The anger that seeps across Boris’s face sends chills through me. Vik runs right up to Boris and jumps onto his back, trying to grab the gun from him, but he manages to keep it out of reach from her. He slams her back against the counter again and again until she lets go and stumbles to the ground. Boris aims his gun at Vik, but I place myself over my sister’s body.
“Don’t!” I shout, raising my hands. “Boris, don’t.”
He hesitates. “Why shouldn’t I kill her?”
“Because … because I’ll go with you. You wanted me first. So, take me this time. Both you and Andrei can have me.”
“Sofiya, no,” Vik groans, sitting up. I ignore her and keep my eyes locked with Boris’s.
“I’ll go with you. Just spare Vik’s life.”
“You’ll come without a fight?” he asks.
“Yes.”
He nods at Mila. “And I’m taking Mila. I don’t want Mikhail’s used goods, but Andrei does. He can have you while I have Mila.”
My eyes flick over to Mila, who’s frozen solid. I hate myself for what I say next. “Fine. Take both Mila and me. Just don’t kill Vik.”
Mila gasps and backs away, the knife in her hands clattering to the counter.
I promised to always protect my baby sister, and I just broke that promise. I have to believe we will make it out of this.
But Boris was so close to killing Vik, and I couldn’t let that happen.
“Mila and I will go with you,” I say. “Leave Vik out of this.”
“Deal,” Boris says super quickly. He points his gun back at her face, but Vik doesn’t flinch. She only keeps her head held high as he speaks. “No funny business. No more trying to attack me. You will stay here, or I will shoot you.”
Vik looks like she’s going to object, but I nudge her and catch her eye, giving her a small nod. I can see the worry in her expression, but she slowly nods back. “I’ll stay here,” she tells Boris.
“Good. Now, let’s go, girls. I don’t have all day.”
Slowly, I get back up, my eyes trained on Boris’s gun. He turns to Mila and grabs her arm before she can run. He walks the two of us out of the room.
Glancing back, I see Vik on the floor, absolute pain in her eyes. My brave older sister, unable to protect us. I know it’s breaking her heart.
“I’m sorry,” Mila whispers to me.
“What for?’
“For not fighting harder.”
It dawns on me then—Mila, the one Vik and I were trying so hard to protect, felt the need to protect us both. I guess my sisters and I all share something in common beyond ballet.
We all want to protect each other.
But Boris has made sure we couldn’t keep that promise to each other.
Chapter
Eighteen
SOFIYA
Boris leads us toward the elevator that will take us from the penthouse and to wherever he plans to hide us away.
I catch Mila’s eye. “The second we get outside,” I whisper, barely moving my lips, “run.”
Mila nods back imperceptibly.
“What are you saying?” Boris snaps, making us jump. He grabs Mila and drags her into the elevator with him. I follow behind.
“I was just telling my sister everything will be fine,” I lie.
“Everything will be fine. I’m not going to hurt her.” Boris sneers down at me. “What kind of man do you think I am?”
The kind who’s kidnapping us. But Boris is so delusional that he would never accept that narrative.
“I can’t wait to give you to Andrei,” Boris continues. “You need to be put in your place. All of you Morozova women need to be.”
“Not Mila. Mila has never hurt you.”
Boris gazes down at my sister while she fights not to flinch. “You’re right. Mila is good.” He runs his finger down her cheek. I fight the urge to vomit, and I know Mila is doing the same.
We reach the lobby of the apartment, and my eyes land on the security guard behind his desk. If anyone could help …
Taking a risk, I run over to him, screaming, “Help!”
