Page 87 of Emerald

“Thanks.”

“Not a problem. Thanks for confiding in me, I know we don’t always see eye to eye, but I appreciate you calling me,” Sophie says.

“Thanks for listening to me.”

“Bye,” she says, hanging up.

The front doorsqueaks and I’m on high alert, my hand grabbing the knife that I’ve placed safely under the sofa cushion.

“Hey, sorry for taking so long,” Nash’s voice echoes through the home, my hand relaxes off the weapon, and I turn to look over at the man who seems to be boring his way further beneath my skin. He walks over and places a kiss on my head. “What are you doing?”

“I’ve been searching everything I can about Annika Dominguez,” I tell him. He nods and takes a seat beside me. “Annika does a lot of charity work. There are a lot of photos of her at different black-tie events. There are also images of her shopping and eating out with friends. She looks like she’s been living a normal life without a care in the world.”

“Maybe that’s what she wants everyone to think,” Nash tries to reassure me.

“Or maybe I’m living in the past and Anna Sokolov no longer exists.”

“That could be true, too. Maybe she was seduced by the power that came with being the mistress and now the wife of a cartel member,” Nash suggests.

“Anna hated the Bratva, she hated that her father was connected to it. She wanted nothing to do with that life and that’s why we were both so determined to get out of it with our dancing.”

“Maybe she has no choice, she’s doing the best she can to survive.”

“You’ve changed your tune.” I glare at him.

He shrugs his shoulders. “Maybe she’s a victim just like you have been. You both have had to do things that you didn’t want to do to survive.”

“You said she killed your friends. I only kill bad people, not good people,” I tell him.

“Everyone knows that if you betray the cartel you won’t survive.”

“Still …”

He shakes his head. “My friends made some stupid decisions, and unfortunately, they paid for it with their lives.” I can see the memories haunting him. “I spoke to Jose and told him I was giving him the bar.”

“Oh, you did?”

He nods. “I said that I was going to have to go away and I’m not sure I’ll ever be back.”

My stomach sinks, what a strange feeling. “I’m sorry. You didn’t ask for this. I’ve messed your world up,” I tell him, rubbing his arm.

“You have,” he smirks, “but maybe it’s what I needed.”

“To have your world turned upside down by a Russian assassin?”

“Yeah, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He grins.

Thud. Thud. Thud. In my chest. What is that feeling?

33

ELENA

Manuel: I need to see you.

My stomach sinks as I read the text message.

“What is it?” Nash asks, looking up from his computer.

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