Maria
I don't tell Larissa what I said to my father, and there is a silent understanding between us. She can't tell Mikhail what she doesn't know.
The next day is spent in a limbo between fear and boredom. Bratva men frequently show up at the estate, and I watch them with trepidation from a window in the family room as they patrol the large yard. All are armed, and a few men pace with huge dogs, pulling at the leashes. They walk closely around the fence and occasionally disappear into a detached garage.
When one gestures at the window, I step away.
Larissa sits comfortably in a huge easy chair with the television streaming some reality TV show she's barely watching. None of this seems to bother her. She glances at me and smiles. I smile back and wonder how long I will be here.
Rurik s
