“I was going to hurt him.”
She sighed.
“But, I won’t, if you do not want me to.”
Silence hit the line for a few seconds, and then she asked, “Do you think you should?”
I ran my fingers through my hair. “I just don’t want him to bother you anymore. The text was stupid and unnecessary. He is mad with me. He should have sent it to me.”
“He wouldn’t do that. Not after. . .yesterday.”
“But you would think that after yesterday, he wouldn’t text you either.”
“Then, he did it for a reason. Maybe, it’s some sort of trap.”
I raised my eyebrows. “That is a good point.”
“How do you figure it out, if it’s a trap without getting yourself hurt?”
“I’m not concerned with that. I’m more worried about you—”
“Misha, I have several men around me, following me everywhere. Besides, if this theater has another prima ballerina die, especially a quote on quote historic one, people are going to start asking questions. That means less funding and investments.”
I smiled. “Good point.”
“So. . .I don’t know what one does with this, but what I don’t want you to do is go after Akiva right now.”
I nodded. “I will have my men look into it, but I won’t act.”
“Good. Thanks for hearing me out. I hope I’m right about this. I don’t want you to—”
“Get hurt. I know, Ava.” I gripped the phone. “I am glad to hear that.”
“I want space not your death or anything. It would ruin me.”
I rubbed my face, unsure of what to say. I had a lot of things on my tongue, but I didn’t want to push it too much. She was on the phone. I didn’t think she would ever call. Did it mean that she was warming to the idea of us? Or was she just worried for me?
Quiet rode the line.
It appeared neither of us knew what to say.
I swallowed my fear. “I miss you, Ava. I know it has not been a long time. I know you need your space. I just needed you to hear that.”
She was silent for a little bit and then she whispered, “I miss you too, Misha.”
Can we be back together? I need you, right now. I don’t like going to sleep or waking up without you.
My hands trembled. It was crazy that I didn’t shake, when it came to most things like men pointing guns in my face or Kazimir’s being pissed with me. But this lush little ballerina had me in my bedroom trembling.
“Are you coming to the performance?” she asked.
The word squeaked out. “Yes.”
It wasn’t my manliest moment.
I cleared my throat. “I was not sure, if you wanted me in the audience.”
“I do.”
“And after the performance?” I tried to keep the hunger out of my voice. “Could I take your grandmother and you out to dinner or anything? Whatever you want.”
She paused.
Each second, my gut knotted and turned.
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “But I did want to ask you about the funeral. After tonight, I’m off for two days. Did you still want us to help you with the funeral?”
I’d forgotten all about the funeral. I had to call Rolan. I was sure he’d be cursing me out the rest of the day.
While it sounded good to have Ava on my plane with me, all to myself. I didn’t like that the next two days would have us at my father’s castle of horrors. She was already scared. That property would have the most rational person running and screaming.
There’s no way Rolan cleaned it out enough to make it less creepy.
“Can I get back to you about the funeral?” I asked. “I’m thinking about pushing it back another week. My cousin is in Paris. After yesterday, there’s a lot going on.”
“Are you sure you should push it back further?”
I thought about the nukes and the Devil’s recent murders. “Yes. All will understand.”
Besides, my father’s body is missing anyway because. . .Prague.
“There’s no need to rush to Prague just yet, but. . .” I tapped my forehead over and over, trying to keep my eagerness down, so I wouldn’t sound like I was begging. “I want to see you, during your free days. If only for a little bit.”
“Okay.”
I paced. “I can take you out tomorrow or the day after. Your grandmother too.”
“I’m showing my grandmother around St. Petersburg tomorrow, but maybe the next day, I should. . .”
“What?”
“Well, I wanted to cook for you, before everything happened. Do you still feel up to it, Misha?”
“Do I feel up to it? I am dying without you.”
Come on. We can sound tougher than this.
“Maybe we can do dinner the day after tomorrow,” she said. “Let me ask grandma to make sure she’s okay with it. If not, she’ll probably go do something. You’ve done a lot for me, Misha. Regardless of what happens with us, I would always want to be your friend.”