Page 102 of Volatile Waters

My sigh echoed off the bathroom walls. Once Father and Uncle learned I had betrayed them, I was as good as dead. I gazed at my bathroom door, picturing Whitney sleeping in my bed, dreaming I was going to make things right. I gently touched the lips she had tenderly kissed, then I searched my cell for a number I had stolen years ago. I made a very deadly phone call.

“Who the fuck is this?” A bodyguard answered.

“This is Yury,Макар’s son andСемён’s nephew.”

There was a shuffle as the phone exchanged hands. Then the leader of the organization said, “My nephew, speak.”

I jolted. “Excuse me?” I had always wondered how my father and uncle lived through the betrayal of such deadly men. Now, I had my answer.

He started laughing. “My brother has left out some details, I see. And now, you are my enemy.”

Flabbergasted, I uttered, “Yet, I thought they were all the family I had.”I set my shoulders back, hoping this was a sign I might live through my betrayal.“Uncle, I wish to be your enemy no more. To show my good intentions, I call with information and an address...”

Not only did my newfound uncle accept my offer, but he had an offer of his own; to work for him. I humbly declined and made it clear I wished to disappear, and that I would never be entering this line of business again. Since I was attempting to sabotage the one that I was currently running, my uncle claimed to believe me. He did warn, if I were ever to change my mind, he would not think twice about slicing my throat—family or not.

I quietly slipped back into my room, put on my clothes and shoes, grabbed one gun with a silencer, and a second gun. While I was gone, I needed to know Wolf could defend himself. I had one week to prepare for the permanent “closing” of the new location; therefore, I had one week to be sure all my money was in different countries, so I had places to run and a chance to vanish without ending up in a grave.

There were different bank accounts already set up in various locations with enough money to support me for the rest of my life, but sometimes cash is best when on the run, so I wanted to be prepared for every scenario.

After loading many duffle bags with clothes and an immense amount of cash, I left my room, sure to lock Whitney away until it was safe for her to travel. Moving her now would raise suspicion and get us both killed.

It was the middle of the night, and my car was loaded. I had just re-entered the house and locked the door when I heard a noise upstairs. On edge, with my guilty conscience, I hid in a dark corner to see who was coming. Imagine my surprise when I saw I wasn’t the only one leaving this family behind. I held no ill feelings while watching Kirill sneak down the stairs, holding Valerie’s hand. They both had bags over their shoulders and scanned their surroundings as if terrified to get caught.

He never saw me in that dark corner, and I never tried to stop him from leaving. The girl he clutched was clearly who he was picking over all of us. I had done the same. Who was I to judge? As his car drove down the long, lonely driveway, I held my hand to the window. “Goodbye, my friend. May you and your love be safe.”

Love…

In Wolf’s room, I sat on the floor in the dark, with only the light from under the door casting a shadow on his face. I had seen him every day to feed him, shower him, and care for him, but not to love him. So, in the silence, I watched his chest rise and fall as he deeply slept. Entranced by Wolf’s serenity, Crash’s words hauntingly came to me. “Have you ever listened to someone sleep? Think about it. Have you ever slowed down your world enough to take the time to appreciate someone’s breath?”

And, here I was, doing just that, and it brought me immense and unexpected peace… and pain. For on his sleeping body, there reflected his white gold leash, the constant reminder of where he was and what I had done to him.

Trying not to wake him, I slipped a gun under his mattress, and then I stood to leave.

“Don’t go.” The gravelly voice wasn’t calling me Master to teach me a lesson. It was sincere and caring.

So, I figured it best to return the honesty. Standing beside his bed, I asked, “Am I too late?”

“I haven’t seen the sun in months, and I’m on the verge of losing what little sanity I have left. But when you are near… I always feel a warmth that tells me not to let go.”

I dropped to my knees. “Don’t let go… Bram.”

After a gasp, Wolf finally said, “That’s not my name.”

I grinned. “Isn’t that my line?”

“Yes…” he quietly added, “and mine.”

My heart began to thunder. My ears rang. I was about to be bitten by the wolf, expertly cloaked in a slave’s skin. Already feeling a punch to the heart, I slowly stood and backed away. Wolf rose from the bed in one swift but cautious movement. As he prowled forward, gun skillfully palmed, I finally understood what it was like to be the prey.

Wolf was angry. “Why did you give me this gun? Setting me up?”

I stopped moving. “No…” Lacking proper oxygen, I thought of Whitney and how I might not be able to rescue her after all. “I have to go and take down my father and uncle. If I fail, I wanted to know you had a chance to get out of here.”

He snarled in my face. “And who else do you want me to try to help?”

I couldn’t look in his eyes. I knew he would see how much I cared for her.

“The one I smell on you?”