Protecting Sasha Read online

  And silence. Adrian turned to raise his judgmental brows at me once more, while Sasha, thankfully, giggled.

  "Don't get any ideas, little sister," Adrian said in a reproving voice, shoving me out of the frame. "This one is bad news. Just today he broke the hearts of two very lovely ladies."

  Sasha, I was pleased to note, snorted. "How much did you drink today, Adrian?"

  He lifted a hand. "Not the point. At all. Did I hear right from Mom though; you broke up with Aleksi?"

  All the joy in her face suddenly evaporated. "Yeah. I did."

  "Hell yeah!" Adrian roared, pumping a fist in the air.

  As a bouncer looked our way pointedly, I blew him a kiss. Luckily, that bouncer happened to be my old friend Gary, who used to work at the gym.

  "Hold up, why do you not look happier?" Adrian asked. "I mean, is this not a good thing?"

  There was something she wasn't saying. It was written all over the downturn of her full, pink lips.

  "Sasha," he pressed.

  "You weren’t there, okay? And you haven't seen Aleksi these past two years. He changed. That's why I broke up with him."

  "What do you mean, he changed? Is this about that sketchy crowd he was hanging around?"

  Sasha closed her eyes. "Yeah."

  "Hold up," Adrian said, all lightness gone from his tone. "He didn't threaten you, did he?"

  She didn’t answer.

  Adrian sank back into his seat. "Oh shit. How bad is this? Did you tell Mom and Dad? Are they in danger?"

  Sasha exhaled and shook her head. I rose. "Should I…" I started to ask Adrian, but he just shook his head and motioned for me to sit down again.

  "He said Mom and Dad would be fine, but he couldn't say the same for me," Sasha said. "I mean, I'm not surprised." She shook her head. "I don't know what Aleksi's capable of anymore."

  "Can't you leave?" I said. "Come to the US?"

  Sasha didn't even smile. "I wish I could. When Aleksi and I tried to come over a year or so back, he messed up the process for both of us. Got caught trying to bring over drugs, the idiot. They won't let me back now."

  "Well then, I'll come over there," Adrian said. "I can stay with you guys until the danger passes."

  "Adrian, I don't know if it ever will pass. You don't know Aleksi. The look he had in his eyes…." she trailed off, shaking her head.

  "You can't go to the police?" Adrian said.

  Her face went white. "No. Never. I told him I wouldn't, and I have to stick to my word. If I did that, he could go after Mom and Dad to punish me."

  "Okay, fine, fine," Adrian said. "Still, there has to be a solution. Like, can you go into hiding?"

  "I may have to."

  Adrian nodded again, drilling his fingers on the seat of his cushy armchair. "Well, hopefully he is all talk."

  "I doubt it," Sasha said.

  "Then you need to get the hell out of there Sasha," Adrian said thoughtfully.

  "I don't want to talk about it now," Sasha said.

  "Suit yourself," Adrian replied, clearly frustrated with his sister.

  "I've got to go anyway," she said, and then she hung up without a goodbye.

  Adrian looked at me with an odd look. It took me a few moments to realize that it was fear.

  3

  Sasha

  I closed my eyes, frowning. What was up with me?

  Pierce’s reddish-brown hair, sculpted face, and narrow grey eyes flashed in my head, and my heart skipped a beat again.

  I exhaled and let my body flop back onto my bed, the old wooden frame giving a great whine. Thank God I'd never let Aleksi buy me a bed, like how he’d been pestering me to.

  Already now, the clothes he’d bought me seemed to stare at me coldly from my closet with all-seeing eyes. Maybe I shouldn't have told Adrian about what he’d said, I just didn't know what else to do.

  Of course, I hadn’t told Mom and Dad the full extent of Aleksi's threat. They would’ve lost sleep over it.

  I sat up and took a look at my unfinished sewing in the corner of my room. I should get to work. That always calmed my mind and cheered me up. Who knew, maybe Adrian was right. Aleksi wasn't one for dramatics. Maybe he really would just cut his losses, let me go.

  Anyway, I was being dumb about the whole Pierce thing. It wasn’t like we’d ever actually meet.

  The doorbell interrupted my thoughts.

  I got up to see who was there.

  "I can get it," I called to my parents, already heading down the hallway. The apartment building where we lived didn't get many callers, but we did get some occasionally. Right then, I liked the idea of something unexpected, anyway — anything to take my mind off what had happened a few hours ago.

  As my hand closed on the doorknob, I paused. A new memory, the last time I'd been cognizant of holding a door handle, stopped me. No, it was too soon. Aleksi wouldn't have come already.

  I opened the door, and my knees buckled. Yes, yes, he had.

  There, on the floor in front of me, was a dead mouse with a crown. The note fixed to its chest with a bobby pin said, ‘To my little mysh.’

  4

  Pierce

  We were back at the bar with a new set of girls when Adrian’s phone once again interrupted the night.

  "Hey," he said picking up immediately. "What? Can she talk now? Well, make her! Should I come now? Okay! Just, don't let her out of the house. I'll figure this out."

  He hung up and leaped up and stood there, his hand hovering in the air, still holding his phone. His gaze slid to the girls; his eyebrows flew up as if to say, You're still here?

  They stared back at him insolently.

  I stood up and got Adrian by the arm. "I think we need to take a walk."

  Down the elevator and outside, I finally asked Adrian the question I been burning to. "What happened?"

  "The Mob," Adrian said. "They sent Sasha a warning on our fucking doorstep! A dead mouse."

  "Are you sure it’s not just some stupid kids playing a prank?" I said.

  Adrian took a step back and gaped at me. "You kidding me? That is the calling card of the Moscow Mob. Little helpless creatures - squirrels, mice, sometimes a kitten if they're feeling especially mean. These are the same guys who will butcher you without a second thought and mail your body parts to your parents."

  I held up a hand. "Okay, okay. I get the picture."

  Adrian sank onto the pavement, his head in his hands. "Shit. This is really screwed up."

  "We can go there," I said." Or Sasha could come here, maybe apply for refugee status or something?"

  Adrian shook his head sadly. "She’d need better evidence than that. Plus, the Russian mob has connections everywhere. They’d probably find a way to dismiss the evidence as bullshit. "

  “So what else is there you can do?” I asked.

  "I guess I could stay there," he said miserably. His head sunk back into his hands. "What am I supposed to do? Follow Sasha everywhere? Get her a bodyguard? What if this doesn't blow over?"

  I stared at the pavement. On it, was an ant Adrian had apparently trod on by accident, still pulling itself forward with its remaining legs.

  "There has to be a way," I said.

  Adrian didn't say anything. Then, out of the blue, his head popped up. "There is."

  I clapped him on the back. "See? You already thought of a solution."

  Adrian turned to me with a maniacal, slightly unsettling grin. "Yeah, I did. You can marry my sister."

  5

  Sasha

  "You are piss drunk, Adrian," I said, forcing my voice to remain calm.

  Aleksi had always yelled too much, and I’d promised myself never to do the same.

  "I'm not marrying your friend," I snapped.

  Adrian sighed, and I could almost hear his brows lowering over the line.

  "That's what he said too," he admitted. "But then I thought, maybe if I could convince you, and get you to agree… Come on; it's a good idea!"

  "It's a terrible idea,
" I said. "People go to jail for fake marriages."

  "Jail is better than death," Adrian said bitterly.

  I was silent.

  "Sorry," he said quickly. "I just can't bear this. You’re in danger Sasha, please."

  "I'm sorry, but no."

  "Just think about it, please? For me."

  "You already said, your friend doesn't even want to."

  "If he thought you would do it, maybe he would. Come on; this isn't a real marriage okay? I already told you, as marriage material, Pierce is bad news. But if this would save your life, I think it’s worth a try."

  "I’m sorry, it's too much. What, would I come over this weekend and just marry your friend? Just like that?"

  "Well, yeah." Adrian exhaled. "You don't have to decide right now, okay? Think it over. Just, think about it. For me. For Mom and Dad. They’re really worried about you."

  My words had coagulated into a lump in my throat that I couldn't swallow.

  "I have to go," I choked out.

  "One more thing …” Adrian began.

  "No, big brother. I’m not going to go wandering around empty alleyways in the middle of the night?" I said, cutting him off. "I do have a bit of common sense left.."

  "All right, we'll talk tomorrow. Just think about it."

  "Good night Adrian."

  I hung up.

  Exhaling, I collapsed back onto my bed. There I was again, terrified out of my wits, only knowing that now I was right to be. The Mob had tagged me. How long was it before they sent a more violent message? How long before I didn't have a choice of what to do anymore?

  I rolled onto my side and stared at the picture of Mom, Dad, Adrian, and me on my bedside table.

  I looked away, shaking my head. Adrian's plan was pure madness.

  Sure, his friend Pierce was incredibly good-looking. I had gotten butterflies the brief time we'd spoken.

  But, marry him? Even if the whole thing was a farce, was I really that desperate?

  A soft knock at the door had me sitting up and wiping my teary cheeks.

  "Sasha, can I come in?"

  It was Mom. Her plum-print apron was wrapped tightly around her waist, arms securely around her belly, but neither compared to the tight expression on her face.

  "What did Adrian say?" she asked.

  "Nothing," I lied. "He's just worried."

  She nodded, hovering at the edge of my bed uncertainly. "We all are."

  I could hardly look at her. Through the blur of tears, I could see that her round, kindly face was strained, her mouth in an uncertain ‘o.’

  "Sasha, my Sasha…"

  "I'm so sorry, Mom," I cried, going over to hug her. "Sorry I put you and Dad and Adrian through all this. Sorry I was such a fool."

  She patted me. "We all were as far as Aleksi was concerned."

  I cried into the crook of her arm, and she stroked my hair. Then I righted myself, wiping my cheeks again. I had to be strong. My parents were going through enough stress already without me breaking down.

  "Aleksi's probably just bitter right now," I lied. "This will pass. You'll see."

  My mom nodded, took a few steps away, then paused. "If there's anything you need…"

  "I'll ask," I said. "Thanks, Mom. For everything."

  She nodded again, pausing as if she wanted to say something more. Then, with one final, swift nod, she bustled out of the room.

  I stared at the door long after she was gone, Adrian's words banging around my head: Come on, this isn't a real marriage okay? But if this would save your life. Just, think about it. For me. For Mom and Dad. They’re really worried about you.

  Could he be right? Could it be my best shot? I'd put my parents through enough strain these past few years already. I couldn’t do it for myself, but I could do it for them.

  6

  Pierce

  “She's not going to say yes," I told Adrian for the sixth time, as he crunched down on my Honey Nut Cheerios.

  Mouth full, spoon already ransacking his porcelain bowl for more contents, Adrian said, "She might."

  "Even then," I said, shaking my head, "It's not a good idea."

  Adrian slammed his teeth down on another bite, and, cheeks bulging, said, "You're right, but it's the only idea."

  He wagged his spoon my way, his eyebrows rising and falling several times. "Unless, my dear man, you have a better one?"

  I rose to wash my bowl in the sink. I’d gone over it about a hundred times in my head the night before when I had been trying to sleep. Adrian had been so drunk he’d passed out on my couch, which was fine with me. But with the crazy, marry-my-sister-and-save-her-life idea, well, I didn't want him out of my sight before we figured the thing out. Luckily, it was the weekend, and I had Trevor covering at our climbing gym, Vertical. Although a climb probably wouldn't be the worst thing for my head right now.

  "Want to go to Vertical?" I asked Adrian.

  He ruffled his hair, before eyeing me like I was insane. "Our one day off and you want to go to work?"

  "Not to work," I said.

  Adrian sighed. He understood just as well as I did what climbing did for you.

  "Not a terrible idea," he admitted.

  Deadpan, I said, "You're right; it's the only idea."

  So, minutes later, we were pulling into the familiar parking lot of Vertical. I smiled as I surveyed the old brick church that Adrian, a team of construction workers, and I had converted into a climbing gym.

  Adrian surveyed the parking lot as we walked in. "How is it this busy in the morning?"

  "I did some Groupon deal thing," I said.

  Adrian snorted. "Because we don't have enough climbers already."

  I smiled, although I said nothing. We both knew the business was booming. More than booming. Some nights, we actually had to turn people away it got so crowded. It was getting to the point that we were trying to figure out ways to add, significantly, to the existing building. Not an easy task.

  "By the way," Adrian said thoughtfully as we waved to Trevor and walked in. "If you're hoping that me falling and breaking my neck will help solve this marry-my-sister situation, then you’re dead wrong. My freaking ghost is going to haunt you."

  I chuckled darkly. "Oh, I don't doubt that for a second."

  "Only," I continued, stroking my chin, "If you plan to die tragically and leave me to deal with your family mess, then you got another thing coming."

  We both cracked up.

  While the gym itself was fairly crowded, the upper cave, was for the more advanced climbers, like Adrian and me, wasn't.

  I quickly attacked the hardest wall, the one that no climber had done to date. As usual, I got halfway through before the one cookie-sized hold screwed with me.

  "Nice try," Adrian said appreciatively, trying his hand at another easier, yet still challenging wall.

  I clambered back up to the wall, ready to try a still difficult, yet not impossible, one. That one spanned all the way up to the top, and I'd only completed it once, a few weeks ago, after trying my hand at it for months. It started out with a crouching, almost horizontal beginning, which was never easy. But it was the far-apart tiny holds that got you. Sometimes only big enough for a few fingers at a time. As I made my way up, I could feel the adrenaline surging through me.

  Yes, it was why I loved climbing when it was nothing but me and the wall. Nothing but one hold after the other.

  "So, will you do it?" Adrian said a few feet below me. I hadn't even noticed him there. I cursed.

  "Is that a yes?" Adrian said, "I know you can hear me."

  I stifled the urge to kick him, and launched my body up and over, catching the hold just barely.

  "Are you seriously not going to do this?" Adrian said.

  I launched myself forward again, and, at the top, sighed. "Fine. I'll do it. It's a horrifically bad idea. But I'll do it."

  "Best friend ever!" Adrian exclaimed, losing his footing and falling down. At the bottom, I heard him curse. But when I looked down,
I saw his eyes bulging out; his eyebrows lowered in a worried frown.

  "What is it?" I asked.

  Even when falling, Adrian was an expert maneuverer. He had never broken or sprained anything to my knowledge. But he only just shook his head and, taking out his phone, hurried out of the room.

  7

  Sasha

  New day, new hope.

  Wasn’t that a saying in some language, somewhere?

  I couldn't remember, not that it mattered. The point was, all that craziness from yesterday didn't mean that today had to be a loss too. I had a whole bunch of work to do, an impending crazy plan that I wasn't yet desperate enough to consider, and hope.

  Ignoring the complaining in my belly, I took one look at the pile of unfinished sewing and realized that I had to go out. At some point, a few days ago, I'd misplaced my last sewing needle. Not to mention that I was in dire need of some fabric to add to the existing pants I was working on.

  Hopefully, Mom and Dad wouldn't be protectively lingering around the kitchen.

  I crept out to find a note on the table with my dad's distinctive, barely decipherable, scrawl: If you need anything, just tell us. Please try and stay inside for today, Sasha.

  I frowned, resisting the urge to ball up the note in my hand. I knew my parents were just trying to help. But didn’t they get that I wasn't a little girl anymore?

  I paused. Then again, had they seen something I hadn't?

  I crept over to the window and peering out, let out a long sigh of relief. There it was. My unimpressive, boring, and empty street. Yep. There was no Aleksi, or his dodgy friends, in sight. Which meant I was probably safe to run a few errands.

  I grabbed a bagel on my way out and bit into it as I set off, out of the apartment, and down the stairs. I opened the door, walked outside, and stopped.

  No, no, no.

  I’d recognize that horrible square head and leering mouth anywhere. Braun.

  He was standing a few stores down, just out of sight.

  He took a step forward, and I backed into the building, half choking on my bagel and cursing myself. Why hadn’t I looked better? I paused at the foot of the staircase. As much of an oaf as Braun was, he wouldn't just kill me in the middle of the street, would he?