42
FRANCIA
She thinks she is better than me.
That worthless bitch thinks she deserves that life more than I do? Just because Ivan is willing to show up and save her again and a-fucking-gain?
She’d be nothing without him. They would be nothing without me. I’m the reason they met. I’m the reason they’re together.
And I am going to be the reason they lose it all.
There is no car waiting for me outside, so I walk through the front gates and down the road for a few minutes before I pull out my phone.
Then I call the only person left to call.
It rings and rings and rings before Mikhail finally answers. “What?”
“Funny. You’re questioning me, but I’m the one who didn’t get a warning about what was going on. I could have died.”
“So could I,” he hisses back. “We bumped up the wedding on your advice, Francia. You told us we needed to hurry and that you would keep an eye on Ivan.”
“I had it on good authority that he was planning an attack.” It’s not entirely true, but the fact he refused to touch me was evidence enough that something was up. His loyalty to Cora would be sweet if it wasn’t so pathetic.
“Next time, details would be nice! Like, ‘Hey, Mikhail, Ivan is going to send a crew of motorcycle-riding pyromaniacs to try and kill you all. Just thought you should know.’ I almost lost my eyebrows.”
“Yeah, well, I just got surprised by Cora and Ivan coming home together. I would have loved to miss that reunion. The only reason I made it out is because I—” I begged on my knees in front of them both. The memory is too horrible to repeat. I shake my head and bury it. “A warning would have been nice next time.”
“There won’t be a next time. This plan went off the rails as it is, Francia. You don’t have anything left to offer and we’re done with—”
“I have plenty more to offer.”
“You should offer your life,” Mikhail snaps. “That’s all you have left to give me. Men are dead because of your incompetence. Why should you get to live?”
“Even more will die without me. Maybe even you, Mikhail.”
There’s a long pause. He could be taking a long time to think it over, but I doubt it. Alexander is probably there, too, listening in. I’m sure they’re looking at each other, silently going back and forth on what to do with me. God forbid Mikhail make a single fucking decision on his own.
In that way, he and Cora are perfect for each other. Neither of them can take care of themselves. Neither of them knows how to survive.
Not the way I do.
“Well?” I press.
“What do you know?” he asks with a sigh.
I laugh. “It’s cute that you think I’d tell you on the phone. Before I say a word, I need some assurances from you. From both of you.”
There’s another pause before Alexander speaks, confirming my theory that he’s been listening. “I’ve taken too many chances on you, Francia. Will this one pay off?”
“That depends. How much do you think the location of Katerina Sokolov is worth?”
There’s what I have to presume is stunned silence on the other end of the line.
“We’ll meet in an hour,” Alexander says. “This is your last shot, Francia.”
I smile. “That’s all I need.”