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“You knohich tea I like, Lena,” Dania says “That lovely licorice and verbena homemade brew of yours”

“Yes,the room

Dania addresses me “Tell us about your trip to the States”

Not in the mood to discuss uely, “It was great”

Alex stretches his arer over the naked skin of my exposed shoulder “Too short, I’m afraid”

We make small talk for another few minutes, and then the discussion turns to business, which excludes me from the conversation

Lena arrives with a tray that she puts on the coffee table She pours herbal tea from a small porcelain teapot for Dania and offerseveryone a slice of Tima’s almond cake, she leaves

Alex pours the vodka and hands Mikhail a glass It see hard liquor, but I know it’s a Russian custom Mikhail drones on about the business while we finish our tea He’s in theabruptly

Placing a hand over her stomach, she says, “I don’t feel well Kate, can you please accompany me to the bathroom?”

“Of course,” I say, already on my feet

The men stand, their brows pleated

“Shall I call a doctor?” Mikhail asks

“It’s just a little nausea, Papa”

I rush after Dania as she hurries to the door

“Katerina is a nurse,” Alex says “She’ll let us knoe need to call”

Dania knows her way around the house She runs for the guest bathrooainst the wall as she opens it

I follow and close the door for privacy Her face is pale and sweat beads on her forehead She looks like she’s on the verge of vo Just in case, I open the toilet lid

“How do you feel?” I ask “Only nauseated or do you also have stomach cramps?”

“Listen toent tone “We don’t haveto be sick Really sick”

I lean away, taking in her feverish face “What are you talking about?”

“The tea Lena slipped so into it”

“What?” I exclaim

She gives me a shake “Listen to me This is your only chance to escape” She tips her chin toward the toilet stall “There’s a bag behind the door Get changed Soon, there will beThey’ll think it’s poisoning My father is going to rush et into the car with hiet into the second car My bodyguard is the driver Lie down in the back He’ll take you to the airport Lena packed you a bag It’s already inside the trunk with money and a false passport”