I get up and reach for her hand.
“Tori, wait. Let me get you a cab.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. But I can’t—" She’s backing away from me. “I can’t do this. I can’t be around you right now.”
The words hurt, but I’m not surprised. I knew this would happen eventually. That my world would bleed into hers. Being near meis dangerous. And just like that, the last normal thing in my life backs away with her.
“I understand,” I say. “Go. Be safe.”
She turns and disappears into the scattered crowd. My normal night is over.
I’m alone on the sidewalk. Well, not completely alone. There are other people who were in line, some of them still on the ground, others trying to help the injured. I see at least two people who aren’t moving.
I look for Gregor. Why isn’t he here? Why isn’t he rushing me away?
Did he get hit? I scan the area. I don’t see his large body. I look up and down the street and don’t see the SUV that usually follows me wherever I go.
Is he dead? Kidnapped? Bleeding out somewhere?
Whatever happened to him, I’m out here without him.
This can’t be random. This can’t be some gang shooting that I happened to be near. This was targeted. Professional. The third attempt in less than two weeks.
How many more attempts will I survive?
My pride doesn’t matter. My independence doesn’t matter. None of it matters if I’m dead.
I reach for the necklace tucked into my high-necked dress. I push the tiny button on the back. But I’m not relying on Gregor. My purse is on the ground. I pick it up and pull out my phone. I scroll through my contacts and find the number I saved but swore I’d never use.
I press call before I can talk myself out of it.
Sergei Sokolov.
He answers before the first ring finishes. “Sofia.”
Not a question. He knows it’s me. He’s been waiting for this call.
That's the part I can’t argue with.
Ididcall him.
Not my father. Not Gregor. Not any of the men who were supposed to keep me alive.
Him.
And that terrifies me.
“I need help.” The words taste like defeat. Like surrender.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Stay down. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
And then he’s gone.
I stare at my phone, my mind racing. How does he know where I am? Why did he tell me to stay down? Like he knew we’d just been fired on.