Page 110 of Untamed Beast
“Yeah, Leks used to hide there with his mama. Now the Women’s Shelter uses it sometimes, for women who don’t have anywhere else to go.”
I’d forgotten that Vera was involved with the Women’s Shelter. It makes the piles of women’s clothing make sense, as well as the coconut shampoo in the bathroom. This isn’t a place he brings women, it’s a place women come to escape abuse.
Relief washes through me. If the shelter are using this as a safe house, I’m probably not too far out of the city.
“You have food and clothes, right? And the door’s not locked?” The thought sends another wave of dread through me, but I check the door and am relieved to find that it swings open with ease.
“No, I’m not locked inside.”
I stare out at the cedar trees. And I have clothes, if you count the ugly fish t-shirt.
This was where Leks used to come with his mother when his father would abuse them.
“Good, good. Just need to know what to bring. I’ll be there in… Well, the computer says three hours. But in my car, let’s say 90 minutes. Stay there, okay? And call me if anything changes.”
She gives me her cell number. I write it down on the same piece of paper.
The next hour passes in tense anticipation.
I almost cry with relief when I hear the roar of Vera’s Bugatti in the distance.
The gold car looks so out of place here in the forest, driving over the winding, dusty roads.
She bounces up the stairs and forcefully pulls me into an expensive-perfume scented hug, swinging her black fur coat over my shoulders as soon as she sees me.
She’s brisk and efficient as she locks up the safe house and bundles me into the passenger seat of her car.
Before she starts driving, she turns to me with concern in her eyes.
“That man is such an idiot to do this to you.”
I know he’s an idiot. I know he’s been cruel, and unreasonable, and that he’d better give me a foot rub every night for the rest of eternity to make up for the past few days. But I can’t shake the feeling that something’s happened.
The worries spill out before I’ve even processed them. Something feels very wrong. Even with all the anger and distrust Leks has been carrying lately, he wouldn’t have left me alone like this. He kidnapped me, punished me, but couldn’t resist sleeping next to me every night.
However much he might hate me right now, I don’t think Leks would leave me alone.
I think his departure is a sign something is very wrong.
“Vera? I have a bad feeling about this. I think something’s happened to Leks,” I sniffle.
“God, I hope not.” She shoves a box of tissues towards me.
“Can we go back to the port to see if he’s there?”
“On it, babe.” She puts her foot down. “We’ll be back in the city in no time.”
“You’ll get a speeding ticket.”
Vera laughs at that. “You’re always so worried about law enforcement. If having a whole roster of Bratva men is good for one thing, it’s getting out of a speeding ticket.”
35
LEKS
As soon as I saw Natalia’s half-completed notes on the paintings, and compared them with Ponytail’s assessment, I had to see it for myself. Because my dumbass heart was starting to pound with hope.
Her notes were so fucking meticulous, in her pretty cursive handwriting, but everything could be a lie. According to her, only one painting in that vault is real.
