Chapter 57

Kimberly

H aving exited the car, I sit, panting and shaking with shock over what I’ve just done. I don’t know how much time has passed, but as I come to my senses, I realize I need to move. The car rolled off the side of the road and is now hidden among some trees, but it’s only a matter of time before we’re discovered. I don’t know how I would explain this to the cops, and I certainly don’t want Sharkozi’s men to come looking for us either.

Wiping as much blood as I can off my face, I determinedly start to walk back toward the way we came from. I hope that I can find a payphone to call Grace from. I’m lucky that the roads are quiet, only a handful of vehicles pass me, all too busy going about their days to notice the bloodstained woman walking down the road.

But then a car approaches me and starts to slow down, a good Samaritan wanting to help. I contemplate running away, but figure that will only draw more attention. As I’m debating what lies to tell to explain my presence here, they wind the window down, and to my relief, I see Grace and David’s concerned faces peering out at me.

“Oh my god Kimmy, what happened?” Grace exclaims. I open my mouth to answer but before I can she continues, “Actually, get in the car first, you can explain once we’re out of here.”

I numbly do as I’m told, and as we drive away, I tell them the whole story.

“Luckily, I turned up just minutes after David saw you being taken. I’m so sorry we didn’t find you sooner, that you had to go through that,” Grace says her voice full of concern.

“It’s okay,” I reply numbly.

The two of them continue to fuss over me but I barely register what they’re saying. I just keep thinking about the look in the man’s eyes as he took his last breath. Wondering if he had a family, people who loved him and would mourn him.

I don’t know how much time has passed, but eventually, we pull into a motel. Grace goes inside to pay before returning to the car and leading us over to our room, it’s secluded and the least likely room to be scrutinized by nosy guests. Inside, there are twin beds, dated patterned carpet and clashing wallpaper, a TV, and a mini fridge. It’s like any other motel room I’ve ever stayed in.

“Why don’t you go take a shower?” Grace gently suggests ushering me toward the bathroom.

I do as instructed, as I’m closing the door I overhear Grace whisper to David, “She must be in shock, poor thing.”

After a long, scalding hot shower, I feel a little bit better, though I know the memory will haunt me. There’s a knock at the door and when I open it, Grace is there holding a shopping bag.

“I figured you might want a change of clothes, it’s nothing fancy mind you, there’s a Goodwill store close by, but at least they’re clean,” she says softly, her eyes warm.

“Thank you,” I reply, feeling immeasurably grateful for her thoughtfulness.

David and Grace are deep in conversation when I emerge from the bathroom.

“It’s worth a shot,” I hear David say.

“What’s worth a shot?” I ask, coming over to join them.

Grace pulls a grimace of discomfort, as though she isn’t happy about what she’s about to tell me. “Look, Kim, I’ve spoken with Thomas and well, the thing is, we’re not sure how safe we can keep you both right now,” she explains apologetically.

“What do you mean?” I ask, feeling the sharp sting of protection.

“It’s not that we don’t want to, but we don’t know what is about to happen. With everything that’s going on, there could be an all-out turf war. As much as we care about you both, Thomas and I protecting you would be tantamount to a declaration of war, of taking sides. Until we know the situation, Thomas has to protect his assets, his family.”

“So you’re not going to help us?” I ask incredulously.

“It’s not like that, Kimmy, they have the twins to worry about, we can’t bring death to their door,” David reasons.

He has a point, the last thing I want to do is put Grace and her family in harm’s way because of me.

“So what do we do then? Without protection or money they’ll find us in no time,” I reply anxiously.

“Thomas and I can help you lay low, perhaps even provide you with new identities to leave the country, we can finance everything too,” Grace offers.

“Thank you,” I reply. “I understand why we can’t come with you and that you’re doing your best to help us.”

Grace nods and squeezes my hand, “Believe me, I wish I could do more, and once we know better what’s going on, we will. We won’t stand for an all-out war in our territory,” she declares passionately. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go make some arrangements for you both. Don’t go anywhere, and only answer the door to me.”

We both nod in agreement and Grace leaves.

“I think we should speak to Jackson,” David pipes up, “He can help us too.”

“Marta’s husband? Why would he want to help us after everything that happened?” I ask.

“He’s family,” David replies with a shrug. “He has money, resources, and most importantly, he can help us crack what’s on the flash drive Yaroslav gave you. I like Grace, and I think we can trust her and Thomas, but Jackson is outside of it all. We know where his loyalties lie.”

“You’re right, David, we should call him, but how?” I ask, “I don’t have a phone, nor do I know his number even if I did.”

“But I do,” David replies almost mischievously as he pulls out a cell phone from his pocket.

“The phone Marta gave you!” I exclaim in surprise.

“Yep, luckily, I had it on me when everything happened. I tossed my personal one in case it was tapped after what happened, but I figured there was no way this one could be compromised since the only people who knew about it were you, me, Yaroslav, and Marta. Jackson’s number is programmed in,” he informs me.

“Well, let’s give him a try then,” I agree, feeling hopeful.

The phone rings for an agonizingly long time and I worry Jackson isn’t going to answer, but then David speaks. “Jackson, it’s David… David Volkov.”

I listen as they talk, only able to hear David’s side of the conversation as he explains the situation. Though I can’t hear his replies, it doesn’t sound like Jackson is saying much, simply letting David talk. Once David is done, he listens intently as Jackson talks him through what he wants us to do. When David finally hangs up, I’m on the edge of my seat to know what Jackson said.

“So, will he help us?”

David nods, “Yes,” he says sounding relieved. “But he’s in England right now. He’s booking the next flight out to the States and wants us to meet him at a safehouse in Atlanta.”

“Atlanta? Is he crazy? He wants us to walk into the vipers’ nest? And what safehouse? If Innokentiy is in charge then he’ll know all the locations of Yaroslav’s safehouses,” I ask in disbelief.

“Not one of my brother’s, but one of Jackson’s,” David says.

My brows furrow, “What does Jackson have a safehouse for?”

David shrugs, “I don’t know, but he gave me the address. He says it’s the last place they’ll expect us to go. Although, he did say to alter our appearances as much as possible, just to be sure.”

I nod, though I’m still unconvinced, “I guess that makes sense, but Jackson’s just a businessman, he has no idea what these people are capable of, who they truly are.”

All of a sudden, I’m worried about what we’re getting Jackson into, sure, he knows about Marta’s family, and their shady business dealings, but how much does he understand? How much did Marta share?

David gives me a strange look, “Jackson’s more than just a businessman, Kimmy.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.

“Jackson’s ex-special ops, he comes from a long line of men who worked for the US and UK Secret Service. They’d handle the things the government doesn’t want you to know about. He has power and connections we can’t even begin to comprehend. It’s why he was so hard on himself over Marta’s death, he felt he should have been able to stop it,” David says sadly.

He looks contemplative for a moment, lost in thought, before continuing, “I assume my father must have known, that’s probably why he arranged the marriage, but Yaroslav never knew. He refused to allow Jackson or me to be part of the rescue mission. He thought he was protecting us and sent us on a wild goose chase in the wrong direction. It was then that I learned the truth about Jackson, in his grief upon hearing about the bomb, he let it slip. He swore me to secrecy. He knew that if Yaroslav was aware of his skills, he would want to use them for the Bratva, but Jackson just wanted a quiet life now.”

I can’t believe what David’s telling me. My heart breaks thinking of David and Jackson, miles away and feeling helpless and betrayed when they discovered the truth about where Marta was and what had happened.

“Goddammed stubborn Yaroslav always trying to do everything alone to protect the ones he loves. Sometimes being a lone wolf isn’t a good thing, and the pack he did allow in betrayed him,” David adds bitterly.

There’s nothing I can say to that, part of me feels angry with Yaroslav too for leaving us.

“But why would Jackson agree to help us now? Why get involved?” I ask.

“Because it’s what Marta would have wanted,” David says sadly.

We sit in silence for a short while, reflecting on the people we’ve lost. I should tell David that Yaroslav might still be alive, but I can’t bear the thought of giving him hope only to snatch it away if I’m wrong.

I only hope that if Yaroslav and Gran are still alive, Jackson can help us crack the information on this flash drive to take Innokentiy down before it’s too late.