Nita’s eyes drifted across the street to the hotel. Too late?

She needed to get back to Kovit. Now.

Her mother’s hand reached across and grabbed Nita’s shoulder. “You’re not thinking of running off without me, are you?”

Nita swallowed, part of her wondering if she could break her mother’s iron hold, the rest of her knowing it was impossible.

Her mother slid an arm around Nita’s shoulders. Nita kept her back straight and tried to lean away as she was yanked close to her mother. “Why don’t we go up and visit him together?”

“Let go.” Nita tried to make her voice firm, but it came out as a squeak of terror.

Her mother held on tighter. “I don’t think so.”

They walked back across the street, Nita’s steps stumbling and awkward as they entered the hotel and boarded the elevator.

“You know, Nita,” her mother said, shaking her head, “I tried to be nice. I tried to give you a little bit of freedom so you could understand why coming home was important. But you just kept running off on your own and talking about not coming back. It was terribly rude.”

Nita didn’t say anything, her throat too choked with fear, her mind too occupied running through escape plans, each more elaborate and doomed to failure than the last.

“You’ve led me on a merry chase, but it’s time for it to end.” Her mother’s voice was hard.

The words were out of Nita’s mouth before she could stop herself. “And if I don’t fall in line, you’ll kill me like you did Nadya?”

Her mother raised her eyebrows. “Well, someone’s been talking to people.”

“You didn’t answer me.”

“If you’re smart and see the wisdom in coming home, I won’t have to resort to drastic measures.” Her mother’s tone was steady, but Nita could hear the anger underneath. “Nadya was too corrupted by her time with that monster. But you’re younger, you’ve been influenced less. I’m sure it won’t come to that.”

Nita couldn’t help the small, hysterical laugh that bubbled up.

Her mother was delusional. Absolutely, completely delusional. She was so lost in her own world, so focused on controlling every piece of the people around her, that she made up these elaborate reasons why no one would come back to her. She couldn’t acknowledge that no one ever wanted to be under someone else’s control—especially not someone like her mother.

“What’s so funny?” her mother asked.

Nita just shook her head, fear bubbling in her chest. “So, what? Are you going to shoot Kovit?”

“Nonsense.” Her mother smiled as the elevator dinged on their floor. “I have something much more illuminating in mind.”