My eyes pop open to bright sunshine streaming through a gap in the drapes and the sound of Kir babbling to himself. I lever myself upright and try to get out of bed.

Ouch!

I flop back on the pillows.

My entire body aches, as if I did CrossFit yesterday and maybe also got punched; my head feels like someone had a go at it with a freaking sledge-hammer, and my mouth is dry as desert sand.

Breathing out a deep groan, I reach for the bottle of water on my nightstand. The liquid hits my stomach with a rush, making it churn.

Urgh!

Slowly, I swivel my legs from under the sheets.

The room starts spinning around me.

With shaky steps, I make my way to the ensuite. My reflection stares back at me, panda eyes indicating I didn't even use makeup remover before I went to bed.

I bare my teeth.

Stupid bitch!

But I was so freaking scared.

Scared of Vadim.

Scared of the situation in which I'd deliberately placed myself.

I drank to ease my nerves, the nerves threatening to rip my performance apart.

I'm a good actress if I'm not nervous. When I was studying dance, I got amazing grades for my acting skills; I was able to interpret the story, evoking the emotions of the characters I played in my routines so realistically it was like I became them.

Last night, no one would have guessed I was practically pooping my panties.

Except I needed the crutch of alcohol to help me, especially before going with Natasha to the rest room.

I close my eyes, a sour taste filling my mouth.

We'd stood fixing our makeup after using the facilities. Natasha took her lipstick from her purse and asked, "Has Gleb got any other properties besides his place in Fairwood?"

The question had come out of nowhere, and I was immediately suspicious. I mean, why would she want to know something like that unless Vadim had primed her to ask me?

"He has no connections with anywhere else in the States but here," I'd lied, swallowing the lump of anxiety in my throat. "Gleb was born in Russia and used to live in London."

"When did you and he get together?" She turned and stared at me, looking me up and down.

I'd taken a deep breath to calm my thudding heart.

Vadim must have spies everywhere. He'll know Gleb and I haven't been dating.

You gotta give the performance of your life, Eva, I'd said to myself.

Act like you're aiming for an Oscar. Maybe Vadim has cameras in the restrooms.

I'd fluttered my eyelashes and composed my face into a dreamy expression. "It only happened a week ago. After my shift ended. We kissed, and one thing led to another..." I’d caught my lip between my teeth. "He's incredible," I’d sighed, "like an animal in bed and so damn hot." I'd fixed her in my gaze.

A smile had curled her mouth but didn't quite glimmer in her eyes. "Is that so?" She'd pulled me toward her in a fake hug. "Congratulations." Then she’d whispered in my ear again. "Meet me for lunch and I'll tell you something I can't tell you here." She'd glanced up at a blinking light above us, confirming my suspicions.

Jesus, what have I gotten myself into?

Last night, alcohol had given me false confidence; now I'm not so sure.

I really shouldn't have drunk so much.

In the Mercedes, after Gleb had kissed me, I couldn't help wanting more.

I should have learned my lesson from what happened the first time, the time when Kir was conceived. Booze tends to make me horny as well as over-confident, which is why I usually avoid drinking.

Now I'm totally screwed.

Not only have I arranged a lunch date with a woman who has more brains than I'd given her credit for, but Gleb will expect me and him to continue where we left off yesterday.

And I can't do that.

I really can't do that.

Maybe I don't hate him as much as before, but I've got to keep him from finding out about Kir.

He wouldn't consider me a good enough mother.

Not with my mental health issues, which he'd almost certainly find out about.

He'd want to take my son away from me.

My heart aches as I think about how that would destroy me; there's a soreness in my throat and lungs.

I grit my teeth; I'd fight him tooth and nail, but he's a powerful man with infinite resources.

He'd use them against me, I'm sure of it.

My eyes reflect in the mirror, dull, wet and red-rimmed from the excesses of last night.

I stutter out a shaky breath.

If I lose Kir, I'll lose everything.

"Mama", my baby cries out from his toddler bed, clearly ready to start the day.

Quickly, I splash my hungover face with cold water and head back into the bedroom.

My gorgeous boy holds out his arms for me to lift him up. I kiss his soft warm cheeks and take him to the changing table.

First things first; he's soaking wet.

I put on a fresh diaper as fast as I can to avoid receiving a jet of piss in my face. Then I fasten the tabs and tickle him under the ribs, unleashing a peel of giggles. I dress him in clean jogger pants and a t-shirt before bending to plant a kiss on his cute little nose.

"Zavtrak?" he asks, wanting his breakfast.

I place his feet on the floor and hold his hand. "Come on, sinochek. Let's go find Ded and Baba."

Except there's only my mom sitting at the kitchen table. She looks up at me. "Did you have a nice time last night?"

"It was a business dinner, Mama," I can't keep the snark from my tone. "I was doing my job. I have to do what my boss says." No need to tell her it was me who took matters into my own stupid hands. "Remember you and Papa sold me to that beast for a year?"

And now I'm in deep shit.

Mama reaches across and pats my shoulder. "We had no alternative, my dear."

"There are always alternatives," I shoot her an angry look.

The irony of my situation isn't lost on me, and I snort out a laugh.

I drink several pints of water and by mid-morning my headache has subsided. It's a beautiful day outside, crisp and clear.

I'll take Kir out in his buggy, go for a walk in the park then maybe we'll fit in some shopping. I'd so like to buy him a new toy with some of the money I've earned from tips.

We do as I plan, taking sandwiches for our lunch, which we eat sitting on a bench after I've pushed him on the toddler swings.

Without warning, the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. Call it a sixth sense, but I'm sure someone is watching us.

Jesus, could Vadim have discovered where I live? I wouldn't put it past him to get someone to tail me and discover if what I told Natasha last night is true.

My stomach gives a lurch and my breath bursts in and out.

He mustn't find out about Kir.

I swivel around.

No one.

Just my freaking imagination playing tricks on me.

The Mall is only a short walk from the park, and soon we're in the toy store.

Again, I feel that prickling sensation.

Snooping eyes are on me, I'm sure of it.

Cold drops of dread run down my spine and I shiver.

Act like nothing is wrong, Eva.

I buy Kir a big bag of plastic building bricks, and then I hide behind a tall stack of books, heart hammering.

Slowly, I peek from behind the pile.

Oh my God, it's Brash. What the hell is he doing in a toy store? And, more to the point, was it he who was following me?

I grab hold of Kir's buggy and turn around, ready to high tail it out of here. Except, my foot must have nudged the books.

As if in slow motion, they wobble, topple and fall.

Shit!

Kir lets out a shriek of laughter and claps his hands together.

Brash rushes up and bends to pick up the books.

I stand with my legs planted firmly apart, hands on my hips. "Were you stalking me?" I come right out with it, anger fizzing through my veins.

He simply shrugs.

An assistant arrives and asks us to get out of the way. She'll manage, she says.

"Uncle Gleb gave me the job of tailing you," Brash admits frankly as we make our way out of the store. "For your protection," he adds, indicating with his hand toward a tough-looking man who has come up behind us.

One of Gleb's boyeviks, no doubt.

Nostrils flaring, I jab my finger toward Brash's smug-looking face. "How dare your uncle violate my privacy like this?" There's a pounding in my ears. "God, I hate him. He's such a beast. I don't know how you can bear to be around him."

Ignoring my outburst, Brash crouches down next to Kir. "Hey, buddy. What's your name?"

My heart skips a beat.

Kir gazes at him with his big blue eyes and holds out his bag of bricks.

Brash looks up at me. "This your kid brother?"

"Yes," I lie, dry mouthed. "Kir."

"Cool name," Brash unleashes his cocky grin. He takes my son's hand and shakes it. "Pleased to meet ya." He stares at Kir, frowning. "You have the same eyes as my Uncle Gleb..."

Kir lifts his head and gives me a questioning look. "Mama?"

Fuck!

I try to bluff my way out of the situation, saying Kir calls everyone Mama, but Brash shakes his head. "Your son is a Sokolov. I'm sure of it. He looks like my half-brother, Nikolai. The genes are evident."

Terror rips through me. I bend, unbuckle Kir from his buggy, and clutch him close. He lets out a wail in response to my fear. "Please don't tell Gleb," I beg. "He'll try and take my baby away from me."

Brash stands up and touches his hand to mine. "He'll be stoked to have a son," he says calmly, "but he wouldn't be so mean as to separate a mother from her child."

I'd like so much to believe him, but I can't let myself. "Please," I repeat, "please don't say anything."

"You should give Gleb a chance, Eva. He's a good guy beneath his tough exterior."

I shake my head. "I don't trust him."

"When he knows Kir is his, he'll earn that trust." Brash's voice is firm.

"You're gonna tell him?" I lift my chin, fear flushing through me.

"No, you're gonna tell him. I'll just inform him that you have a baby. He worked out you were hiding something from him, which is one of the reasons why I was given the job of following you. That and his concern for you. I have to report back what I saw." He gives me a half-smile. "And I will. If you don't fess up by the weekend, I'll comment how much Kir looks like a Sokolov and he'll work it out for himself."

Fingers fumbling, I return Kir to his buggy and pull him away.

Got to get out of here. I'll deal with the consequences later. Flight, then fight.

"Don't you fucking dare follow us, Brash," I call out over my shoulder.