Page 85 of Mistaken
The high, almost hysterical laughter was apparently coming from me, and I finally managed to say, “Oh, you have no idea.”
In the car, he unceremoniously jammed a bag over my head and I tried to breathe calmly. Hyperventilating with a bag over your head seemed like a good way to die. Admittedly, it was probably much better than what that ferocious lunatic Katya had in mind for me. I kept trying not to think about that.
I was terrified of pain. The accident that took my parents’ lives left me in the hospital for months. I remember crying in my bed so many times when they told me I’d had “plenty of pain meds” but everything still hurt so much. One of the doctors admitted to me later that there was some severe nerve damage they’d initially missed. Tania was furious, demanding that I sue the hospital but all I could remember was the pity and irritation when I’d asked for help.
That was the last time I’d ever seen Charles, in fact. I woke up one day and he was standing by my bed, hands in his suit pockets and staring at me.
“It’s just us now, Charles,” I’d croaked. They’d just taken the tube out of my throat the day before and it was all torn up.
“Yeah…” he’d mused, looking me over. “Sorry about that.”
I put out my hand, but it was all taped up with an IV and he just stared down at it. “Are you going to stay in town for a while?”
“No, I can’t,” he shifted uncomfortably, “I’ve got to get back to work. You just… rest up, you know?”
I think I fell asleep then because when I woke up, he was gone.
I chuckled under the bag. My brother was not interested in ever seeing me again. My husband has clearly reminded me that I was “a convenience,” and nothing else. And thanks to that heartless prick, I’ve endangered my best friend - the person I love more than anyone in the world - simply by association.
Better me than her.
“You’re not crying, eh? Strange girl.” I recognized Vasily’s voice.
“What are you getting out of this?” I asked. “I’m sure Katya’s hot and everything, but this whole revenge fantasy, what’s in it for you?” Aaand, there goes my big mouth, “Don’t you wear the pants in the family? I thought you Slavic gangsters were big on the male hierarchy.”
My head bounced off the seat in front of me and my ears started ding-donging like the bells of Notre Dame as he slapped me on the back of the head again. “Shut up. Don’t make this worse.”
Really?I thought,this guy was the voice of reason?
Naturally, I cackled, a little hysterically. “Define worse.”
We drove for another hour or so. I think. Vasily hauled me briskly out of the car and hustled me into a building, grunting in irritation every time I stumbled. He threw me down on a table and held me, thrashing angrily, while one of the others tied my hands and feet to the edges. When he ripped the bag off my head, there she was.
Katya looked amazing, of course. A perfect St. Laurent red suit, elegantly coiffed hair, and a sweet smile.
“Hello,suka.I’m going to havesomuch fun with you.”
Maksim…
“There is a reason I have a tracker in my wife’s phone!” I thundered, “Why is this taking so long?”
“We have location, Pakhan,” Ivan assured me, reading his device, “the NJ Galleria.”
I leaned over the seat. “Drive. Faster.” I said between clenched teeth. Fedor slammed his foot on the gas pedal.
Yuri was rapidly texting our lieutenants. “There are six cars moving in now-” His breath drew in when his phone rang. “Ella?” There was a screech bursting out of his speaker that made everyone in the car wince.
“YOU BETTER FUCKING GET HERE IN A HURRY BECAUSE I SWEAR TO GOD IF THEY KILL ELLA I WILL CUT YOUR HOMEBOY’S BALLS OFF DO YOU HEAR ME YURI?”
“Tania?” Yuri cut through her hysteria, “Where are you now? Where’s Ella?”
“She gave me her phone,” she yelled, “Vasily laughed and said she wouldn’t need it anymore. It’s that crazy bitch Katya! She was so happy to get Ella!”
I broke in, “Tania, are you still in the mall? Is Ella there?”
“You…”her voice lowered to a hiss. “This is your fucking fault! You put a target on her back you are so fucking selfish I can’t believe-”
“Tania!” I said sharply, even while her words felt like a punch to my chest, “All of this is true but right now, we have to find Ella! They may take her back to the same place they held you, can you retrace it?”
