Chapter 137 One-hundred & Thirty-seven

• Mikhail
• Our SUV idles on the shoulder of a two-lane highway, hidden by a thick grove of pine trees. In the distance, the ocean is visible to the left. A strip of churning blue between pale sand and a gray sky. I wait outside the vehicle in the chilly wind and watch the road for Pavel's vehicle. Rurik is not too far away, but his only job, for now, is to guard Larissa at their house. The guards I trust are combing through the shambles of the penthouse for clues and examining surveillance to identify the individuals who raided my home. I had to leave without Pavel after receiving Maria's message. I had to hurry to save her and trust Zakhar wouldn't try to kill me along the way.
• But who can I trust now? The tourists are long gone, and I stare down the empty highway as the wind picks up. The movement makes a soft chant in my ears and warns me not to repeat this mistake. Trusting people shouldn't be a mistake, but it is. But I don't have any other options. I spot the SUV approaching and lift my hand as Pavel flashes the lights. He stops a distance away as I jump into the back seat of our vehicle.