Ruslan I  stare at Yan for what feels like an eternity, waiting for his fixed gaze to break, for his expression to soften.He’s always been stoic, taking matters of both business and family very seriously. I’ve always seen him as the more reserved type, and that’s made it difficult to read his emotions throughout the time I’ve known him.But not now.Right now, sorrow is radiating from the deepened wrinkles in his forehead even if he refuses to show it.“Yan, you know you’re always welcome here, but I really need you to explain what’s going on,” I say, standing frozen in the doorway.He takes a short sip of his coffee, glancing down at the table to diffuse some of the tension building in the air between us.“I need you to sit down first, son,” he replies.“Why the fuck do I need to sit down? Just tell me what’s going on,” I demand, feeling my forehead grow hot from anger and impatience as my ches

Ruslan I  can’t believe how naive I was to assume Vera was innocent.Seeing her here less than twenty-four hours after my brother’s death only proves that she’s been following my every move for quite some time. Whether or not Johan set her up to this, I still don’t know, but I’m about to do whatever it takes to find out.“Please leave, you’re making another huge mistake,” she pleads, pressing herself into the passenger door as if she could phase through it. “You still have time before he gets back.”I’m insulted that she would expect me to back down against her college-aged, snot-nosed boyfriend. In fact, the only thing I want right now is to prove to him that I fucked her better than he ever has.“The fact that you’re so fucking scared of me just proves me right. You know exactly what you did, and I’m going to make sure that you go down for it along with everyone else. I’m going to burn your life to the fucking ground.”

Ruslan By some miracle, Vera was able to get through to me.As I drive back to the gas station, my head swims fromthe intensity of my emotions.I haven’t cried like that since I was a child. I didn’t even cry when my father died. I was only fourteen, but he’d taught me never to show a shred of weakness. I felt like I was devaluing his legacy if I cried.Sobbing like that in front of Vera is a mistake I’ll never make again, but she was able to prevent a catastrophe by talking me down. I’ll never know how to thank her for it.She doesn’t try to talk to me the whole way back. She’s probably said everything she can, and I wouldn’t blame her if she’s just trying to stay on my good side.Even if she doesn’t talk, she keeps her hand firmly pressed to mine as I drive.She hasn’t tried to move it once, and she hasn’t reacted to my touch in a negative way at any point. At the very least, I know that she wants

Ruslan Vera stops in her tracks again, except this time she isn’t speaking on the phone.I should have known that bringing her here so soon after the attack would be a bad idea.I turn around, glancing at her to see if I can figure out where her head is at. She’s been acting strange since she took that phone call, which makes me hesitate to trust her for a moment. Now is not the time for her to be keeping secrets from me.When I stop to regain control of my paranoia and emotions, I can see that she’s doing the best she can to protect me from something. Even if her efforts could lead to my detriment, I can’t help but appreciate her for standing up against Eric on my behalf.“Everything good?” I ask, walking a few steps back to meet up with her again.“Yeah, I think I found something you’d be interested in,” she replies, holding up a bullet shell that’s been caked with dirt.My eyes shift from the shell, to her,

Ruslan Even though I had prompted his appearance at my house, Yan’s presence is jarring and unwanted with all of the emotional turbulence still hanging in the air.“You’re always so quick,” I say to him, running my fingers through sweaty strands of hair.Yan’s eyes narrow, and he scoffs under his breath. “You’re the one who needed me here as soon as possible. I was just following orders.”I’m a little embarrassed by how unprepared I am for his arrival, but there’s nothing I can do or say to explain my unusual mood. Yan’s not a stupid man, and I’m positive that he knew what had transpired the second he walked in and saw Vera here.I didn’t even think to give him a warning about her. Maybe I should have.He steps closer, clasping his hands together. “Anyway, you sent me a picture of a bullet casing you found, but the quality of the photo wasn’t good enough for me to see clearly. Do you have it with you still?”“