now that the real Cherone Pérez will be resurrected.
Chapter 59
Tell Me Now
John
As Roni and I are led into Misha’s office and I swear I’m counting to ten to keep my head from exploding. I glare at Torque as he sits on the leather sofa with his head down. When he looks up his eyes grow wide and pleading.
“Roni and John, I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was going to help us find Natasha. I thought Roni was in danger,” Torque jumps up and says.
“Sit. Down,” I snarl.
He clamps his mouth shut and sits. When I turn my focus to Misha, he’s staring at Roni with his eyes narrowed. Something about the look raises my hackles.
He definitely knows something more about Roni. However, it’s not lost on me that Torque’s the initial reason we are all here in Russia. I still have no clue why Torque’s actions have garnered so much of Misha’s attention.
This kid has really stepped in it this time. My head is still reeling with how I fix this, whatever it is. Roni nor Torque can come out of this with a single hair harmed.
“Welcome, John. It’s good to see you, my friend, da.”
“Yeah, wish it were under different circumstances,” I say, shooting Torque another glare.
Misha nods his head at Torque. “He is problem yes, but I have things I want to see clearer.”
“What does that mean?” Roni says.
“You remember nothing, not even who you are, da?”
Roni tenses up beside me, balling her fists at her sides. I place a hand on the small of her back to remind her that I’m with her. She shrugs her reply.
“Sit,” Misha says. “Your guard is up. We are not enemies.”
I guide Roni into one of the chairs in front of Misha’s desk before I take the other seat. He is still watching her closely. Curiosity lights his eyes.
It hasn’t slipped my notice that Roni hasn’t told him what she has remembered. I hold my tongue to see what she’s up to. However, Misha gets my attention with his next words.
“Does the name Eliam Pérez ring a bell for you?”
Roni narrows her eyes. “Maybe.”
Something about the name tickles my brain. Misha sits back in his seat and steeples his fingers in front of his mouth. He pulls a face and shrugs his shoulders.
“You can leave. I have no time for this. You haven’t kept your part of deal. I owe you nothing.”
It’s clear that we’re being dismissed. However, Roni isn’t quite done. I cover my face with my hand.
“Are you shitting me? I had no idea what he was up to. You can’t hold that against me. I told him to stop. I have a two and a half month old; I can’t run after him every time he runs off. You said you would help me. Where’s Natasha? What did you find out about me?”
“I know everything,” Misha barks. “Be grateful for gift I give and go back to life you know. You don’t want the one you can’t remember.”
“What does that mean, Misha? What aren’t you saying?” I speak up.
“This is her past and her debt. Not yours,” he says to me.
“Her debts are mine as are the kid’s. Whatever they owe you is now mine. You call me from now on.”
“John,” Roni snaps.
Instead of turning my attention to her, I don’t take my eyes off of Misha. He gives a grin that looks sinister. Roni is burning a hole in the side of my face as she stares at me, but I need Misha to understand how serious I am.
“Are you sure you want to take that on?”
“Tell her what she wants to know. We’ll discuss the rest later, between you and me.”
He sits silently for a few beats. I can tell the wheels are turning. There are a million ways this could go bad. I know that, but I’m not allowing Roni to get in any deeper with Misha.
“I will tell you where to start looking for your truth. If you still wish to know everything else, I will help. Not for favor, not for friendship, I do for knowledge of pain.” He turns to gaze to Roni.
“What pain?”
“Pain you have yet to know. You have choice to make.” He turns to narrow his eyes at Torque. “Although, I don’t think truth will stay hidden for much longer.”
“That’s not good enough,” Roni snarls.
“For now, it is. Trust me, you thank me later.”
“Misha,” I say firmly.
His lips thin. “I do you favor this way. I do us all