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Chapters (50)
  1. Cover
  2. VIOLET
  3. VIOLET
  4. Dedication
  5. Epigraph
  6. Contents
  7. Prologue
  8. 1
  9. 2
  10. 3
  11. 4
  12. 5
  13. 6
  14. 7
  15. 8
  16. 9
  17. 10
  18. 11
  19. 12
  20. 13
  21. 14
  22. 15
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. 18
  26. 19
  27. 20
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. 23
  31. 24
  32. 25
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. 33
  41. 34
  42. 35
  43. 36
  44. 37
  45. 38
  46. 39
  47. Epilogue
  48. Acknowledgements
  49. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  50. Copyright

It was easy to talk to Sam, I realise now – but it felt almost impossible at the time. I glance around at the table where the Sam-lookalike sits with his friends, and I think about going over there, giving them my biggest grin. Trying to merge in with their plans. Act like I’m just like them.

But I can’t.

Russian number two comes back with our drinks, and I know I’ve chosen this path now.

‘Za zdorov’e!’ says Russian number one. We all smash our glasses together, but they don’t chink, because they’re plastic. I take a long, slow drink. I can feel their eyes on me, so I smile. They grin back, and there’s a hint of something else under the surface. Something dangerous. I like it.

Russian number two moves around the small table until his arm brushes against mine. ‘You want to go to party?’

‘Fun party,’ says Russian number one. ‘We look after you.’ He points to his chest. ‘Sergei—’

‘And Lev,’ the other one cuts in. They’re both grinning, delighted with themselves for managing to ensnare me. Or so they think.

I drain my drink, and grin back. ‘Sure. Why not?’

24

I manage to convince my two new friends – Sergei and Lev – that I have to return to the hotel first, to freshen up, and also to collect my friend. Their eyes light up at the second statement, and I’m quite sure that Carrie and I are in for a wild night, in their eyes at least. They give me an address, and when I check the map on the way back to the hotel, I see that it’s up in the area of the historic wooden houses. Carrie will get to see them after all. I’m feeling nicely buzzed from the beers and the compliments, and even though I have no intention of letting things go any further with either of these men, I feel a bit better than I did earlier.

Thoughts of Sam are pushed firmly to the back of my mind, for now, at least.

When I get back to the hotel, Carrie is up and dressed, and looking a lot better than she did this morning. I notice that she’s unpacked my bag and hung everything up. I want to say something but I can’t, because I did the same to hers, didn’t I? A fleeting memory passes – something stuffed into the side pocket of my bag in the ger. Did she put something in there?

‘Having a look through my stuff? Go for it, you won’t find anything.’ I try to make it sound light, jokey, but from the expression on her face, I don’t think I’ve succeeded.