into the bed of the pickup.

"She's upset," I countered, "for her own reasons. I understand all of them. Doesn't excuse her behavior right now, but she's not a bad person."

"If it doesn't excuse her behavior, then stop trying to make excuses," Gwen snapped.

Rolling my eyes, I realized I couldn't please anyone today. Gwen hated both my werecat siblings. Both my werecat siblings felt threatened by Gwen and Heath. Hasan was mad at me. Russian werewolves had my human family, and there was no way in hell I would give them what they wanted.

As Heath got into the truck, I took solace, there might be one person who wasn't angry at me—just one. His grey-blue eyes were full of concern when he looked at me.

Hisao didn't get into the bed of the truck with us, Mischa did. As the truck started moving, I held on to stop from being bounced around.

"So, let me make something very clear as we enter the village. You do not talk to the locals unless they speak to you, and you will not put them in danger. I've protected them from the Russian pack for centuries, and I won't have you jeopardize that." She looked away from us. "A werewolf hasn't entered the village in eight hundred years. They were attacked once during the War, and it was the last time I scuffled with the Russian pack. Alpha Vasiliev and I were known enemies, and he didn't toy with me. This Sergey, I don't know, and that bothers me." When she looked back at us, she glared at Gwen. "You upset the power balance and have put people in jeopardy."

"I did what I thought was right," my sister retorted.

"And yet you failed to see the bigger picture. You'll get your family back, and you'll go home. I'll be dealing with the consequences of this for centuries if Sergey can hold the power. He might not understand why Alpha Vasiliev gave me the space I demanded. He might not understand why these humans are protected—"

"Everyone should be protected." Gwen held firm. "You have favorites, and I don't care about the reasons. I stopped a monster from continuing his brutal rule, and I won't back down. I did the right thing. If you knew—"

"I did know," she growled. "I told Jacky the same thing. I knew what the Russian pack was doing. We'll talk more about this once we're secure."

I knew Mischa wasn't done with us, but this discussion didn't need to happen in the back of a pickup truck. It needed a round table and alcohol. She was keeping something from us, and I had a feeling it had everything to do with the village we were about to enter.