Who was that man? And why did Alexei react like that? Somehow, I make it back to my desk and sit down, opening my laptop.
Then I check back to Yulia's file that she sent to me, searching for the photo. Immediately I find it, I zoom into it. There’s nothing really special about the man apart from the fact that he’s older, and he just wears an expensive suit. But despite that, I save the image to my desktop. This photo is too important to risk.
Alexei underestimates me if he thinks I’ll just let this go.
Perhaps if I investigate, if I contribute something, he’ll want to involve me. Things might improve. He might open up again. I pick up my phone and scroll through my contacts until I find the name I need.
Sergei. My old boss. I don’t think there’s anybody in the shady business he doesn’t know.
But I stall for a moment. Alexei specifically didn’t want to discuss this. Calling Sergei crosses a line. Still, I need to do something. I need to feel useful.
I hit call before I can change my mind.
It rings three times. Then a rough, familiar voice crackles through. “This is a surprise - the Pakhan’s wife calling me.” He’s amused.
I clear my throat. “I need information.”
"You married Alexei Romanov; quite the upgrade from our shabby office.” He chuckles.
“Sure.” I skip the niceties. “I have a question about someone in a photograph.”
“About?” His tone shifts, becoming more professional.
“There’s someone in one of my photographs. I need an ID.”
He doesn’t respond immediately. “Alright. Send the photo. I’ll check my sources.”
“I appreciate this, Sergei.” My shoulders relax slightly.
“But Zoya?” His voice turns serious.
“What?” I know I won’t like what’s coming.
“Be careful. If you’re asking about someone your husband doesn’t want you to know about… that’s dangerous. And I’m certain you didn’t talk to him about this.”
“I understand the risk.” I sound more certain than I feel.
“For some reason, I highly doubt that.” His skepticism is clear. “But it’s your funeral.”
I hang up without a word, pulling up the photo and thumbing it into a new message. I hesitate at the final step. This is it. Once I send this, there’s no going back. Alexei will find out eventually, and he’ll be furious.
But I need to know. I need to understand what made him shut down like that. I hit send and hold my breath, watching the message deliver until the read receipt finally appears.
I wait, my eyes locked on the phone as I oscillate between a desperate need for answers and a paralyzing dread of what they might be.
Chapter 38
Zoya
Iwake up to Alexei’s hand on my stomach, his palm warm and possessive even in sleep. Our bodies are pressed together, his front to my back, his arm securing me to him. I look to the side of my bed to check the time. Fuck it’s seven in the morning, usually I’m up before it even clocks 8. It’s a bad habit, I know, but sleep has continued to evade me.
Recently, my back has been hurting a lot, and so has my foot. This pregnancy is already starting out hard, and it’s not even been five months yet. One more symptom to add to the list. I should have stuck with the list, but noooo, I wanted dick so badly.
Alexei,” I moan into the pillow.
“Yeah?”
“My feet are killing me.”