Page 156 of The Enemy Protector
Nelson appears in the doorway.
I know he was listening to the conversation. Sergei as well. He thought of everything.
Nelson and I walk to the elevator. He falls into step beside me. Two more guards materialize from somewhere, flanking us as we walk through the lobby.
The moment we’re outside, I feel like I can breathe again. The SUV is waiting at the curb, engine running.
I climb into the back seat. Nelson slides in beside me. The door closes with a heavy thunk that makes me feel marginally safer.
“They took the documents,” I say immediately.
Nelson is already on his phone, texting rapidly. “I know. We saw them leave. They’ve got eyes.”
I lean back against the seat and press my hand against my stomach. The nausea is back, but I can’t tell if it’s pregnancy or nerves.
Probably both.
“The younger one knew something was off,” I say. “I could see it in his face.”
Nelson glances at me. “You handled it well.”
“Thanks.”
“They’re heading east,” he says, reading his screen. “Toward Brighton Beach.”
My heart rate picks up. Brighton Beach is the territory Yuri has carved out for himself.
Kirill and Sergei are following the two men. He assured me they could follow without being spotted. I believe him, but it doesn’t mean I’m not worried.
“You okay?” Nelson asks quietly.
“No.” I open my eyes and look at him. “But I will be. Once this is over.”
“It will be over soon,” he says. “One way or another.”
That’s what I’m afraid of.
My phone buzzes. I pull it out and see a text from Sergei.
We have them. Stay put. I’ll call when it’s done.
I hate this. I want to demand he lets his men handle things. But that’s not how he does things. He wants to be the one who kills Yuri.
I didn’t tell him about the baby. I chose to hold that information because I didn’t want him distracted. But now I’m wondering if it could have been incentive.
“Your husband is very good at this.”
I know he is. That’s what scares me.
Because Yuri is good at this too. And the Ghost—wherever he is—is the best. When Sergei told me that’s who was coming for me, I understood just how dire the situation was. I knew about the Ghost. Everyone in our world does. He is only used for the most high-value targets.
The drive back to the brownstone feels like it takes forever. It’s taking longer than usual because the driver is making sure we’re not being followed.
By the time we pull up to the house, my nerves are frayed to the breaking point.
Nelson escorts me inside.
I feel lost. I’ve been here alone without Sergei before, but this time it feels wrong.
