Chapter 2 - THE PRICE OF TRUTH
The penthouse suite of the Grandeur Hotel felt like a different world.
Lena stood awkwardly in the center of the massive living room, surrounded by velvet furniture and priceless art.
Victor poured himself a glass of whiskey, skipping the champagne entirely.
He handed a glass of water to Lena, noticing how her hands still shook.
"My men checked the kitchen," Victor said, pacing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows.
"Leon planted a duplicate glass with your fingerprints on it, just like Dmitri said."
"If you hadn't slapped that tray away, I would be dead, and the police would be hunting you."
Lena swallowed hard, the reality of the situation finally crashing down on her shoulders.
"I have to go home," she said, her voice cracking with desperation.
"My fifteen-year-old brother is watching my sick mother, and I promised I would be home before midnight."
Victor stopped pacing and looked at her with a mixture of pity and stern authority.
"You cannot go back to your apartment, Lena."
"Leon has loyalists in my organization, and they know you ruined their coup."
"If you walk out those doors, they will kill you before you reach the subway."
Lena felt a hot tear spill down her cheek as panic seized her chest.
"But my family," she sobbed.
"Daniel doesn't know what to do if my mother’s breathing gets worse."
Victor set his whiskey glass down on the glass table with a heavy thud.
May you like
"Give Dmitri your address," Victor said gently.
"I will handle it."
