I convinced Nikola I needed Luka. Thought as soon as we left we’d all be safe. But the Prince of Budapest never meant to let me go without collateral.

How long have they been watching me? How easy was it for him to see my soft spot for Ana, for whom the moon rises and sets on Nino?

“Which of them did this?” Piotrek demands.

“Nikola,” I say, hoarse.

“Where would they take him? He can’t be that far.”

“Listen.” Luka turns up the volume. Drone of an engine.

I move toward him, force myself to watch the full twenty-two seconds from the beginning, to take in the dark interior, the jostle of the phone recording the video, the metal floor beneath him. “He’s in a semi trailer. He could be anywhere.”

I press my fingers against my eyes. One toss of my mask. A grand-bow exit. Claudia’s wrong—I didn’t give the finger to everyone, just to Nikola.

This is my fault.

I take it all back—the bravado, the insinuation. The accusations, the snark.

I have to find Nikola. To say I’ll do it. I’ll find it and give it to him, say I’m sorry—whatever he wants to hear.

Claudia’s phone rings in Luka’s hand. She stares across the room at it, face stricken.

“Answer it,” I say. She takes it from him as one in a trance. Answers, and then holds it toward me.

“It’s for you,” she whispers.

I snatch it to my ear. “Who is this?”

“Audra.” Tibor.

I move out of earshot of Ana. “Where’s Nino?” I hiss.

“Is it true what you said?”

“Yes,” I say, not knowing what he’s even referring to, trying to replay the conversation now jumbled in my head. “Isn’t it obvious that he’s playing you? We just got a video of Nino beaten half to death in a truck! If you think for a minute that I’m going to do anything to help you—”

“I didn’t know about your mother. What Nikola said about murdering her . . . Progeny don’t turn on their own.”

“Nikola’s a killer, Tibor. Criminally insane. Where’s Nino?” I demand.

“I don’t know! I just heard that he was taken near the edge of the city.”

“Then tell me where to find Nikola.”

“You don’t just find Nikola! He finds you! Forget Nino. He’s as good as dead.”

I spin away, out of earshot of Ana. “Don’t say that!”

“I’m sending you Jester. It’s the best I can do.”

“I don’t want Jest—”

The call clicks off. I stare at the phone and then throw it across the room.

When I turn, even Piotrek’s face is white.

“We have to go,” I say.

We leave ten minutes later, Luka practically carrying a catatonic Ana to the car.

“Where?” Piotrek says as we leave the old upper city.