The knot in my stomach grew quickly. My chest tightened as I struggled to catch my breath. Sweat suddenly ran down my face. I felt sick. This couldn’t be true, could it? Was Timofey telling the truth?
Zhen went limp in his arms, and he held her tighter. I wanted to pull her from him and rush to get help. But I also knew I had to have all the facts.
My mind whirled as I tried to make sense of his words. Was this who she was? Was she his sister, meaning she was a Chernykh? Had she been lying to me, deceiving me the whole time? If so, this was low even for them.
No, it couldn’t be. This couldn’t be true! Holding my head, I bit back the scream. Zhen couldn’t be Timofey Chernykh’s sister; it couldn’t be true. He was lying. It just wouldn’t add up in my mind.
I couldn’t just accept his words for it. I had to hear it from her. Looking at Timofey with Zhen slumped in his arms, I knew I couldn’t just leave her with him. Wouldn’t there have been signs if she were who he claimed she was?
No one in the office spoke of it, and surely they must have known if this was true. Why would they not have told me?
“No, Timofey,” I argued. “It isn’t true. She works for the Chernykhs, you said so yourself. How can she then also be your sister?”
Timofey smiled smugly. “Really? You want to come and tell me that I don’t know my own sister? What reason could I have for lying to you now? Zhenya is our youngest sister. So, there is no way on earth I would leave her with you or anyone else,” he huffed.
“I agree with having to get her out of here. But I’m taking her to our hideout. Our house doctor can call on her there, and she will be safe,” he added as he started turning.
“Then I’m coming with you! I’m not leaving her alone with you,” I said insistingly.
“Suit yourself. It’s your funeral, buddy,” Timofey said as he placed her in his car. Jumping into my truck, I drove behind him all the way. I wasn’t going to let him get away with her.
My mind was racing a hundred miles an hour in all directions. I was unable to comprehend what was going on. He couldn’t be telling the truth. I dialed Anton’s number as I followed Timofey down a small, winding gravel road.
“Hey, brother, what’s up?” Anton asked as he answered.
I felt light-headed and nauseated as my stomach made a tight turn. I tried to keep my tone as normal as possible as I spoke to him. I couldn’t have him jumping off the deep end, not knowing what was happening.
“The office building is on fire. I have something to do, so can I ask you to handle it? If I could, you know I would be there, but this is important,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t ask any questions.
“What?” Anton huffed. “Sure, sure, but are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” I replied shortly. I heard him mumbling something. “Thank you, brother,” I added before hanging up. I didn’t have time to play a hundred questions.
My head still felt light, and my stomach was as tight as a dog’s ass. Nothing made any sense. I was still following Timofey as he pulled into a darkened plot of land. He pulled up to a house sitting in the middle of the property. There were no trees around it, only open flat land.
This was the ideal place, I thought, as I stopped behind him. You could see an ambush coming from miles away. Getting out, I walked closer as he picked Zhen or Zhenya, as he called her, up into his arms and headed for the cabin door.
“Open the door for me,” he said as we walked up the steps. Stepping around him, I opened the door and followed him inside. Everything was upside down; it was all so confusing.
Any man in his right mind would have walked away by now, but I couldn’t. I needed to know the truth, her truth, not his. “There’s a switch by the door,” he mumbled.
I flipped the switch as Timofey laid her down on the double couch. He moved past me to the kitchen. I heard a tap running, and then he came back with a bucket of water and a towel.
Bending down next to her, I took her hand in mine. “Zhen,” I said softly, feeling a growing mountain forming in my throat. “Zhen, please wake up. Please tell me it’s not true.”
“Move, you’re in my way,” Timofey grumbled, pushing me to the side. I watched in horror as he started wiping her arms and face with the wet cloth. I could see he clearly cared deeply for her.
“You have to leave now. Get out of here. She’s too weak to deal with this shit right now. You can talk to her once she’s recuperated,” Timofey blew at me.
I stood back, watching as her eyes flickered a little, then closed again. Timofey suddenly stood up, rising like a giant before me. “I said leave!” he insisted.
“No,” I replied firmly, standing my ground.
“Akim, I said, leave now. My brothers are on their way. You do not want to be here when they arrive. If Iosif finds out, you’re as good as dead. I will step back. It’s not my problem any longer, should that happen,” he added before returning to Zhen’s side.
I walked to the door and then stopped. Turning back, I looked at Timofey. Awe flooded me as I watched him tenderly wiping her down. He removed her shoes and wiped her feet. He was so gentle with her, so familiar.
Thinking back to the day I saw them in the office. I realized her body language was different around him; she trusted him. What I saw as flirtation was a family quarrel. It had to be true. Her luxury condo, the attacks whenever she was around, could she have been the target all along?
Stepping back, I leaned against the door as I felt the life draining from me. Could she really be one of them? Was Zhen or Zhenya a Chernykh? My heart sank to my feet. This wasn’t the kind of predicament I had thought I would ever find myself in.
Pushing myself up from the wall, I walked back. I sat down on the couch next to her. “No,” I huffed. “I need to hear it from her, not from you. I must have the truth.”
Timofey wiped her face again. I noticed her lashes moving lightly. Then her eyes slowly opened.
“Zhen,” I said, breathing out hard. I was relieved that she was alive.
“Akim,” she whispered. “I’m so, so sorry.”
I was stunned to my core. I had no words as shock vibrated through my bones. She didn’t need to say it, but she did. However, I could see in her eyes that it was all true. She had betrayed me. Holding my chest, I knew I had to get out. I have never felt a pain like this.
“Please, you need to understand,” she added. “Please, let me explain.”
Getting up, I shook my head, and my heart sank further. It felt like she had just walked over it. I couldn’t take it anymore. “No,” I replied, waving my hand. “Sorry, no more,” I huffed as I turned and left.
