Chapter 32

Twenty minutes into the drive, I reach for my phone to call Barb again, only to realize with a sinking feeling that it’s not there. I must have left it back at the cabin in my rush to get out of there. Shit.

For a brief moment I consider turning back, but that would only delay me further. If Barb really is in the hospital, I need to get to her, and fast.

I grip the steering wheel tighter, my mind racing as I navigate the familiar route back to the city. The road unwinds before me, a path I’d thankfully paid close attention to during our drive out to the cabin. Now, each turn and landmark guides me back.

As I drive, my thoughts turn to my father and his sudden reappearance in my life. Would he lie about something as serious as Barb being in the hospital? It doesn’t add up. Yet there’s a nagging voice in the back of my mind, a suspicion that he’s playing some sort of game. His eagerness to see me, to forge a connection after all these years, it just feels off. It’s not the warm, fatherly concern one would expect, but something more calculated, more self-serving.

I shake my head, trying to clear it of such troubling thoughts. Right now, my focus has to be on Barb. She’s been the one constant in my life, the rock I’ve always been able to lean on. The thought of her being hurt, possibly sick, sends a wave of fear through me.

I push down on the accelerator a little more, the New York skyline slowly coming into view. The familiar streets and buildings offer a small sense of comfort, a reminder of the life I’ve built here. But under the surface, there’s a current of unease, of uncertainty about what I’m heading into.

As I enter into the city, the traffic thickens, the pace of life picking up around me. I weave through the streets, my determination growing with each mile that brings me closer to Barb’s place. I decide to go there first, just in case my father was lying.

The city’s rhythm engulfs me as I make my way toward Barb’s building. I’m moving quickly, my thoughts filled with worry and doubt. The drive took less time than I expected, but then again, I wasn’t exactly mindful of the speed limits.

I park the car a block away from Barb’s building and as soon as I step out I hear my name called. Turning, I see Calvin hurrying toward me. My frown deepens instinctively. I keep walking, but he catches up to me, breathless.

‘I knew you’d come,’ he says, a hint of triumph in his voice that sets my nerves on edge.

I don’t like the way he says it, as if he’s orchestrated this whole scenario. ‘Did you really see Barb being put into an ambulance?’ I ask, skepticism lacing my tone.

He hesitates, and then his expression shifts. ‘No, I didn’t. As far as I know, she’s fine. But I have a friend who needs to speak with you and this was the only thing I could think of that would get you to come.’

I stop in my tracks, a cold feeling settling in the pit of my stomach. ‘What are you talking about?’ My voice is sharp, my patience wearing thin. ‘You lied to me. Why the hell should I believe anything you say now?’

His eyes dart around nervously, and he leans in closer, lowering his voice. ‘I know it’s a lot to ask after everything. But this is important, Julie. Please, just hear me out.’

I take a step back, distancing myself from him. ‘You can’t just lie to me about something like that and expect me to go along with whatever you’re planning. What’s this really about?’

He looks around again, clearly uneasy, then focuses back on me. ‘It’s about your safety, Julie. There are things you don’t know, things that could put you in danger.’

His words send a chill down my spine, and a thousand questions flood my mind. ‘What do you mean, my safety? What danger?’

He glances over his shoulder, then back at me. ‘I can’t say anything more here. It’s not safe. But if you come with me, I can explain everything.’

I’m torn; my instincts screaming at me to walk away, to find Barb and forget this man and his cryptic warnings. But a part of me driven by anger and curiosity, wants to know what he’s talking about.

After a moment of internal struggle, I make my decision. ‘Fine. I’ll hear what you have to say. But no games. If you’re lying to me again, I’m done. Understood?’

He nods eagerly, relief washing over his face. ‘Understood, Julie. Thank you.’

I begin to follow him but my steps soon falter as I catch sight of the Bratva boss and two of his menacing associates lingering near a nondescript van. My heart sinks as I realize this is a setup, a trap, and I’ve walked right into it.

I instinctively try to turn back, to make a dash for the car, but my father’s hand clamps down on my arm, holding me in place. ‘Just hear them out, Julie,’ he urges, his voice a mix of desperation and deceit.

I jerk my arm away, my voice rising in alarm. ‘How do you know those men?”

His eyes dart toward Boris and his goons, then back at me. “Listen, I can help you get out of this. But you have to help me, too.”

I stare at him, disbelief and anger swirling inside me. “Help you how?” I demand, my voice laced with suspicion.

He leans in, his voice a hushed whisper. “I need money, Julie. Your new husband’s rich, right? Help me get some cash, and I’ll get you out of this mess.’

I feel like I’ve been punched in the stomach. The realization that my father orchestrated this, that he’s using me as a pawn in his desperate game for money, is sickening.

‘You set me up?’ I hiss, my voice trembling with rage and fear.

‘I did, but I can fix this,’ he insists, a wild look in his eyes. ‘Just promise me the money, and we’ll get away from these guys.’

I shake my head, disgust and horror filling me. ‘You think Ivan would give you a dime? You’re delusional! And these men, the Bratva? They won’t hesitate to kill you once they’re done using you.’

His face falls, his scheme unraveling before him. ‘Julie, please. I need this. I don’t have anywhere else to go.’

I take a step back, my mind racing. I need to get away, to escape this nightmare. ‘You’re on your own, Calvin. I can’t help you, and I won’t. Not after this.’

I turn to leave but the sound of heavy footsteps makes my blood run cold. The Bratva men are approaching, their intentions clear in their cold, calculating eyes.

My father reaches out, a last-ditch effort to hold me back. ‘Julie, wait! Please!’

But I’m already moving, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I have to get away, to warn Ivan, to protect myself and the life growing inside me. Calvin’s betrayal, the danger he’s put me in, it’s unforgivable.

Boris’ men catch up to me. One of them roughly shoves Calvin to the ground, while the other clamps a hand over my mouth, silencing any attempt to scream. His grip is iron-tight and unyielding. Panic-stricken, I thrash and kick, trying to break free from his grasp.

My father’s voice, filled with fear and anger, cuts through the chaos. ‘We had a deal! What are you doing?’ His protest is desperate, the words of a man realizing too late that he’s out of his depth.

Amidst my struggle, a strange, muffled pop echoes through the air, followed by Calvin’s agonized scream. My heart pounds in terror, the reality of the situation hitting me with brutal clarity. This is no longer just a threat; it’s a nightmare unfolding in real time.

Before I can process what’s happening, I’m being dragged toward the van. I kick and squirm, but the men are too strong, their hold on me unbreakable. A gag is forced into my mouth, stifling my cries, and a bag is pulled over my head, plunging me into darkness.

I feel the cold metal of handcuffs snapping around my wrists, binding me helplessly. My mind races with fear and desperation. This can’t be happening. I can’t let them take me, I have to get back to Ivan. But the more I struggle, the tighter their grip becomes.

The van’s door slams shut, sealing me inside with my captors. I hear the engine start, and we begin moving. Every turn and bump in the road sends a fresh wave of fear through me.

As the van speeds away, I’m left alone with my fear, the darkness of the bag suffocating, the handcuffs a cold reminder of my helplessness. My mind clings to the hope that Ivan will find me, that he’ll come to my rescue. He has to. I can’t face this alone. Not with so much at stake.