FOREVER MY SAINT (All the Pretty Things #3)

Two

Day 92“YOU LIE,” ALEK snarls, seconds from imploding.

“No. I’m not.” When Zoey releases Alek, he launches for her, furious she had the gall to manhandle him.

But she doesn’t flinch.

“How dare you come here! Leave. You’re not welcome.” Alek clutches Zoey’s bicep, jerking her in warning.

She stands on tippy toes, glaring without a trace of fear. “I am the only friend, and I use that word loosely, you have. Let go of me.”

There is no way this will end without one of us getting hurt because after what she just confessed, I realize she is the reason for all of this. “You did this,” I snarl with pure spite. “You are to blame. Saint did all of this for nothing. And it’s your fault. He is god knows where, and it’s because of you.”

Alek freezes, watching me closely. He knows I am seconds away from killing her with my bare hands.

“If it wasn’t for me, he’d be dead,” she says without remorse. Yes, she may be right, but where he is now with Oscar holding him prisoner—is this the lesser of two evils? “Don’t you dare act a martyr.”

During this ordeal, I blamed myself, believing Saint blew himself up to save me, but this entire time, it was her. It doesn’t lessen the part I played in all of this, but I can’t help but wonder what would have happened had she not intervened?

We will never know.

Even though I despise her with every morsel of my soul, I inhale deeply. Looking at the crucifix attached to the brick wall, I ask for strength and hope this is the right thing to do.

“Alek, let her go,” I spit, unbelieving I’m defending her. “You’re wasting time.”

Alek’s lips fall into a deep frown, confusion and anger plaguing him. “You don’t honestly believe her?”

Zoey arches a brow, awaiting my answer.

“I don’t have a choice. If there’s a possibility that what she’s saying is true, then I have to do what she says. I won’t leave Saint to the mercy of that asshole.”

Just thinking of him in the hands of Oscar causes my skin to crawl.

Zoey breaks free from Alek’s hold, her grin revealing she enjoys having the upper hand—finally. As much as I hate to rely on her, she is the only ally I have.

“So what’s the plan?”

“дорогая, no. Do not be fooled by her. She would do anything to get back at me.”

The small tic beneath Zoey’s eye betrays her newfound attitude. She may think she’s rid Alek from her system, but the term of endearment he used for me still gets to her. But I can’t blame her; he was her heroin once upon a time.

“That may be true, but I have to find that out for myself.”

Alek sighs heavily, clearly annoyed by my stubbornness.

“When do we leave?” I want to ask a million other questions, but they can wait. This is the only one that matters.

Zoey nods once, happy with my choice. “I have a few ideas, all of which are dangerous and will probably get you killed.”

Reining in my anger, I focus on the task at hand. “I’m okay with that.”

Alek, it appears, can no longer stand this discussion and turns on his heel to go back inside. I don’t know why he cares. It seems he’s been given a get out of jail for free card as his life will be spared. But from his reaction, you’d think he was the one whose neck was on the line.

Once he’s gone, Zoey reveals her plans. “Pavel has studied the blueprints of Oscar’s home. Just like every villain, he has a secret tunnel leading from the master bedroom to the greenhouse. The garage is close by, allowing an easy exit.”

“Good, let’s go.” I attempt to turn around, but Zoey shakes her head.

“Did you not listen to a word I said?” she asks, looking at me as though I’m an imbecile. “The place is like a fort. We wouldn’t get three feet without being killed. And what good are we to Saint if we’re dead?”

“What then?” I question, unappreciative of her tone.

She tongues her cheek, as if mulling over what to say. “The easiest way in…is for you to walk up to the front door and knock.”

I blink once because I’m not sure if she’s serious. She is.

“It can go one of two ways. They either let you in. Or…” But there is no need for her to elaborate.

I do what she proposes, and there is a high probability that I’ll end up dead.

“But if you’re too gutless, then—”

There are no buts in this situation. “I’ll do it,” I interrupt, not wanting to hear another plan of attack because there isn’t one.

This is going to be the best way into the lion’s den because deep down, I know Oscar won’t kill me. Torture me, yes. But kill me, no. What good am I dead? I provide more interest for him alive. He said so himself.

“I need to know what makes you special.”

That’s what Oscar said to me when he tricked Max into taking me to his home. But this time, I come willingly.

Zoey appears to weigh my response, unsure if I’ve heard her correctly. “You know what this means, right?”

“Yes,” I reply without wavering.

“And you’re okay with whatever the outcome may be?”

“Yes,” I repeat, staring her straight in the eye.

“Oscar will probably kill you,” she says without feeling.

But I shake my head. “No, he won’t.”

Zoey doesn’t hide her surprise at my confidence. “If that’s true, then I won’t need to tell you the rest of my plan.”

That piques my interest.

“Enough, Zoey.”

Our attention turns to the imposing man standing in the doorway. Alek is at his back scowling, so it’s safe to assume he was once a loyal subject who has now turned rogue.

“I’m Pavel,” he states with a sharp nod. That explains Alek’s rage. “Saint is a good friend of mine. We both want the same thing.”

I like that Pavel doesn’t have time for small talk because neither do I.

“Good. So when do we do this?”

“We have to be smart about this. I have tried to devise a way to break in without getting caught, but thanks to красная долина going kaboom, security everywhere has been amped up tenfold.”

Zoey grins at the fact her former prison no longer stands while Alek grits his teeth.

“We wouldn’t get in, even if I were to plant explosives and cause a distraction. It’s too dangerous as I need to have eyes on Saint. Which is where you come in.”

I wait for him to continue.

“From what I can tell, Saint hasn’t spilled who Aleksei’s new supplier is. He knows this is the one and only leverage he has. So my plan is for you to get into Oscar’s home by using your knowledge of Aleksei’s empire.”

“I don’t know much,” I confess, hating to be the bearer of bad news.

But Pavel, it seems, is two steps ahead. “You know enough, more than they do, which means we have the upper hand.”

“How?”

Pavel walks forward slowly. He towers over us, but even if he didn’t, his commanding presence would have most cowering in his shadow. “Once you’re in, you will tell Oscar you know who the supplier is and will hand over the information on the proviso that he lets Saint go.”

His plan may work, but I know Oscar; Saint is far more valuable to him than knowing the supplier’s identity. He’s clearly obsessed with Saint and won’t let him go that easily.

“He values Saint more. It won’t work.”

It appears Pavel is well aware of the fact. “You’re right. But he values his life more.” I arch a brow, utterly confused, so Pavel clarifies. “You reveal that you know Astra is alive and will tell her everything. He knows that Astra would do anything to get her hands on that piece of information. He will agree to the terms, trust me.”

It seems like a long shot, but when I hear the final piece to the puzzle, I soon change my mind.

“You request a meeting with Astra. If he says he won’t arrange it, then you tell him you’ll do it yourself, ensuring Astra is made aware of Oscar’s reluctance to cooperate. He fears her and her wrath, so in the end, he knows Saint won’t be worth the hassle. As I said, he values himself more.”

“Do you know where Astra is hiding? If this doesn’t work, do we have a backup plan? If Oscar won’t give Saint up, maybe we could use Astra? She could force his hand.”

Pavel sighs, clearly frustrated. “I think I know where she is, but I can’t be certain. So you cannot fail. You must convince Oscar that you know where she is.”

In other words, we don’t have any other choice. We need Oscar to set Saint free because if we knew where Astra was, we could go straight to the source. She would no doubt force Oscar to hand over Saint in return for the information we have.

Alek decides now is the time to intervene as the once ruler doesn’t appreciate being spoken about like he doesn’t matter. “Aren’t you forgetting the fact that none of this will be possible without my assistance?”

Pavel’s dark eyes turn murderous when he hears him speak.

Alek enjoys seeing him squirm as he walks over to where we stand. “My contact won’t talk. No matter the circumstances, he won’t deal with Astra and Oscar after everything that’s happened. However, if I were to talk to him—”

That’s where Alek’s speech ends.

Pavel turns slowly. “Do you really think I would hand him over to another monster?”

Alek is taken aback as it appears Pavel has thought this out.

“There is no way I will allow that to happen. This ends now.”

“And how do you intend on doing that? Astra isn’t stupid. If you come to the table empty-handed, you’ll all pay.”

“Who said anything about going empty-handed?” Pavel challenges. “Thanks to the fact you kept me hidden in the shadows, no one knows who I am. I could be anyone, and I plan to be.”

Zoey gazes at Pavel with nothing but respect while my mouth parts in understanding.

“I go in, pretending to be the supplier. It’s all I need. I just need clearance to get into that house. Once I’m in, I’ll take care of the rest.”

A small bubble of hope simmers inside me because this might work. Breaking into Oscar’s home will result in our deaths, but to be invited—that’ll give us a fighting chance.

“Willow, I need you to understand that once you’re in, Oscar won’t let you leave. He will ensure you pay for what you’ve done.”

“I understand,” I say with conviction. “But it’s a risk I’m more than willing to take.”

“No, absolutely not!” Alek exclaims, his cheeks turning a blistering red. “I will not allow it.”

“Allow it?” I question, shaking my head at his audacity. “This decision is mine to make. Not yours.”

“This is suicide!” he presses, tousling his hair further as he runs his fingers through it.

I still don’t understand why he’s so concerned for my well-being. I thought he would be grateful this plan doesn’t involve him, but when Zoey’s lips twist into a smirk, I know how wrong I am.

“Don’t worry, sweetie. If this doesn’t work, then we will use plan B.”

Alek’s fight soon dies. “Plan B?”

She nods, pursing her ruby lips. “We give you to them, which is what I voted for.”

This plan seems far easier than the deception as so many things can go wrong, but Alek won’t go willingly. He would betray us all to save his ass because let’s not forget that Astra and Oscar were once his friends. I have no doubt he could win them over again.

So for now, this will have to do.

“I know it’s not foolproof, but it’s the best option we have.”

Alek scoffs at Pavel, folding his arms across his chest.

“It’ll work,” I assure Pavel, ignoring Alek. “I’ll make sure that it does.”

And I will.

Pavel is right; because of what happened to Alek’s home, sneaking in would be nearly impossible. Being invited in is the best way to infiltrate his empire and attack it from the inside—Trojan Horse style.

“Oscar won’t make it easy for you. You may need to do things you aren’t comfortable doing.”

It appears Pavel knows what a sick bastard Oscar is.

Standing tall, I never falter when I reply, “It can’t be any worse than being sold by my husband to a Russian drug lord.”

Pavel nods, my point being read loud and clear by all. Alek, however, averts his gaze, appearing wounded by my comment. A twinge of regret overcomes me because I did say it with intent to hurt him. But I must never forget that he is the bad guy and the reason I am here. No matter the circumstances now.

“When do we do this?” We are wasting precious time.

“In two days,” Pavel replies. I open my mouth, amped to protest that that’s two days too long. “We must prepare you on what to say. Your story has to come naturally. If any hint of deceit is detected, the plan will fail.”

Even though I hate that we have to wait, he’s right. If I were to go in there now, I would be charged with emotion, and I can’t allow my feelings to rule me. Saint is relying on me, so there is no room for error.

“Okay.” Pavel can sense my distaste at waiting, but I’ll make sure I’m a convincing liar once we leave here. So much so, even I’ll believe the lies.

“Excellent. You’ll say you have no clue where Alek is. You passed out after the explosion and woke up in the care of Sara. For all you know, he’s dead.”

On cue, Sara appears around the doorjamb. She really has done so much for me, and I honestly will never be able to repay her.

“I want to explain,” she says in a small voice, wringing her hands together nervously. “Saint was never going to let me get hurt. He asked me to trust him, and I did. I was to take your place for only a little while, but he promised if anything went wrong, he would get me out of there immediately.”

Max confirms her claims as he too appears. “It’s true. Saint asked me to ensure her safety. Both of yours,” he adds, alerting Alek to the fact that every single one of his confidants had turned against him.

How that must sting.

But Alek doesn’t allow his emotion to show—that’s what got him into this mess to start with.

Pavel isn’t one for sentiments as he continues to detail his plans. “Oscar won’t believe you because he saw you leave with Alek. You must earn his trust. But whatever happens, you mustn’t reveal that Alek is alive.”

Alek pales.

“Why?” I ask, wanting to iron out all the details and possible outcomes.

Pavel takes a breath, then continues. “Because he is our ace in the hole.”

“I will never help you,” Alek spits, standing tall. “You are a traitor. You all are.” That includes me.

Pavel isn’t bothered in the slightest by Alek’s insults. “Be that as it may, I don’t need you conscious to deliver you to the wolves. I’m not under your command anymore. I don’t owe you a damn thing.”

A burst of Russian bounces between the men, each word getting more heated than the one before it. This will not end pretty.

“Enough!” I cry, placing my arms outward to stop them from advancing to kill one another. “You can whip your d***s out later. Now, let’s focus on what’s important, and that’s getting Saint out.”

“Finally, we agree on something,” Zoey says, examining her short nails, clearly bored by the testosterone-filled outburst.

Alek backs down first, surprising me. But I don’t mistake his retreat as weakness. He is simply biding his time. “Get out. All of you.”

Without a doubt, I know that includes me.

“With pleasure,” Pavel replies, running a hand over his shaved head. “You can hide under Mother Superior’s habit while we clean up the mess you’ve made.”

Zoey giggles while Sara’s lips twitch. How times have changed.

A small part of me, a part I wish would go away, feels sorry for Alek. This is a big shock to us all. We’re all grieving. The cause of our grief may be different, but we’ve all lost something. Alek has gone from hunter to hunted, and he now feels how I once did—imprisoned.

I don’t know what his plans are because we haven’t spoken about what the next step would be. I never believed we would be brothers in arms, but for so long, he was my only ally. My only chance at getting out of this country alive.

But now, I’m given an out. An out which doesn’t include him.

Swallowing down the sudden lump in my throat, I quickly excuse myself. “I’m going to pack.”

I don’t wait for anyone to reply and brush past Alek, who senses something is off. Being thrown together in such dire circumstances gives you an insight into the other person’s psyche. I don’t know how or why—I just know I don’t like it.

Getting out of here can’t come fast enough.

I can barely keep up with my own two feet as I race down the hallway. When I get to my room, I slam the door shut and lean against it, catching my breath. Once my hands stop shaking, I walk over to the dresser and pull out my things.

Even though my belongings barely fill a backpack, I doubt Oscar will allow me to keep any of it anyway. He will degrade me and punish me for what I did, so the luxury of wearing clothes will most likely be a thing of the past.

As I’m folding a sweater, my door opens, and the pine-scented cologne hints Alek stands at my back. “Please, don’t do this.”

My hands tremble once again, but I tighten my grip on the material to stop myself from wavering. “I have to. I can’t leave Saint there.”

It’s been the giant elephant in the room since the night we escaped. Alek hasn’t spoken about Saint or acknowledged Saint’s feelings for me. But he also hasn’t addressed the reason Saint let him live.

“I need someone who…loves you…as much as I do.”

That’s what Saint said.

Saint acknowledged Alek loving me as much as he does, but that’s absurd. Just the notion leaves my stomach in knots. However, Saint wouldn’t leave me with Alek if he had any doubt. Of that, I’m certain.

He believes Alek loves me…

“I know that, but this is just plain crazy,” Alek says, interrupting my thoughts. “We will think of another way. I will get him out.”

Spinning around, I pin him to the spot where he stands. “Why? Why do you even care? This doesn’t involve you. This might even be your way out. I surrender to Oscar, pretending you’re dead, and you can slip away to someplace where no one knows you. You can start again.”

Alek inhales sharply. “I will not run away like a coward. And I most certainly will not hand you over to Oscar!”

“Why not?” I cry, not understanding any of this. He doesn’t owe me anything. He never did. This is his chance to wash his hands of me, once and for all.

“I made a promise to Saint,” he replies, but he’s using that as an excuse.

“That promise was made when you believed he was sacrificing himself to save me,” I stubbornly argue. “He’s not dead; therefore, you owe him nothing. You’ve held up your end of the bargain by keeping me safe here, and I thank you for that. But now that Saint is alive, I’m going back to him. And you can’t stop me.”

Alek interlaces his hands behind his neck and tips his face to the ceiling. He clearly needs a minute. “I didn’t do it for him. I did it…for you.”

He speaks in barely a whisper, but I heard him, loud and clear.

When he finally meets my eyes, the sincerity I see unsettles me beyond words. “The reason he left you with me was because he…” Alek pauses, wetting his lips. “Because he could see that my…feelings for you are—”

But I quickly intervene, not wanting to hear whatever he has to say. “Stop!” I thrust my palm toward him. “I don’t want to hear any more.”

Alek’s frown reveals my admission has hurt him. But hearing him use the word “feelings” has left me uncentered, and I can’t afford any distractions. The only thing that matters is getting Saint away from Oscar.

Nodding firmly, he suddenly appears thankful for the distraction.

“You are making a big mistake. Oscar will see through your lies.”

“Well, it’s my mistake to make,” I reply, turning my back so he can’t see my lip quiver.

“How can you trust her? After everything she’s done.”

There is no need for him to specify who. And he’s right. But what I say next cements my decision. “I trusted you, didn’t I?”

Silence.

But it speaks volumes.

“Very well, I can’t stop you. But know that if you leave here, I won’t come and find you. You’re on your own.” A bitterness accentuates every word as though he’s hurt I’ve chosen Saint over him. However, it was never a choice.

Saint will always win.

“Nothing has changed then,” I reply, folding my T-shirts as I need to do something with my trembling hands. “I’ve always been on my own.”

A heavy sigh fills the room, hinting this conversation is over. Alek can hate me all he wants, but nothing will change my mind.

What he says next, however, has me wishing I’d kept my mouth shut. “If you really think that, then I’ve failed you, дорогая. I wish you all the best.”

And just like that, the man who imprisoned me and changed my life forever walks out of my world for good.

It’s what I’ve always wanted.

So why do I feel so guilty?