Russian Nights

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

It was dark and cold this night in London. And it was raining. Lucas had been sitting in his car for about half an hour now, not sure if he should leave it or not. Not sure what he should do. Just a few streets away was the safe house Nikki was in. It had been easy to find out where she was. For him, at least.

He had gotten here because he was determined to talk, find out if he could trust his instincts. And because he missed Nikki. But now that he was here, he was not sure if he should get out of the car even. His heart said Elizaveta was right, but his mind believed Ros.

Lucas stared at the raindrops running down the window of his car. He needed to speak to Nikki. He had hardly slept in the past two nights because he was sick with worry. Lucas looked out into the pouring rain again and shuddered. In truth, he was not sure he could even manage the few minutes’ walk out there. The rain. He was… afraid.

Lucas took a deep breath and tried to calm his racing heartbeat. Don’t panic. This was what made it so horrible, the panic. If he could keep his panic under control everything was fine. And the water out of his face. Lucas pulled the hood on his jacket up and deep into his face. It was just 2, 3 minutes tops outside. And it was only rain. Nothing to worry about.

Lucas took another deep breath and quickly exited the car, keeping his head low all the time. He must not get water on his face. He walked swiftly through the streets, barely looking up and just barely knowing he was going in the right direction. If there were other people on the street they would have to avoid him, he could not look up to check.

The rain was falling heavier and the sound of it hitting the ground was a low drumming in Lucas’ ears. He felt the wetness on his hands and shoved them in his pockets. Don’t panic. It is just rain. But Lucas could feel the panic rising in his throat, his heart beat faster, he felt like he could not breathe properly… He broke out in a run, keeping his head low, heading for the door in the distance.

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Nikki was sitting in the small bedroom in the safe house she was being kept. She had her knees drawn up to her chest and the blanket wrapped around her. Ros had again asked her a lot of questions about things Nikki had no clue about, told her that she had betrayed Lucas and that he did not want to see her anymore. Nikki was exhausted after that, tired and sad. Had Lucas really chosen not so speak to her? Did he think maybe that she had really tricked him? Nikki shivered.

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Lucas stopped under the small roof over the main door and leant against the wall, catching his breath. Safety. No more rain. He shook off the hood and ran a hand over his face. His heart was still racing, pumping adrenaline through his veins. He took a few deep and slow breaths, feeling how the panic ebbed away slowly and left his exhausted. He leant back against the wall, feeling the bricks against his back. It was alright. He rubbed a hand over his face again and straightened up before sending a text to Jo.

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Jo was sitting in the safe house, looking through the intel Lucas had found when she got a text. She picked up her phone. It was from Lucas. “I am outside, let me in, please.” She got up. Outside? He had come here, to the safe house?

Jo rushed to the front door and opened it. There was Lucas, standing in front of her with his jacket dripping wet, looking tired and defeated even in the dim lights. “Come in.” She quickly said. “What are you doing here?” she asked as Lucas shed his jacket, leaving it on a counter in the hall. “I need to speak to Nikki.” He whispered. “I need to know, if…” He stopped. Jo nodded, she knew what he meant even if Lucas could not say the words.