Thursday. Home, Arlington, VA.KONSTANTIN PACED THE LIVING room, taking care to step over the line of stuffed animals each time. He didn't know why Zasha had them there, but he wasn't going to fuck it up.He wanted to be in the bedroom, soothing Zasha, but he couldn't deny that this job was best done by Haley. She had become Zasha's security, the person who made Zasha feel safest. And Haley was going to leave them.That was not today's problem.He glanced down the hall at Ivana's open door.Konstantin had told her to go in there and wait until he could speak to her. At least that was what his head had wanted to say. He was pretty sure he'd snapped, "Get out of my fucking sight," at her when she'd tried speaking to him. He'd also told the rest of his security to cool it in his condo, out of Zasha's sight, but still close enough they could be useful if anything happened.His rage was simmering and very close to boiling over. He had to stop, stare out the window and draw in

Thursday. Home, Arlington, VA.HALEY WAS READY TO drop. Her face hurt so much from the continued smiling, but Zasha had needed the unending cheer to keep her own spirits up. Haley hoped that after everything, the kiddo was able to have a peaceful night's sleep.She paused outside Ivana's darkened room and stared into the shadows.Security had come to get some of her things and move her into one of the rentals. Konstantin owned several condos in the building and rented them out. They were lucky the tenants of one had moved out two weeks prior and the place was staged to show to potential renters. Ivana would be staying there tonight along with two guards.The security team also gone through every inch of her room looking for the missing picture from last night, but hadn't found it.Haley reached into the room, grasped the doorknob and closed the door.Zasha already wanted to know where Nanny Ivana was. Haley had distracted her, but how long would that last? Zasha was a br

HALEY WAS AWAKE BEFORE her alarm.She hadn't slept much or well, so it wasn't a surprise when her eyes popped open half an hour too early. Her thoughts bounced around, from the events surrounding Ivana to the kiss with Konstantin and right back to the fact that she wasn't going anywhere.How was she supposed to deal with him now?The girls hadn't been any help.After the initial outburst happened and they all got on the video call things had devolved. They each had their own stressors. Haley's eventful day was, in the grand scheme, normal. The women who did what they did faced down real threats. They didn't just wear a gun on their hip and hang around. If someone hired them they needed protection.Which was exactly why Haley would remain Zasha's primary security, though Haley didn't think Konstantin would like her plan.She got up and dressed, putting more thought than usual into selecting her clothes.Normally, Haley wanted to appear as inconspicuous as possible. Her war

Friday. Arlington, VA.KONSTANTIN TAPPED HIS FINGERS on the door handle of the car.He was early, but he wasn't an idiot. There was no way he was going inside the restaurant before eleven thirty. He was also woefully aware that he was out of his depth.His father was former KGB.His mother had managed to hide all these years without getting caught or raising suspicion.Konstantin was just a businessman and single father. Yes, he knew how these people operated and understood them, but he wasn't like them. That was his perceived flaw. He hadn't been a right fit for that world and everyone had known it.His phone chimed.He picked it up and read the message.Zasha, Ivana and their security detail had made it to their destination.Good.That was one detail he wouldn't have to worry about. The most difficult thing had been getting the laundry company to agree with their exit strategy. Konstantin had convinced the owner to allow his daughter and her detail to use their

Friday. Lake House. VA.KONSTANTIN STARED AT THE MONITORS.When was the last time they'd come out here and he'd used them?Usually he only brought one bodyguard with them. And Haley, but she didn't count. She spent all her time running after Zasha, exploring the lake front.It was so peaceful out here, but he didn't dare assume that just because it was quiet that they were also safe. His goal in coming out here was to be able to deal with this issue head on if his mother made a move.A flashlight showed up as a grainy bit of gray on one screen.That was the perimeter guard right on schedule.Part of him felt a pang of guilt for taking these men all the way out here. They'd been briefed on the situation and understood the potential danger. That didn't make Konstantin feel better about it.There was nothing else to be done. He'd taken the necessary measures to harm as few people as possible. The rest was out of his hands.He left the closet doors open in the room tha