by Ivy Clyde
“No. They were just following orders. He told them to get the girl no matter who stood before them.”
“I bet it’s one of those men who shot him. What if there are more like him infiltrating our ranks?”
Uncle nodded, his face turning grim. “There are definitely more of them. That’s why we need Skye. She knows nothing. Her innocence and ignorance in all matters will keep her safe for a while. We’ll get her out as soon as she gets access to the transaction files that are missing.”
“There’s a chance she might never get them.”
“Yes, but we must use every available tool in our arsenal to tackle this matter. The survival of our family depends on it. We don’t want to end up like the Romanoffs.”
“No.”
I hated to acknowledge it but we did need Skye to work for us. The only thing I could do now was making sure she stayed safe while we sent her among the wolves.
12
Skye
The next few weeks passed by slowly, bringing the start of term at Knightswood Academy closer than ever before. The last days of August brought in cooler breezes down the hills, a clear sign that summer was waning.
Christian never came back to see me again. I spent sleepless nights worrying about him and lied to my mother each time she asked about him. Truth was I had no idea what he was up to. Part of me felt guilty for getting him into trouble but I couldn’t come to regret going back to my apartment for my stuff.
Mom’s health was declining every day. She slept through most of the day, barely having the energy to even talk to me. Each day, I saw her withering away little by little. Looking at the photographs of my old life was the only solace in my loneliness. They reminded me of days when I was protected and kept warm by both Mom and Dad.
Perhaps, it was better that Mom was leaving soon. She would hate the way I’d turned around. A thief, a spy, a liar…But there was no regret on my part. I did what I could do to make the last few years of her life as comfortable as possible.
Olga brought in my academy uniforms a few days before September came around. She heaped the items on my bed with an irritated huff. “You will pack them all,” she threw over her shoulder before walking out of the room.
Walking to the bed, I picked up a starched white shirt with long sleeves. The cut and style were awfully formal with white buttons on the front. Next, I inspected the red plaid skirt. They were kind of short, the hem only long enough to reach halfway down my thighs. A crimson red blazer, matching the shade of the skirt, was folded beside the other clothes.
These clothes felt more like costumes than uniforms. While the shirt and blazer weren’t too bad, the short skirt would be uncomfortable. I never wore anything that showed off my legs or arms. Again, not a prude but it had become a habit after trying to hide from trouble in the halls of Kensington High. It would take a while to get used to wearing them.
It was only a few more days until the new term started.
Stripping out of my clothes, I began donning the uniform. When you could feel death lurking close by, you didn’t postpone anything. Mom would love to see me in this academy uniform. It was sure to bring a smile on her face along with the surety that her daughter would have a bright future even when she would be gone from the world.
The uniform fit me well. I paired it with white knee-high socks and black shoes that Olga had brought in earlier. After putting on the blazer, I walked up to the full-length mirror in the corner.
The young woman looking back at me appeared smart and resourceful, definitely looking part of an academy student who went to a prep school for the filthy rich. Next, I brushed the length of my dark hair and applied some light makeup to brighten up my face.
I’ve never felt so fake in my life, I thought as I walked out of the room to go meet Mom.
The lights in the hallways shone brightly. Dusk was setting in as I walked through a path in the garden to reach the house. According to the schedule, Mom would be up to have her dinner soon.
Reaching the house, I made my way to her room. Mom sat up against the pillows, reading on her Kindle. I knocked lightly on the door to rouse her from her focused reading.
A smile lit up her gaunt face as soon as she turned toward me.
“Oh my!” she gasped. “Come on in. Let me take a closer look at you.”
I walked in, posing for her in the brand new academy uniform.
“Gosh! You look amazing,” she said, her blue eyes shining with tears. “I’m so proud of you, honey.”
I reached her bed and bent down to give her a hug. An ache went through me.
“You’re going to do so well there,” she said with a nod. “I just know it.”
“How do you know that?” I asked in a grave tone. “I might not fit in.”
She shook her head. “You’re smart and extremely hardworking. These past few years have been so hard on you but you’ve done a wonderful job. I can’t believe I have been absent from your life for more than a year and you’ve still managed to feed yourself and go to school. Knightswood Academy will welcome a student like you.”
An ache shot through my heart. Even though Mom didn’t’ know exactly what I went through, she was at least aware of how difficult life had been for me.
“I won’t be around for much longer, sweetheart,” she said in a low, grim voice. “I can feel it coming. Just promise me one thing. You will take care good of yourself when I am gone.”
My throat felt choked, so I just nodded.
“Be good to Christian. He seems to be really busy with his family business even though he hasn’t graduated high school yet. Treat him fairly. He’s definitely helped us a lot.”
I gave another nod.
A knock sounded from the door. “Time for your meal, Mrs. Wilson,” said a polite voice. One of the nurses was standing there with a tray of food.”
“Come in,” said Mom as I moved away from the bed.
“I’ll go now,” I said as the nurse began arranging the food tray before Mom. “Enjoy your dinner. I will come back tomorrow.”
“Okay, sweetheart. Remember to pack everything properly and send me lots of photos once you get there.”
“Sure, Mom. Bye.”
I walked out of the house but decided not to go in just yet. A floral scent floated in the breeze, making me breathe in deeply. Ornamental garden lamps hanging from tree branches guided my way as I strolled aimlessly. Start of term was so close but neither Nikolai nor Christian had sent for me yet. Their silence worsened my anxiety.
The sudden grating sound of footsteps on gravel stopped me. I turned around at once, coming face to face with Christian. “You,” I gasped.
He dipped his head a little and grinned before sauntering toward me. “You’re like a ghost. What are you doing here in the dark?”
“What are you doing here?” I demanded in return.
An easy laugh escaped his lips. His hand moved up to caress my cheek. The gesture felt so familiar, I leaned into his touch.
“Are you happy with the uniform?” he asked.
“Yeah. It fits fine, I guess.”
“Then, what’s bothering you?”
“Nothing,” I shrugged. “Isn’t it normal to feel nervous before going to a new school?”
His hand came to hold mine and without a word, we both started walking down the garden path.
“I will keep you safe,” he said. “But you have to stay on guard too. Stay away from trouble and don’t let anything distract you from what you need to do.”
“I know.” An exhausted sigh escaped me as I gazed up at him. “How have you been?”
“Did you miss me?”
“I don’t know. I guess I was worried when you didn’t come back after talking to your uncle. Was everything okay?”
“Sergei is dead.”
“What?”
He nodded. “He was dead within the hour of his people attacking us.” Raking his fingers through his hair, he looked away. Taking a few deep breaths, he added, “I
have been managing the low ranked gangsters working on our turf and it hasn’t been easy when one of their leaders is shot dead.”
“I’m sorry it’s such a mess.”
He shook his head. “It’s not your fault but it’s really important you get close to Andrei and Dimitri as soon as possible. Tell me everything you hear about. Do you understand?” His hands came to rest on my shoulders.
“I thought you just wanted me to get some file.”
“The file is the most important thing you must find. Along with that, spy on both of them. Where they go, who they talk to, the names you hear from their lips. It’s all very important.” His grip on my shoulders tightened. “You’re the only one we can rely on to find crucial information. We have to find out who ordered Sergei’s death.”
Anxiety coiled around my gut. Sergei was the man I feared. If he could be killed so easily, how could I hope to survive this web of danger and deceit?
Christian stepped closer and pulled me against his chest. His embrace was gentle. Warm. If I wanted, I could have pushed him off.
“You won’t be alone,” he said. “I’ll always be around anytime you need me.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, taking what little comfort he offered me. We stayed that way for a while, neither of us speaking.
When the moment ended and we parted, my mind went to the task ahead. “What subjects am I taking at Knightswood Academy?” I asked. “And will people know who I am and my connection to you guys?”
“Your identity will not be a secret,” he said. “Andrei and Dimitri already know everything there is to know about you except for the deal between you and Uncle. You will be going to Knightswood as Nikolai Ivanov’s ward. That’s all. If they ask you how you got close to us, tell them you saved his life and that he decided to get you out of the shithole you lived in. If they ask for details, say you can’t disclose it.”
“What if they threaten me?”
“They will be too curious about you to do that immediately. Don’t give them any reason to suspect you.”
“Right…a lookalike of their dead girlfriend appears out of nowhere and they won’t suspect anything,” I said in a scathing tone.
“You don’t have claws,” he said, his lips curving into a grin. “They’ll know that soon enough. That would put them at ease.”
“No claws?” I quirked an eyebrow at him.
“They are always wary about who gets close to them. You’re not dangerous in the way they expect. You have your own secret sting but they won’t know it until much later.”
“I can’t wait for this thing to get over. If I get out alive, tell your uncle I want to spend the rest of my life in Hawaii or something.”
He chuckled, the deep, throaty sound reverberating through me. “Make sure you stay alive, Skye. I am rooting for you.”
13
Skye
The suitcases Olga brought me a few days ago were now fully packed with my academy uniforms and the clothes the Ivanovs bought me since the day I started living in their mansion. Other than the black hooded jacket Christian gave me a long time ago and the shoebox of old photographs and knick-knacks, there was nothing personal in the luggage that would be accompanying me to Knightswood Academy.
After a short visit with Mom that morning, I was taken to meet Nikolai Ivanov.
Reaching his office, I found him seated behind his desk, looking cold and beautiful as a marble statue, perusing a document laid before him. Christian stood behind him. The guard accompanying me gave them a short salute and walked away.
For the day, I wore a dark blue skater dress that was heavily embellished with lace. My hair was freshly washed and styled into loose waves. My makeup was light but enough to brighten my features. However, Nikolai’s cool gaze quickly deflated the little confidence I’d gained that morning from my efforts.
“Here is a list of all the subjects that you’re registered for,” he said, sliding a thin folder at me. “We were able to get you into the courses for Computer Science as well as Statistics as you requested. You can find your student ID card, class schedules, and dorm room info in this packet.”
“Thanks,” I said, picking up the folder.
“I need you to take this sheet and memorize the numbers on it,” said Nikolai, handing me the document he was looking at.
“What is it?”
“This is the first page of the transaction record you need to search for. Finding the whole file is the most important part of your mission. Even the numbers on this page will be enough to implicate us, so make sure to keep it to yourself. Once you are closer to your targets, get inside both the Volkov and Romanoff mainframe networks to search for it. If you need our help with anything, just ask Christian.”
I nodded, looking down at the paper in my hand.
“I will burn the paper after you’re done,” said Nikolai. “Have a seat and take your time to study and memorize what’s on it. It will help you to recognize the right file when you come across it.”
“Right,” I replied, walking away with the sheet. Choosing one of the couches at the far corner, I sat down and began noting the headings of the columns. The figures in some of them exceeded six figures but a minute’s perusal was enough for me to detect a pattern in them. It would make memorizing the numbers much simpler.
No one disturbed me for the fifteen minutes I took.
I walked back to Nikolai’s desk and handed him the sheet.
“You’re confident you remember?” he asked.
I nodded.
“Then replicate it.” He gave me an empty sheet of paper and a set of pencils, an eraser and a ruler.
“I didn’t know there would be a test,” I muttered, collecting the stuff in my arms. Christian caught my eye and winked. A grin curved on my lips in reply.
“Focus, Skye.” Nikolai cleared his throat pointedly.
I went back to the couch by the coffee table and set down to work. If it was a regular assignment, I wouldn’t even bother using the ruler to draw neat columns but with Nikolai’s cool, unmoving gaze on me, I did the best to recreate the same document like the one he gave me.
Another quarter of an hour later, I handed him my work. Christian leaned over his uncle to inspect my work. His green eyes widened as they swung between my sheet and the original document.
“Impressive,” said Nikolai with the slightest curve of his lips.
Christian was grinning broadly. “Impressive? She’s a fucking genius.”
Nikolai nodded. “You are good with numbers. I can see that. You will be a valuable asset to me.”
“I’ll do my best, Sir,” I said.
“Good. Remember not to interact with Christian in front of your peers,” said Nikolai. “They must think I’ve kept you aloof from the rest of my family, and in turn, my business. You are just going there as a helpless little charity case.”
I bristled at the word ‘charity case’ but kept a straight face. Even if I didn’t want to be “helpless” or a “charity case”, that was exactly what I was. Releasing a deep sigh, I gave a nod. “Fine. I won’t talk to him in front of anyone.”
“That’s about it,” said Nikolai. “Good luck.”
I glanced at Christian before turning away to walk out of the room. This was it. After weeks of dreading the start of my new job, the day was finally here.
I found the same man who brought me to Nikolai’s office waiting for me in the hallway. “Please follow me, Miss Skye. Your things have been put into the car. I will drive you to your school.”
“Right.”
I followed behind him, taking in his tall frame and broad back. His movements were smooth and precise. The gazes of the armed men who lined the corridor followed me. They were one of the things I wouldn’t be missing about the Ivanov mansion.
My guide led me to the front of the house where a sleek, black car waited for us. He opened the backdoor for me and gestured for me to climb in.
Once I took my seat, he came to sit beside me
.
“Drive,” he commanded the man in the front.
The car moved through the path leading to the exit gates of the heavily guarded estate. My companion didn’t speak a word. He sat motionless beside me, his eyes hidden by large black sunglasses. My discomfort didn’t disappear even when we left Ivanov Mansion behind us.
I wished Christian was coming with me but Nikolai wanted me to appear as helpless and alone as possible. Part of me wondered whether Nikolai even cared if people bullied me at the elite prep school. If Christian couldn’t help me in front of everyone, I was bound to get hurt. It wouldn’t matter if he got them back for me later. I would always end up facing the fire on my own.
The man beside me typed short texts in intervals of ten minutes, probably giving his boss constant updates.
The car passed through the wide, open fields of the Pennsylvanian countryside, taking me closer to my new school. I still didn’t care about classes or grades. Attending the school for the sickeningly rich kids was just part of the job. Part of me wasn’t even sure if I’ll survive long enough until graduation day.
The familiar parts of Knightswood Academy’s campus soon came into view. I’d passed by it plenty of times while visiting Mom in her care center. Back then, the impressive Victorian-style brick-red building was just a roadside distraction, rising up from the hills and woods surrounding it. Never did I ever imagine going in there as a student.
The man beside me stirred as the car passed through the tall gates of the academy.
“Your registration is complete,” he said. “We will directly take you to your dorm.”
“Right.”
The car followed a path that led it away from the main school building, taking us toward a more modern structure several yards behind it. My first impression was that it looked like a posh apartment building in one of the elite neighborhoods of the city. It rose more than twenty stories high with the exterior painted in the same brick-red shade as the main academy building. A neatly landscaped garden surrounded it, adding to the aesthetics.
