Chapter 17

What she felt wasn’t awe or amazement. It was fear. She waited for the big thing- maybe the airport security ould carry out a second check on them or someone would run off with their luggage.

Or, a blizzard. That sort of thing arrived without any warning. Just waiting for something to go horribly wrong.

They walked out of the terminal and she held her breath. Maybe a car would hit her and she would go into coma. Her father would sit at her bedside and rage- telling as many people who cared to listen that he warned his stubborn daughter to stay put.

Luyeva would be devastated, blaming herself for letting her out of her sight for even a minute. And the doctors would shake their heads at her unconscious self, reminding themselves that if she had just listened to her father, she would-

“Katya?”

Michal’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

She blinked twice before realizing that a taxi had stopped in front of them and Michal held the door open. How long did she zone out?

“Thanks,” she got in and he followed.

“You were out of it back there. Are you good?” Michal asked her as the taxi began to move.

“I’m okay. I just kept waiting for something terrible to happen. I think I brought along a whole luggage full of pessimism,” she admitted.

“Why?” He handed a note to the driver that had the address of where they were headed.

“Ever since I can remember, I always wanted to visit my relatives. Before I turned sixteen, I got my aunt’s address and wrote letters to her. She responded and I got to speak with my cousins. I told my father that I wanted to see that- it was my birthday wish.

Well, the look he gave me. I don’t think I can ever forget it. Then he told me that he would never allow me to set foot in Russia. I tried sneaking on his private jet when he was leaving for a business conference but I got air sick and he found me. Sent me back home and I wasn’t allowed to leave the house for a month,” she added, looking at Michal to see his reaction.


It was one of undisguised bewilderment.
“Well, it seems like you have gotten used to being held against your will. The only perk is that your prison has everything you’ll ever need.”

She could not hold back her laughter. Hearing him make a joke instead of pitying her made her feel lighter.
“Which was why I made a jailbreak.”

“Unfortunately for you, you did not get rid of the prison guard. You were caught and your future parole denied,” Michal said, man spreading a little bit.

The slight action drew her attention to between his legs- the weight that pressed down on her, the bulge she wanted to stroke so much, that she shamelessly pushed against-

*Gather your thoughts!

She reluctantly dragged her eyes back to meet his.
“Yet I am here, a free man traveling with the prison guard. The prison system is terribly flawed.”

“Indeed.”

Silence fell between them and Katya focused get attention on the passing buildings, the scenery and the people walking. She could not believe that she was here- in Russia.
If her father could see that his little girl had defied his orders.
Her thoughts went to Luyeva.

What would get governess be doing at this time? She had not been around when Katya and Michal left. Although it was weird, she did not ask more questions after Michal told her she either had to trust him or stay behind.
He would not hurt her- right? Slip something into her food to put her under for a couple of days. Her mind had toyed with the thought of the older woman sleeping somewhere, unaware that Katya was gone.
But Michal- again, assured her that he did nothing of the sort.
According to him, Luyeva was “engage in activities that she enjoyed.”

*The explanation sounded plausible but she had to trust him. Trust him while she got the answers she needed.






“We have to make a quick detour,” Michal suddenly announced.

Huh?

“To where?” He did not say anything before they arrived.

“My brother stays somewhere close. I just think it would be polite to stop, say hi and leave,” he told her. “If it’s not going to be an inconvenience to you,” he added.

*He brought her here. What was a single detour that she could not allow? Besides, she would have the rest of the day and tomorrow to see her aunt.”

“Okay.”

A few minutes later, after Michal gave the driver new directions, they pulled in front of a gate. At the gate steer two hefty men sporting looks that could kill a person on sight.

“Uhm…why does your brother have bouncers at his gate?” She asked.

“He is a politician. Something about protecting himself from the paparazzi and the likes. But don’t worry, he already knows I’m coming so they won’t bite,” Michal explained.

Katya nodded, even though the sight of them as they open the gates and the car drove in, was still creepy. It felt as if something had crawled up her skin and laid eggs.

The car went through a path lined up with groomed trees till it finally stopped at a house. The house was- impressive. There were two sculptures- one of a bear holding an arrow and the other was a semi- nude woman.
If his brother was into politics, he had to be a very influential one. Because what she was seeing was a different reality than the one she had pictured for him.

She stepped out of the taxi when Michal opened the door.
“Welcome to my brother’s home. We’ll just pop in for a quick hello and be on our way.”




The door swung open before they got closed and a woman in a uniform stood behind it.
“Welcome sir,” she curtsied.

“Ah, thank you Veronika. Is my father home?”

*Father?

Katya turned back to ask Michal what the woman meant, but the look on his face stopped her in her tracks.

Gone was the nice smile on his face. It had been replaced with a resigned look and he was standing in front of the door.

“Michal?”

“Welcome to your new home.”