Submit (The Underground Book 4) (28 page)

“Dammit.” Taylor rounded the desk and leaned over to read the page. It was probably ingrained in her not to touch anything in case it had prints, but it was a little late for that. Belinda had already handled the letter so much, she’d ruined any evidence there might have been.

When Taylor finished, she sighed. “Dammit,” she repeated.

“Yeah,” Belinda agreed, taking a deep breath and running her hands through her hair.

“Who knows about this?”

“You, me, Alena, Katie.”

“None of the guys?”

“No.”

Taylor cocked her head. “You didn’t call Nikolav?”

“He would have freaked.” Belinda lowered her hands and wrung her fingers together in front of her. She couldn’t slow her heart rate. What the hell was Rena going through? What had Yenin done to her? Would he kill her? Guilt ate into her. She worried about coming to Taylor with this note. She would regret this decision for the rest of her life if anything happened to Rena.

Taylor nodded. “You did the right thing.”

That’s what Katie had said.

She wasn’t at all convinced. But she wanted to give Taylor a chance to come up with a viable plan before she went off half-cocked and got herself killed.

“How the hell does Anton Yenin know what story you’re working on?” Taylor asked the room at large, not accusing anyone or even looking at Belinda. She seemed to think the ceiling had the answers. She put her hands on her hips and stomped back around the desk.

“We know there’s a mole in the FBI. Could that be it?”

Taylor rubbed her temples with both hands. “I can’t stand that idea, but I have to admit, it’s probably true.”

“And not farfetched,” Belinda pointed out. “There are so many people on our detail, anything’s possible. I’m sure you guys make good money, but we’re talking about a man with unlimited resources. How much could it possibly cost him to pay one of your guys more to feed him info?”

Taylor nodded. “You’re right. I know you’re right. And I’m clear someone is feeding Yenin info. I just don’t know who.” She sat in Katie’s desk chair and pulled out her phone. “I need to make a few calls, but Belinda, I think you need to be open to the idea of being moved to a safe house.”

Belinda nodded. “I’ll consider it
after
we get Rena safe. I’ll do whatever it takes if it keeps
anyone
else safe. But do you really think that’s the answer? How is my going into hiding going to make Yenin believe I’m no longer meddling?”

Taylor put the phone to her ear, waiting for someone to answer. “I’m going to send out a memo and tell everyone you quit your job. Obviously one of my people is working for the other team. Whoever that is will let Yenin know.”

Belinda gulped. “Who’s going to explain that to my boss? I didn’t even tell him I was leaving the office. I didn’t tell anyone about the note.”

“I will.”

Belinda nodded, trying to wrap her mind around the complexity of this situation while Taylor spoke into the phone.

She didn’t say much, but she didn’t have to. When she finished, she set the phone on the desk and met Alena’s gaze. “I think you should consider going with Belinda.”

Alena nodded. “I figured you’d say that.”

“It’s so much safer. I think we’re close to solving this, but I don’t want any more bodies added to the death toll.”

“My brother will freak. Ivan will too if I disappear without telling them.” Alena sat up straighter.

Taylor narrowed her gaze. “I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t think it was imperative. I’m sure you’ve been close to wanting to throttle your brother for the past year with the way he coddles you, but trust me when I say he probably kept you alive.”

Alena nodded, swallowing.

“Besides, we still don’t have any idea who was holding you for six months in Russia or why. But perhaps Yenin knows. It can’t be good.”

Belinda thought she might be sick. She hated to ask her next question. “Do you think he’s had people following me?”

“Every day.”

“Fuck.”

“Yep.”

Belinda lowered her gaze to the floor. “Fine. Move us to a safe house. Later. But what are we going to do about Rena?”

“I need to make some calls, come up with a game plan. Sit tight. Give me a few minutes.” Taylor stood and headed for the door. Of course. She would need someplace to speak in private.

But that didn’t make Belinda feel warm and fuzzy. It made her cringe.

When Taylor left the room, Belinda glanced at her watch. It was eleven in the morning. How long had Yenin had her cousin? Jesus.

Perhaps coming to the clinic was a bad idea. She kept second guessing herself. But the alternative was equally appalling. If she had gone straight to Rena’s house, there was every chance Yenin would have killed them both. The best case scenario she could come up with was Yenin releasing Rena and taking Belinda hostage.

And no one would have ever known what happened to Belinda.

But now?

Shit.

Alena mumbled something about using the restroom and left Belinda in Katie’s office alone.

Belinda’s heart raced in the silence, and her mind ran over the possibilities. The FBI knew what was going on. Belinda had done her job informing them.

Taylor had insisted there was no way the FBI would put Belinda’s life at risk for a trade. Not even a set-up with them watching from a distance. Too risky. They would undoubtedly surround the house to squeeze Yenin out.

But that presumed Yenin was inside. And it also presumed he didn’t have the guts to shoot Rena when cornered.

The plan sucked no matter how Belinda thought about it. Rena would undoubtedly end up dead. Even though she wasn’t Belinda’s favorite person, she was innocent in all this. And it was Belinda’s fault in the first place for attending that party and leading Yenin’s men to her family.

No. That wasn’t how she wanted the day to end.

She took a deep breath, stepped out into the hall, found no one looking, and glanced at the doors next to the office. One of them had to be an exit. She spotted the obvious choice. Would an alarm go off if she opened it?

All she could do was hope not because she was out of options. Holding her breath, she pushed the safety bar and inched the heavy metal door open. No alarm. She slid outside, slowly letting the door close behind her, and flattened herself against the brick wall.

A quick look around told her she was in a narrow alley between the clinic and the building next to it. No one else was in the alley. She turned left toward the back of the building, tugging the hood of her borrowed jacket over her head. Luckily it was chilly outside, making it not remotely strange she would bundle up.

She closed her eyes for a moment to think.

She needed to get to the L. Fast. She had enough cash in her pocket to get a ticket. A quick assessment of her surroundings oriented her to where the nearest station would be. She walked as slowly as she could manage to force herself. The less urgent she appeared, the less attention she would bring.

And God was with her. She didn’t dare glance around or behind her, no matter how badly she wanted to. She didn’t breathe for several blocks, either. If Yenin’s people were following her, what did it matter? If the FBI was following her, they would have snatched her immediately.

Shallow breaths. In. Out. In.
You can do this
.

»»•««

Nikolav slammed his fist into the speedbag in front of him for the millionth time. Sweat ran down his brow and dripped into his eyes often enough he was growing annoyed.

“You pissed off with someone, dude?”

Nikolav swung his gaze to the right to find Sergei standing there, a smirk on his face.

“Not getting laid regularly?”

Nikolav narrowed his gaze. “Fuck off.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

“You’d be wrong. Not that it’s any of your business.” Truth be told, Nikolav had never had sex so often in his life.

The problem was every time he slid into Belinda’s body, he grew more attached to her, and it scared the hell out of him. Dropping her at work on Monday had nearly made him lose his breakfast. Doing it again Tuesday, Wednesday, and today had been worse.

He shot Sergei a glare. “
You
getting laid, asshole? I hear you’ve been sleeping at Ivan’s place. What’s up with that?” He yanked off his gloves, grabbed a towel from the shelf next to him, and wiped the sweat from his face.

Sergei smirked. “Maybe I am seeing someone.”

“Seeing someone? You make it sound like you habitually date the same woman more than once.” He lifted a brow. Sergei “saw” lots of women. He always had. Usually more than one at a time. Never anything serious. For his friend to phrase it that way was out of character.

Sergei glanced away, licking his lips. “Maybe it’s none of your business. Ever think of that?”

Holy shit. Nikolav froze. The guy was interested in someone. It was written on his face. He opened his mouth to ask who she was and then thought better of it. If Sergei wanted him to know, he’d tell him.

Nikolav’s phone rang on the bench next to his water bottle. He reached over to grab it, hoping it was Belinda. He hadn’t heard from her in a few hours.

The readout said
Taylor
.

“Hello.”

“Have you spoken to Belinda in the last ten minutes?”

“No. Why?”

Taylor exhaled and then dropped a bomb he’d never expected to hear. “Briefly, Yenin’s holding her cousin hostage. Wants to make an exchange. She came to me. I was working out a plan. She gave me the slip. Gotta assume she’s on her way to Rena’s.”

“Fuck,” Nikolav bellowed, already running toward the door. Keys. He needed keys. He turned to enter the locker room first. “Text me the address.”

“On it. And Nikolav…”

He grabbed a T-shirt and his keys. As he spun around, he slammed into Sergei. He’d completely forgotten his friend’s presence the second he heard Taylor’s voice. “What?” he said into the phone as he motioned for Sergei to follow him.

“Don’t get all hot-headed. Stay in contact with me. Stay in your car. Let the police handle this.”

“Sure.” He ended the call.
Like fuck
.

It seemed like hours before Belinda stepped onto a train and grabbed the handle above her head. No way could she sit. Still, she forced herself to keep a disinterested glare toward the floor.

It would take two train changes to get to Rena’s, but she had it figured out. With each switch, she felt more confident. She was alone. She had to be.

When she finally stepped off the last train and descended the platform, she was almost breathing normally. Except now she needed to formulate her next plan. Until that moment, she’d been operating with one singular goal—get to the destination.

Now what?

As she approached Rena’s townhouse, she stepped between two of the buildings and leaned against the wall in the alley. Each building had four attached two-story homes. Rena’s was the next one over.

Belinda closed her eyes for a moment.
Think
.

Should she go to the door and knock? What the hell was Yenin going to do when he got his hands on her, and how was she going to prevent him from killing Rena anyway? Her cousin had to be out of her mind scared.

As she pushed off the wall, she turned toward the sidewalk. It wasn’t even noon yet. Yenin wasn’t expecting her for another five hours. She prayed her early arrival might give her an edge.

But before she had a chance to finish that thought, an arm came around her from behind, nearly choking her.

She opened her mouth to scream, but her assailant slammed his free hand over her mouth and dragged her body tightly against his. Her eyes went wide, but she couldn’t twist to the side to see the man’s face. The smell of his palm was putrid. Smoke. Dirt.

His lips landed on her ear, and he whispered low and menacing, “You’re early, bitch. Yenin told you five.”

So this wasn’t Yenin.

She didn’t move. She couldn’t anyway.

He pulled her deeper between the buildings toward the back. He was taller than her, and she had to scramble on tiptoes to avoid being literally dragged. Adrenaline raced through her blood.

Maybe she should bite him.

Shit
.

If she struggled, things could go badly for Rena. If she let this man take her, things could still go badly for Rena. It was a crap shoot, but Belinda had hoped to at least enter the townhouse and see her cousin alive for herself.

The man stopped before stepping out in the open. “This is what’s going to happen, bitch. You’re going to walk nicely next to me until we get to your cousin’s apartment, and then you’re going to step inside as if you came for a visit. We clear? One wrong move and she’s dead. Got it?”

Belinda struggled to nod. Anything to get him to release her.

Relief washed through her when he let go and took her hand as if they were lovers. He led/dragged her toward the townhouse.

She didn’t think there was any way in hell someone would believe they were even friends if they looked closely. She was unable to school her face to pass for anything but intense fear.

The front door was unlocked, and the man nearly shoved Belinda inside.

Another man stood two feet away when they entered.

“Belinda Gallo,” he stated. “Tsk tsk.” He glanced at his watch. “You’re about five hours early. Do you not know how to tell time?”

She ignored his taunt. “Where’s Rena?” Her voice sounded loud. Shrill.

“Asleep. She was very tired.”

Asleep?
No fucking way that was possible. Nobody could nap after being kidnapped and held hostage. “I want to see her.” She forced herself to take in the man facing her. Tall. Skinny. Too skinny. Not an ounce of fat. Short dark hair. Buzz cut. Dark eyes, almost black. A small scar on his chin.

She glanced at the man who’d led her to the house as he rounded to her side with his arms crossed. He stopped moving next to her, feet planted wide, eyes narrowed as if he intended to backhand her if she stepped out of line. He wasn’t as tall, but still taller than her five four. He was fit. Muscular. Blond. Tattoos peeked out of both sleeves of his worn, blue, concert T-shirt. Guns N’ Roses.