Fallen Stars and Broken Dreams - C.C. Masters Page 0,115

that it had done us any good. “I don’t have my phone on me,” I said weakly. “Can I text you?”

Sergei shook his head with a soft chuckle. “This generation – so reliant on your technology. I’ll have a friend contact you when you get back to Washington.”

I nodded, not relieved at all. I didn’t like the idea of any members of the Bratva having easy access to me.

“Why don’t you go back to your mother before she worries?” Sergei suggested as he stood.

I swallowed nervously and backed toward the door, but no one made a move for me. The goon that had kidnapped me opened the door with a bland smile and dead eyes, making it clear I was allowed to leave.

“Oh, malen'kaya balerina,” Sergei called softly to me. “I know you might be tempted to ask for help, but I’m afraid this task is for you alone. I’d hate for anything to happen to your new brothers.”

His voice may have been soft, but it was layered with steel. Sergei wouldn’t tolerate me running to Richard for help, and he’d go after Kingston and Maverik. I swallowed at the thought of their broken bodies lying on the floor. They could be annoying, but they weren’t all bad. Not bad enough to deserve being murdered.

I wanted to run out the door, but I kept my gait smooth and steady. I didn’t want these men to know just how terrified I was. I walked down the hall on trembling legs, the serious nature of my situation sinking in. Sergei wanted something from me, and he wasn’t the type of man to accept failure.

I stepped back into the lobby, and Maverik looked over at me in irritation. “There you are. The others are waiting for us.”

He waved me forward but narrowed his eyes when he got a good look at my face. “What happened?” he asked flatly.

“I got sick,” I lied.

Maverik didn’t take his eyes off me, and I fought the desire to squirm. Instead, I placed a hand on my stomach and tried to look as pathetic as possible. Those grey eyes looked deep into mine, and I sucked in a breath at the intensity. It felt like he could see right through my lies and into my soul.

Maybe he could, but he didn’t comment any further on my disappearance. Instead, he just sighed.

“The hotel offered us a private room to wait for our car,” Maverik stated without inflection.

I allowed him to lead me to where my mother waited with the others. If Nina had the stupid map, I’d gladly steal it from her. However, I wasn’t naïve enough to think Sergei would forget about me once he had it. Men like him would keep taking from you until you had nothing left. His first request might be to steal a small item, but it wouldn’t stop there.

I narrowed my eyes at Nina as Maverik and I walked into the room. What had she been doing for Sergei? Was she with Richard for more nefarious reasons than greed?

I had a feeling that breaking free of this family was going to be even more difficult than I’d thought. Even if I made it back to New York, how would I get Sergei out of my life?

Chapter 35

Katya

Once again, I found myself on a private jet heading from NY to Seattle. This time, Kingston plopped down in the chair opposite mine with a friendly grin. Maverik sighed, but he followed Kingston’s lead and took the seat next to mine.

Richard was sucked back into his business the moment we stepped on the plane. I guess a couple of hours was the longest that Awake could go without their leader at the helm.

I tensed when Nina gracefully sat in the seat next to Kingston. He gaped at her in surprise, but she ignored him entirely and leaned in to speak with me.

“You made me look bad in front of Richard,” she said coldly.

Kingston scoffed. “You do that just fine on your own.”

“I’m speaking with Katya,” she snapped. “Why don’t the two of you go find something else to do?”

“You’re crazy if you think we take orders from you,” Kingston exclaimed.

“He’s right,” Maverik added. “We’re not going anywhere.”

I looked at my mother. Unfortunately, she was anything but crazy. She was in complete control over herself at all times – which just made her decisions ever worse. Mental illness would give me an explanation as to why she couldn’t love me, but this was just who she