43
Chloe
It’s as if a dark shutter falls over Nikolai’s face, transforming it into that of a stranger. All warmth leaves his voice as he pulls back his hand and stands. “Let’s go then. We’ll talk in my office.”
My heart hammers as I follow him out of Slava’s room and down the hallway. As we walk, a chime sounds in his pocket, and he pulls out his phone and glances at the screen. He must’ve reclaimed the device immediately upon arrival.
Whatever he sees there makes his jaw go taut, and when his gaze returns to me, his eyes are filled with a peculiar light.
A terrible premonition tightens my stomach. “What happened? What’s wrong?”
“There’s something you should see,” he says, and as soon as we enter his office, he goes straight for his laptop and opens it, bending over his desk. His fin
