His (Ties That Bind 2)

There is no telling how long we have before Vasily discovers Andrei is dead, but I intend to be out of here before nightfall. Alexei will be one of his first contacts, given that he is my cousin. And while I trust Alexei to honor our safety, he can’t do that if we are hiding out in his house. For now, the best thing he can do is extend some of his resources.

“I have one of my men preparing a car for you,” Alexei says, taking a seat at his desk so he can face me. “I have provided food, some weapons, and secure phones for you.”

“Thank you, Lyoshenka.” My voice feels fragile as I study him. This man is my blood, but I have never done anything to warrant such loyalty. I know it is simply because he understands better than anyone the complications of being connected to the Vory while trying to protect your family.

“There is a brownstone set up in Boston,” he continues. “It belongs to a friend, but it is available for your family if you wish.”

I consider his offer, but as much as I trust Alexei, I don’t want to place my family’s well-being in anyone else’s hands, friend or not.

“I think it will be best for us to stay in some short-term accommodations for now,” I answer. “But I appreciate the offer.”

He nods as if to say he understands. “Very well. Now I believe we must get to the business of what your plans are.”

A caustic laugh chokes the answer from my lips. “Andrei is dead. Vasily will not accept this. He won’t let this slight go unpunished.”

“So you could run.” Alexei shrugs. “But you are not a man to run.”

“No,” I admit. “I’m not.”

Alexei unfolds his hands and reaches down into one of the drawers of his desk, retrieving a brown paper folder. “I’ve been going through the names on the drive, and I found something this morning. I think you may want to take this into consideration while you are making those plans.”

“What is it?” I ask.

He slides the folder across the desk, and when I open it, I find the typical background reports, birth certificate, and health records. Things that Alexei can easily access, given his computer skills. But it is the name on the records that has captured my attention.

“Kieran March?” I murmur, recognizing the similarity to the last name Kat had been using in Colorado. She had called herself Katie March, which is no coincidence. But it isn’t until I find a photograph of the woman in the file that it all begins to make sense. She has the same light green eyes. The same red hair. Too many similarities to ignore.

“Kat is…”

“Her daughter,” Alexei confirms. “Do you remember I told you her mother died in the car accident? This is her. For some reason, her name seems to be coded, at least partially. Her real name was Ciara March, and the accident that killed her is no longer looking like a tragic twist of fate, but something intentional.”

His words sink into my gut like a stone as I flip through the records of Kat’s mother. It doesn’t make any sense. Why would her name be on that flash drive? And why would Vasily want her dead?

“I don’t understand the connection.” I study the information in front of me. “How could Vasily possibly know Kat’s mother?”

“Perhaps you need to ask Katerina.”

“She isn’t aware.” I shake my head. “You said yourself she was only three when her mother died. But she was in the car that day. Do you think Vasily knows that Kat is her daughter?”

Alexei shrugs. “I doubt it. She’s been using a different name for many years. It’s unlikely he’s made the connection yet, but it’s only a matter of time until he does. If her mother’s name was on that list, he wanted her dead for a reason. Now we just have to figure out what that reason was.”

“Do you have any leads?” I ask.

“I believe I may have found a fellow Vor connection,” he informs me. “You may remember him from your younger years. Does Maxim Sobol sound familiar?”

“Maxim?” I echo. “The guy who used to run jobs for Vasily? He’s dead. He’s been dead for years. His name is on that list.”

“But I think, perhaps, he is not so dead after all.” A smile curves Alexei’s lips. “I think that’s just what he wants Vasily to believe.”

It seems like a stretch to bank on a former associate, but I do remember Maxim. He actually helped train me. I ran some of my first jobs with him, and I respected him. But Vasily told me that he killed him. He said Maxim had betrayed him, and I never questioned it further. Now, I wonder what he might have been hiding all these years if he really is alive.