All the Truths (Lies & Truths 2)

The lamp hanging from the ceiling barely gives me a sense of time or space. I have no idea how long I’ve been out or if we’re even still on American soil. Maybe we’re in Russia already? It’s a terrible thought, but I need to weigh all the possibilities. This is someone who slaughtered my entire family and wouldn’t hesitate to end my life.

I stare at him with all the hatred I’ve felt for years, the grudge, the need for revenge.

“If it isn’t the other suka.” His voice is slightly accented but otherwise refined. “You two are so much like Mia. Too bad she didn’t live to see you grow up.”

I bite my lower lip to not lash out. I recognize what he’s doing, trying to bring out my anger so he can have me in the palm of his hand, but he should know looks aren’t the only thing Reina and I got from Mom. We have her wit, too.

Realizing I won’t fall for his bait, Ivan smiles, and it’s too deranged, too…fucked up, almost like a sick Game on of sorts.

“Now, Reina, a birdie has told me you’re regaining your memories, and I would like to know where your sister disappeared to.”

“Well, your birdie is wrong.”

I curse internally. It must’ve been Detective Daniels. That asshole was keeping an eye on me on Ivan’s behalf all this time until he was sure I’d have information for this jerk.

He must’ve figured out I’m regaining my memories from our last encounter.

Ivan slaps me across the face so hard my body jerks with the sting. That hurts.

“Lose the fucking attitude. All of you spawn of Nikolai need lessons in manners.”

I bite down the pain and stare at him. This is between me and him, and if he thinks I’ll give up easily, he must not know how much of Mom’s survival instinct lives within me.

“I’ll be nice.” He crouches in front of me, almost like a doting uncle. “Tell me where Rai is and I’ll let you go.”

An acute sense of relief washes over me at his words. If he’s searching for her then he thinks she’s alive, and if he can’t find her, that should mean she’s safe.

At least that’s what my brain hopes for.

“You want me to believe you’ll let me go?”

“You’re right—I won’t. ” He laughs; it’s short and sharp. “I can’t rule if any of Nikolai’s filthy blood live on. If that fucker bodyguard hadn’t taken Rai that day, both of you would be dead by now. I had to keep you alive to draw her out.”

She’s alive. Reina is alive. I can almost feel her breathing now.

“I’m a generous man, Reina. If you tell me where she is, I promise your end won’t be painful—just a single bullet like Mia. If you don’t, well…you’ll just die from torture and I’ll throw your head in front of Rai before she takes her last breaths.” He stands to his full height, almost casting a shadow over me. “What will it be

?”

My spine jerks and spasms of fear dance along it. I have no doubt he’ll follow through on his threats. He must be under a lot of pressure from the other leaders, and he knows all too well he won’t be able to rule without the ledger Reina has.

He’s a desperate man, and desperate people have no limits, especially desperate, dangerous people.

What he doesn’t realize is that I’m a desperate woman, too. Since I lost Mom nine years ago, I’ve been half-empty waiting for the day I can return the favor of Reina saving me, hoping against hope she survived and is alive somewhere.

That chance is today. Now, I’m desperate to save her, desperate to see that light in her eyes again.

To say I’m not scared of what Ivan can do to me would be a lie. Not only is he a member of the mafia, he’s also successfully carried out numerous hits. My limbs are slightly shaking and I couldn’t stop them even if I wanted to.

I might’ve had gloomy thoughts before, but I never once carried it out because deep down, I knew there was so much more I should be living for. There are people who love me even though I’ve been an imposter since I was twelve.

There was also someone, the boy who turned into a messed-up man, the boy I loved and the man I fell in love with all over again.

There are many reasons why I should hold on to life, but now that my sister’s life is at stake, I’d rather die than turn my back on her again.

Besides, it’s not a lie as I say, “I don’t know.”

He raises his hand and I brace myself for the slap, but he punches me in the face. I jerk in my seat as blood explodes on my lower lip and I taste metal. Coughing, I meet his gaze again.