I accidentally pushed into the desk as Isearched it one last time, and it slid a few inches. It had plasticsliders on each corner that made it easy to move about the rug itsat on. When I pushed it and lifted the rug, I found a trap doorthat led to a two-foot deep container. Inside was another gun andmasses of papers. I scanned through them, snapped a few pictures onmy phone and then continued to scan, setting everything I saw tomemory. I was coming up on the ten-minute mark, the time that mostpeople noticed a person’s absence was edging on the long side.
I abandoned the papers, even though I wasonly a good third of the way through them, and closed the laptopdespite the fact that I’d only been able to transfer seventy-fivepercent of its contents, according to the bar flashing across thescreen. I didn’t remove the drive—it would still download, but itwould appear as if the computer was off if anyone looked into theroom.
I turned off the light and whipped theblanket back onto the chair in the corner of the room. I used mymirror under the door to assure myself that no one was in thehallway, then I rushed to the bathroom, picked the lock, and wentinside, locking it behind me.
Not two minutes later, a knock came on thebathroom door and Jericho said, “Did you fall in, or what?”
“No,” I shot back. “I didn’t fall in.” Whyhad he come looking? I softened my tone. “But I don’t feelso good. I won’t be much longer, I think.” I opened the window aslight bit in hopes it would make anyone checking think I reallydid have an upset stomach.
I heard him huff and walk away.
I peeked out of the bathroom and when thecoast was clear, I hurried back into the office and grabbed thedrive. Ninety-eight percent transferred—I couldn’t wait forone-hundred percent. The most likely outcome of Jericho tellingAlexander about my bathroom sprint was that Viktor would comelooking for me, wanting to chew me out for jeopardizing ourrelationship by getting sick. I shut the laptop and powered it downbefore sprinting to the door.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t fast enough. I felthim and heard him almost simultaneously. Step. Step. Step. I couldeven hear his breathing as he got closer. I held my breath. He wasjust outside the door. I shoved the drive into my boot, leapt tothe front of the desk, straightened, and turned to stare at thelife-sized sculpture in the corner. I was glad I’d decided on thiscourse of action earlier. That foresight probably saved mylife.
Blood coursed through my veins with aferocity I hadn’t felt in a long time. I mentally pressed on mylungs, forcing them to slow their demand for oxygen. I slid intothe small, calming box in my mind I’d prepared for moments likethis, and with one last deep breath, I evened out my thunderingpulse as the door opened.
I pretended not to hear Viktor when he firstcalled my name. I waited for him to place a hand on my arm. Iwhispered, “That is so beautiful.” I didn’t take my eyes off theart. I felt his gaze turn to the sculpture, too.
“It is. My great grandfather had itcommissioned back when he was in Russia.” His hand fell from myarm.
I moved toward the statue, reaching out toit, but then drawing back. “I guess I shouldn’t touch it.”
“What are you doing in here, Amber?”
I twisted my neck around to see him. He worea fake smile, and his lips were pressed flat.
“Oh, I came looking for some meds. Sorry. Ishouldn’t have been snooping.”
A small rush of air escaped his mouth. Icould tell he was relieved and also wanted to believe myanswer.
“You can be so stupid. If my uncle found youin here, he’d probably kill you. You’re supposed to be winning himover, not making me look bad.”
“I’m sorry, but there weren’t any meds inthe bathroom, and I was sick.”
“You ask me. Don’t go snooping around.” Heushered me to the door, and I kept saying I was sorry. I watchedhim look a bit long at the door handle. He was certainly wonderingwhy it hadn’t been locked. Before we reached the bathroom door downthe hall, Jericho entered the hall. He looked at us and thenfurther down the hall like he was trying to figure out where we hadcome from.
“Uh,” he narrowed his eyes, “the butler gaveme these pills for you.” His eyes flicked to Viktor as he held themout to me.
“Oh, wow! Thank you,” I said, moving forwardand taking the pills from him. “Give me a sec.” I went into thebathroom, shutting the door behind me. I turned the water on andthen put my hands on the counters and breathed deeply. I threw thepills into the sink and watched them swirl down the drain. I didtake several handfuls of water and drank them.
Viktor was waiting for me right outside thedoor, and relief settled over me that Jericho was nowhere to beseen.
“I’m so embarrassed, Viktor—”
We rounded the corner into the living room,and Jericho stood there, in the middle of the room, as if on watch.“Everything okay now, Amber?” He drew out my name as if he wantedto make me feel bad or even like he didn’t quite believe that wasmy name. All I knew is that it made my insides feel fuzzy. I pulledmy muscles in to try to make it stop. Did he know about me?
“I still feel a little sick,” I
