Chapter 19

Audrey

I 'm taken to a hotel in the heart of the city. It's a five-star residential palace with the kind of security that could give the White House a run for its money. Granted, my father came here with what I assume is half of his Fedorov fleet, so the whole place looks extra tight.

Anton says they've occupied a third of the hotel's rooms with their people. They're stationed on every floor of the building, and they've got armed guards working alongside the hotel's own security. The managers couldn't object if they wanted to.

They know who my father is. Fedorov money holds considerable sway in any city.

I am scared out of my mind and virtually helpless, but I've stopped fighting them. The more I object, the tighter my leash is going to be. My blood boils as my father has me escorted all the way up to the presidential suite.

Once we're inside, he stations four men outside my door while Anton double-checks the entire room for any wires or listening devices.

Sitting in a chair by the window, I watch my father as he stands in the middle of the lounge area, his cold eyes scanning me from head to toe. "You're looking good," he says. "The Chicago air seems to suit you."

"Then why take me away?" I shoot back.

"My lovely zaika, you belong with your family until you are married. I'm simply fixing the broken timeline here."

"I belong where I decide I belong."

Anton sighs as he joins us. "Sister, for once in your life, just shut up and listen to the old man. He's trying to talk some sense into you."

He's back under our father's boot; that much is obvious. Anton has always had a slight rebellious streak to him, though he never stepped out of line. I bet his coming to Chicago on his own really riled up the old man.

I can tell from the look on my brother's face that he's in hot water and trying his hardest to make amends. He's in an impossible situation, and it's difficult for me to hold it against him since I know our father just as well. I understand what the old man is capable of doing to get his way.

"So, what? You're just going to drag me back to New York?" I scoff and cross my arms in a rebellious fashion.

"If I have to, yes," my father says. "Though I'm hoping you'll come of your own volition."

"Never. Chicago is my home. It's been my home for two years now. It's not my fault that you can't beat back the Abramovics on your own," I reply bluntly.

Anton shakes his head. "I swear, Audrey, you sure love digging your own grave."

"It's the truth. If they were really fearful of our father, they never would've come after me the way they did."

"Unfortunately, my little zaika, he does have a point. Fortunately, I have a way of fixing that," Papa says.

The past couple of years have not been kind to him. Whether he's hiding some illness or simply aging at an alarmingly faster rate, Grigori Fedorov doesn't look as spry as he used to.

He's still tall and broad-shouldered, impeccably dressed, not a hair out of place, but his face is thinner, the shadows under his eyes have gotten darker, and he seems to have lost some weight.

"What are you talking about?" Anton asks him, somewhat confused. "I thought you only came here to take Audrey home."

"Oh, no," Papa chuckles lightly. "I need to do my rounds while I'm here. Chicago needs to be reminded of their place."

"You can't start a war with the Abramovic Bratva," my brother mumbles.

Papa gives him a sour look. "Do I look foolish to you?"

"He wants a show," I cut in. "He wants as many Bratva lieutenants as possible to see him parading around Chicago without a care in the world, flaunting his wealth and confidence, proving that he is still the top guy in New York like a peacock trying to impress the peahens."

"More like a lion displaying his mane," my father chuckles dryly.

"You're very pleased with yourself, aren't you?" I ask.

"Of course. I've got my family back together, and I'm about to remind those Abramovic monkeys that I'm not to be trifled with," he says. "And once you're back in New York, and enough time has passed, you will understand, my little zaika, that everything I ever did was for the sake of this family."

Oddly, he refers to himself as a lion while he calls me his "little rabbit." It kind of goes against everything he says about protecting our family when I'm the prey or, even better, the bait he's using to prove a point. "So, you're going to marry me off to Piotr like nothing happened," I reply. "Anton told me the old geezer put a price on my head."

"Oh, that was just a tantrum. As soon as he sees you, he'll be over it and will welcome you back with open arms."

"And then you'll go back to business as usual, right? For the family, of course," I shoot back, keeping my tone as flat as possible in order to get my message across.

Papa narrows his eyes at me for a long, uncomfortable second. I think every fiber in his body is screaming at this point, his ego demanding that my attitude be checked. He wants to make me pay for going against his guidelines, but he can't because I'm his daughter.

In the olden days, he would've simply smacked me around a couple of times to put me in my place, but that doesn't work anymore.

He can, however, still control my destiny if I go back with him to New York.

He can hold me hostage until I'm forcibly married to Piotr. I could live the rest of my life as a prisoner in my own home, a shrinking canary in a gilded cage, while he gets what he wants.

"Audrey, this is the life you were born into," my father says, almost echoing my own thoughts. "Just like I was born into it before you. No one gave me a choice, but I made the most of what I had. You should've done the same. You don't belong here in Chicago. It may be different from everything you know, but this is not your home, and that Winchester man is not your family."

"Keep his name out of your mouth," I nearly spit.

What will happen when he learns about my pregnancy? How will he spin that, I wonder? What will Piotr say? I'll be spoiled goods in their eyes. I could tell him now, but that could lead to potentially horrific consequences. He might take it out on Jason or worse. I think I should keep my mouth shut and figure out a way to get out of this.

I can disappear again. I have some money in my savings account to hold me over, at least until I sell the apartment.

"I suppose you're aware of last night's attack," I say, looking at my father and brother. "Anton, I tried calling you several times."

"He was busy explaining certain things to me," Papa replies. "But yes, we are aware."

"What happened to Andrei and Yuri?" I ask.

Anton lowers his gaze. "They didn't make it."

"He lost two good men because he thought he could handle the Abramovic goons on his own," Papa scoffs. "Which is why I'm here. To clean up his mess and yours. Everyone would've been better off if you'd just stayed put like you were told."

"I don't want the life you have planned for me, Papa. And sooner or later, you will need to understand that."

"I don't care what you want, Audrey. I care about what is good for the family."

I raise an eyebrow at Anton, deliberately ignoring our father. "And what does Vitaly think about all of this?"

"As my successor, Vitaly is on board with every decision I make," Papa says.

But Anton lowers his gaze again, and I can tell there's more to this particular story. I'm guessing that Vitaly is not, in fact, on board with every decision that our father makes. But as long as the old man is running the show, he can't say anything about it.

I could play along and wait for Vitaly to take over, but that could take years. And once the marriage contract is signed, it will be damn near impossible for me to get away from Piotr. Oh, God, I can't even fathom a wedding night with that lizard. Hell, no, I need to get out of here.

"Anton will stick around for a little while, but there are armed guards outside your door," Papa adds, but I cut him off.

"Yeah, good, 'cause armed guards worked like a charm the last time," I say, rolling my eyes.

"Nobody will come for you again," Papa insists. "The word is out. They know I'm here. They won't dare to be that stupid. I'll be taking this whole conversation back to them, anyway. Starting now," he adds, briefly checking his watch. He gives Anton a slight nod. "You know what you have to do."

"Yes, Papa."

"And you," he says to me. "For once in your life, set your stubbornness aside and listen to your father. It's for your own good."

He walks out then, and the heaviest silence falls between my brother and me. Anton's demeanor undergoes such a dramatic change whenever our father is in the picture, and I'm left dealing with two completely different versions of my brother.

"At least you didn't tell him that I'm pregnant," I mutter.

"I'm sorry, Audrey," Anton lets a heavy sigh leave his chest. "We both knew this might happen. I only hoped I'd have another day or two to try things my way before he caught up with us."

"They tried to kill me last night."

"I know. We didn't hear about it until the hotel called the police. Andrei and Yuri were supposed to check in with me on the hour, so there was a forty-five-minute window where I actually thought you were okay. But then they didn't check in, and Papa was busy chewing my ass six ways from Sunday. That's why I couldn't pick up."

"I'm sorry, Anton," I say. "I'm sorry he broke you beyond repair."

"Don't talk down to me," he replies. "I'm a Fedorov, and I'm proud of it. Just because you want a life outside this family doesn't mean that Vitaly and I want that for ourselves, too."

"I never said that. But I'm sure the three of us can agree that there are certain Russian traditions that really need to be left behind."

"Not while the old man is still alive."

"Which leaves me screwed, either way," I reply. "Anton, I can't go back to New York. You know that, right?"

He nods slowly. "I can't help you, Audrey. Not now. Not anymore."

"Anton—"

"Don't push it," he snaps and walks out as well.

I'm all alone in this massive suite. On any other day, I would've appreciated the fine design and the opulent luxury a lot more.

But I'm a prisoner here.

I cannot let them take me back to New York. There, I will be truly powerless. I will be radioactive, and nobody will wish to even get close to me, let alone try and help me. New York is deathly afraid of Grigori Fedorov.

Even the mayor owes him a couple of favors, not to mention the state senators who have been living in his pockets for the past few election cycles. The Bratva influence runs deep, and there isn't a single corner in the Big Apple where I will be truly safe on my own.

I need to figure out a way to leave this room and run as far away as possible, at least until all this drama dies down. I need to warn Jason, as well, because if I do somehow manage to escape again, his is the first place that Papa will hit. Nobody wins in this story, that much I know. No matter what path I choose, someone will get hurt.

I can't let myself fall back down the rabbit hole again. My father calls me his little zaika, but I am not his little zaika anymore. I'm a grown woman, and I will fight him with everything I've got until I'm free again. I will live the life of my choosing. I will sacrifice my brother's and my safety if I must. But I will find my way out of this hotel room and out of the Fedorov shackles.