57. Bronwyn

57

brONWYN

Back in Chicago, Gennadiy couldn’t decide whether he was overjoyed to see us safe or pissed at us for running off and making deals without telling him. He settled for a sort of grumpy relief. “Konstantin,” he muttered, walking out from behind his desk. “I wouldn’t have thought of that. Or offering him a pipeline into Chicago.”

“It was Bronwyn’s idea,” Radimir told him.

Gennadiy turned to me, and I inwardly winced. I’d been hoping Radimir would miss out that part. I’d happily have skipped taking the credit if it meant my new brother-in-law wouldn’t hate me.

But to my shock, Gennadiy stepped forward and embraced me, one of those full-on bear hugs Russians seemed to be so fond of. When he stepped back, he looked me in the eye. “Perhaps,” he said solemnly, “I underestimated you. Welcome to the family.”

I stared at him for a second, overcome. Then I pulled him into a hug and stared at Radimir over his shoulder, elated and almost teary. I felt part of something, in a way I hadn’t done in years.

“Konstantin’s men should be here late tonight,” said Radimir as I stepped back. “They have to drive: they couldn’t bring guns on a plane.”

“Just in time,” said Gennadiy. “Spartak took out three bars last night and…” He sat down on the edge of his desk and hung his head. “You haven’t seen the news yet, have you? Spartak burned the stables.” He glanced at me. “We own a few racehorses. Train them.” He looked at Gennadiy. “Josiah, the trainer, did his best to get them all out. He has pretty bad burns to his face.” His voice went tight. “Two horses are dead, and Heaven’s Tears will never race again.”

Radimir squeezed his brother’s shoulder and Gennadiy put his hand gratefully on top. As Radimir led me out of the room, he whispered sadly “Gennadiy would never admit it, but he likes the horses.”

I nodded and looked back through the doorway. Gennadiy had stood up and was busying himself making phone calls. It was worse, somehow, than if he’d just been sitting there sadly. Like Radimir, he wouldn’t let himself show weakness. Radimir still wouldn’t—couldn’t—share his past with me but at least he had me and could sometimes let me see him vulnerable. Gennadiy didn’t have anyone. We need to find him someone.

“Let’s stop by the penthouse,” Radimir suggested. “I need to pick up some paperwork. We’ll take a couple of guys with us, just to be safe.”

We walked towards the main doors, holding hands. I’d noticed we were doing that a lot, now. When we got outside, a viciously cold wind was sweeping across the driveway and it felt like it cut straight through my coat, clothes and flesh and whistled right over my bones. I winced, sucking in my breath.

“ Chyort ,” muttered Radimir. “I forgot my phone.”

“Keys!” I said quickly, before he disappeared. “I’ll get the heater on.”

He passed me the keys and hurried back inside the house. I unlocked the car and swung myself into the driver’s seat so I could start the engine. My butt sank into the soft leather seat and?—

There was a click.

The door thumped shut: I’d hauled on the handle as I swung myself into the seat because I’d wanted to stop the wind. The noise of the outside world disappeared. My finger was resting on the Start button, but I didn’t push it. My whole body was taut, frozen.

That click…

I’d been in Radimir’s car a million times by now and it had never made that sound when one of us sat down.

The car had been sitting here in the driveway the whole time we’d been in New York. What if someone had...

I’m being paranoid.

What if I’m not? Cold began to creep down my spine, soaking outwards as sweat.

I looked down into the footwell: nothing but expensive carpet and the Mercedes logo. I couldn’t lean forward to look under the seat because that would mean lifting my weight off it.

I sat there thinking furiously for a moment. Then I took out my phone, turned on the selfie camera, and dangled it by my fingertips until the camera was pointing under my seat. Dark metal. The mechanism that adjusted the seat. See, there’s nothing ? —

A boxy shape wrapped in duct tape. And a circuit board with a glowing red LED.

I was sitting on a car bomb.