Keeping my voice calm, I say, “Open your eyes. I saw you.”

No movement.

It’s as if she’s a statue. But I know what I saw and it wasn’t my imagination. I’m better now, I don’t hallucinate or let my mind take complete control of my life.

“Winter…I don’t know why you’re pretending to be comatose, but it’s better if you wake up and tell me.”

Nothing.

I yank the sheet off her body, but she remains the same, almost like the dead.

If I want to get to her, I need to use something that will provoke her.

“We’re throwing you out, Winter. We’re done giving you a roof over your head and injecting nourishment into your bloodstream when you mean nothing to us. Either a charity organization will take care of you or they’ll just leave you to die.”

The heartbeat on the monitor escalates. Yes, it’s affecting her. Now, all I have to do is continue until she cracks, even if I mean none of the words.

“If you don’t open your eyes and tell me why you’re pretending to be comatose, I’ll make sure this is the last day you’re alive—”

A loud shriek echoes in the air as she springs forward, pulling a syringe from under her pillow. I flinch back, but she jumps on me, causing the IV tube to be yanked from her arm.

We both crash to the ground and she straddles me, placing the syringe to my neck. Her chest rises and falls so hard, it’s almost unnatural. Her eyes, the same color as mine, are shifty, wide, practically crazed.

“You couldn’t just leave me alone, you bitch?” she snarls.

The needle of the syringe brushes against my neck and I swallow thickly before I smooth out my voice. “Why…why did you pretend to be comatose?”

“Because your damn husband said he’d torture me for answers as soon as I opened my eyes.” She breathes harshly. “And this whole fucking house is filled with guards and people, so I couldn’t simply leave. If he’d found out I woke up, he would’ve killed me.”

Oh.

She must’ve been anxious all along, biding her time and pretending that she was asleep. But on the bright side, I wasn’t imagining things when I saw her through the window the other time or when she looked at me the other day.

I’m not crazy.

“It’s okay, Winter. I’ll help you out.”

“You just said you’d kill me.”

“That was only so you would drop the act.”

“How do I know you won’t hand me over to your mobster husband?”

“I’d never do that. I brought you into this mess and I’ll get you out. I promise.”

“I don’t believe you…” Her lips quiver. “Everyone here wants me dead.”

“That’s not true, Winter. I mean you no harm.”

“Is that why you sent me, knowing that your husband would recognize me right away and try to shoot me?”

“I didn’t know that…though, I should’ve. I was so desperate that I wanted to believe he would be fooled, even if that was logically impossible. I’m so sorry.”

“He’ll kill me.” Her hands shake on the needle.

“I won’t let him. You have my word. In fact, I’ll let you walk out of the door right now.”

“You…will?”

I nod. “So please drop the syringe.”

She stares at me as if she wants to believe me, but at the same time, she doesn’t trust me.

I remain still, coaxing her with my gaze, hoping she’ll let go. Winter isn’t a bad person, but she’s homeless, so she doesn’t trust easily and she has every right not to, considering how life kicked her while she was already down.

It takes her long moments before she pulls the needle away from my neck and slowly stands up. I do the same so that we’re facing one another.

“Thank you,” I say.

“Get me out of here.”

I open my mouth to agree when the door opens.

My lips part when none other than Adrian comes inside.

He pulls out his gun and Winter jumps back. I run in front of her as the shot goes off.

27

Lia

I don’t think twice as I jump in front of Winter. Because I have no doubt that Adrian won’t hesitate to kill her if he sees that she’s posing a danger to me.

When the shot echoes in the air, I close my eyes, ready for the sting of pain.

Nothing comes.

My frantic gaze goes to Winter as I face her. Aside from the shaking and her pale skin, it doesn’t look as if she’s been hit either.

Strong arms hug me from behind, whirling me around, and I stare up at Adrian. His brow is furrowed and there’s dried blood on his lips. He’s rugged, hurt, and not his usual composed self, but he’s alive.

He’s back.

Oh, God. He’s back and he’s alive.

“Do you have a fucking death wish, Lia?” He shakes me, threat and what seems like pain creases his brows. “Why did you get in the way of the bullet? If I hadn’t changed the direction at the last second, you would’ve been shot.”

“I…I couldn’t let you harm Winter.”

“She has a fucking syringe.”

“She wasn’t going to hurt me.”

Kolya strides inside and snatches the syringe from her hand. She doesn’t fight, not that she could, and lets him confiscate her weapon. Tears roll down her cheeks as Adrian’s second-in-command yanks her arms behind her back, imprisoning her wrists with one hand.

“I didn’t mean to… Please don’t hurt me.” She shakes her head, eyes meeting mine. “Lia, please.”

I pull myself from Adrian’s hold and face them. “Kolya, let her go.”

He doesn’t make a move, his gaze meeting his boss’s. So I direct my attention to my husband.

“Adrian…tell him to let her go.”

His critical gaze studies Winter closely, obviously trying to figure out why she’s awake. “Not until I make sure she’s not a danger.”

“She isn’t.”

“You don’t know that.” My husband pulls me to his side with a firm hand around my waist and addresses Kolya. “Keep a close eye on her until further notice.”

He turns to leave, then throws over his shoulder, “And tell Yan and Boris to plan their fucking funerals.”

And with that, he drags me out of the room and the guest house. I squirm, trying to get away, but Adrian’s firm grip prevents me from doing anything significant.

When we walk inside the house, he releases me because of my constant wiggling about.

I plant my feet on the floor and place a hand at my hip. “What is the matter with you? Winter didn’t do anything wrong.”

“She thought she could take your place. That’s enough to be considered wrong in my dictionary.”

“I did it. I’m the one who convinced her, so if you want to punish someone, punish me.”

“Oh, I will punish you, Lia, and it has nothing to do with Winter.” He grabs me by the elbow. “What the fuck are you doing here? You should’ve stayed in Russia as I ordered you to.”