Page 177 of The Harbinger

“Ruslan Vladomirovich has ordered you to stay in your room until the results have come in.”

My head snapped up, the muscles in my jaw tensing as I glared at her. “Excuse me?”

“He wants you—”

“Oh no. I heard you.” I jumped from my seat on the stairs. “Ruslan doesn’t live here and doesn’t control me.”

“Sacha agreed.”

I stumbled back, my hand flying to my chest as my heart pounded wildly against my ribcage. “Come again?”

“Sacha agreed with him.”

“Where is he?” I shoved past her and darted for his office. “I want to speak to him.”

“He’s working and won’t be in until late.”

“This is bullshit.”

Vlad stepped out of the kitchen, his gaze bouncing between Katya and me. “What’s going on?”

“She’s upset about—”

“Where is Sacha?”

Vlad huffed through his nose. “He’s at work.”

“That’s what I told her.”

My eyes narrowed toward Katya. “I want to speak to him. Now.”

“He’ll be in meetings all day.”

“I don’t care.” I shook my head. “Call him.” My blood turned into a simmering vat of hot oil, causing my hands to shake and my chin to tremble. “Now, or I will raise unholy terror down on this house until someone gets him on the phone.”

Vlad muttered under his breath as he reached into his pocket, pecked something on his phone, then put it to his ear.

One. Two. Three.

“This is unnecessary, Mia. He’ll be back today.”

“I wish you wouldn’t speak to me,” I said coldly, my words laced with disappointment. My friendship with her had been shattered when she showed her true colors. “We have nothing left to say to each other.”

Vlad extended the phone towards me, his words succinct. “Take it.”

I ripped the phone from his hands and walked away from him, desperate to hear his voice and forthemnot to hear mine. “Sacha?”

“Mia, what is it?”

“Did you order them to keep me in my room?”

He sighed, the image of him pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation forming in my mind, though I’d never seen him do it before. “Yes, Ruslan insisted, and I agreed. It’ll keep you out of trouble.”

I glanced over my shoulder to Katya and Vlad, who stood close together, their gazes fixed on me. “You mean so I won’t run away?”

“Is that what you intend on doing?”

“You prom—”