As was typical of her, Galina had been caught up in doing so many things that morning that she now was going to have to rush to make it in time. Taking off from work, even if she was only planning on stepping out for a short while, took considerable effort and careful planning. She never really believed that anyone could do it as well as her, and was usually proven right whenever she had found a replacement in the past. As she hurried behind the counter to change into a pair of outdoor shoes and grab her purse, Galina tried to ignore the sour look her husband was shooting at her back.

"I hope that isn't the face you're going to wear when greeting customers," Galina couldn't help but snarl as she headed for the door.

Her remark only made Dmitri look even more surly. Glowering at her as he leaned back in the chair he hadn't moved from in at least an hour. He'd sat there nibbling at biscuits and sipping coffee that he at least had had enough sense to fetch for himself, while he watched Galina bustle around getting everything organized so that she would feel comfortable leaving for the speech presentations being given at Vasily's school.

"Well, how long are you going to be?" Dmitri complained resentfully. He brushed some crumbs from the front of his shirt and then stood up to go place his dishes in the sink.

"I don't know," Galina shrugged her shoulders. "An hour? An hour and a half, maybe?"

"Well, you better make sure you're back in time for lunch," Dmitri said warningly. "It's too much for one person to handle if we get hit at noon."

"I used to manage it alone all the time, and that was with three little boys hanging off of me," Galina reminded him, the corners of her mouth tugged persuasively at the memory, making the muscles in her face feel oddly sore. The last couple of weeks had been especially trying and it had at least been days since she had felt like smiling.

"Anyway, I'll be back," she proceeded to say. Nodding her head at the sink he had just deposited his dishes in. A few mixing bowls, and the measuring cups, and spoons, she used for baking were also set inside. One of the things she hadn't gotten to before needing to leave.

"You could do the dishes, you know," she reminded him with a pointed look.

Dmitri shrugged his shoulders at her in response. It was obvious from the grimace on his face that he thought he was doing more than enough for her already.

"I could have found someone to work the morning if you had wanted to come," Galina stated flatly. "But if you don't want to, then why should I spend money on help when you're not doing anything anyway?"

"You never told me that," Dmitri argued.

"Yes, I did," Galina replied.

"Nope," Dmitri shook his head. "And if you had really wanted me there you would have made more effort."

"I don't want you," Galina said shortly. "I've been attending those boys' events all by myself since they started school. Why should now be any different?"

She didn't wait for him to respond. Slinging her purse over one shoulder, Galina walked briskly towards the door of the store, giving the place a quick once over as she did. She'd put so much of her heart and effort into running this place all these years. She didn't like leaving it in somebody else's hands, especially Dmitri, whose incompetence and laziness had become abundantly clearer throughout their marriage. The only thing that could pull her away from her beloved shop was her three sons. Galina didn't think she had ever missed out on any monumental moment in their lives. Her presence was something they had always been able to count on.

Even now, with her mind a whirl of anxieties and fears, she still was finding a way to push that down long enough to head over to the school and be there for her son like she was expected to be. Work kept her head filled with distractions most of the time, but for weeks every quiet moment had been wrought with bad thoughts and growing concerns. Even walking down, the block on a gorgeous day, with the sun shining, and the air warm on her face proved no different. Galina almost wished she had brought Dmitri along with her after all, if only because being irritated with him would have kept her mind off everything else that was going wrong.

Yuri's confrontation had been causing her unprecedented distress. It made the situation seem even more dire and, in a way, more "real" than it had been before. While she had always known, of course, that what she was doing was wrong, seeing that disappointment and suspicion in her son's eyes had made it impossible to ignore. How exactly, after always insisting her children follow the rules and disciplining them accordingly when they didn't, would they ever respect her again after learning she was nothing but a common criminal?

Her hypocrisy was astounding and she knew that Yuri at least would never cease to point it out. Already she could feel the dynamic between herself and her oldest son shifting dramatically. He didn't confide in her like he normally would and even the looks he gave her seemed wrought with mistrust and suspicion, like her even saying the most basic of things should suddenly be questioned. Despite not having the details, Yuri now knew with certainty that his mother was involved in things she shouldn't be and watching him pull away from her emotionally was breaking her heart.

Since the moment Yuri had been laid in her arms and made her a mother, her life had revolved around her children. The role had come naturally to her and even on difficult days it had been what she wanted to do with her life. She'd worried about her boys their entire lives, questioned every choice she made, and tried to do everything right in raising them into young men she would be proud of. It seems she had succeeded at that.

Yuri stood on the brink of adulthood as an intelligent and stubborn individual, with a keen sense of right and wrong. He had become a better person than his mother, and all Galina could think was that she needed to find a way to fix her mistakes before they made thing even worse between them. She just didn't know how to go about doing that exactly.

The only thing she could think was that she needed to sit down with Ganya and just simply state that she wasn't willing to launder money through her store anymore and that she wanted to step away from her involvement in Neptune's as well. Her silence was golden and he could count upon her discretion for life. She'd never do anything to put him or his other men at risk, she just didn't want to have that risk on herself anymore. Her debt was paid, she'd been useful to him in several different ways, but now it was time to get out. She had hoped that Ganya would be understanding.

Though the trouble with that plan was that Ganya had made himself incredibly scarce that last few weeks. He hadn't come by to see her and he hadn't returned any of her calls. It wasn't uncommon for Ganya to switch numbers though, in order to stay under the radar, and it was possible that he'd just been too occupied by other things lately to let her know.

However, Galina couldn't escape the nagging suspicion that the mob boss was upset with her about something. There was only one possibility she could think of, and that was that he had gotten wind about her wanting to get out and that this was his retaliation. Ganya had eyes and ears all over this city and his silence was very ominous to her. She couldn't help but overthink and assume the worst, when she was on the verge of likely angering the man, she had worked so hard to please for years. Ganya didn't seem like the sort of man that you could simply turn in a resignation letter to and then walk away, but that was exactly what she had to do.

XXX

She'd been speed walking down the street, hardly aware of her surroundings and more focused on getting to the school on time. However, she had to pass the warehouse for Neptune's Produce on her way and despite being in a rush, her stride slowed to that of a casual stroll as Ganya's business came into view.

From the outside it looked just like any other of the many factories and company headquarters that were situated in this part of town. Galina halted to allow a delivery truck to turn off the street and head into the back where she knew the loading dock to be. The driver nodded his head in recognition to her, and though Galina had never learned his name, she knew him to be the little bald Russian man that Ganya had hired to drive his shipments to Litchfield every week.

Was the truck driver complicit in Ganya's criminal conspiracy? It was hard to say. The man only delivered produce, the same way Dmitri used to pack boxes in the warehouse before the Reznikovs' had gotten in much deeper. Yet, Dmitri had always known that his boss was a crook and he'd turned a blind eye to it for several years before actively desiring to climb the ranks. Dmitri might be content to point the finger at his wife now and blame it all on her, but they all knew he'd have willingly participated in it all, if Ganya hadn't pushed him out first.

"You want overtime? I've got another load for you to drive out today," a familiar Russian voice could be heard saying over the rumble of the idling truck. Galina didn't even have to turn around to confirm that the speaker was Ganya. Standing on the loading dock in a pair of dark-washed jeans and a burgundy knit sweater, Ganya looked stern and professional at the same time.

Galina hesitated for just a fraction of an instant before passing the fence and entering the warehouse compound. She didn't know why she should be nervous to approach Ganya, except that him being so clearly in close proximity to her all these weeks confirmed her fear that he had been intentionally avoiding her. He could have picked up a phone or stopped by the shop for a few minutes like she had asked him to. Ganya had never had any trouble doing that whenever he had wanted something from her in the past. For awhile, summoning her for the smallest hurdle he faced had seemed to be his favourite occupation.

"Load up the trailer," Ganya instructed a group of men who had just walked out of the warehouse doors to join him on the loading dock.

Though he had to be aware of her approaching, Ganya refused to look at her for the longest time. He kept his eyes firmly on his employees. With his arms crossed over his chest he looked every bit of the formidable boss that he played so well. This was all part of his game, one of the several roles he acted out in his tangled web of deception that many had gotten stuck in.

Ganya had been so complementary and friendly to Galina and her children since she'd begun helping him out. Yet, there was no trace of that friendliness to be detected when he at last turned to face her. Galina feel an uneasy chill crawl up her back and knew immediately that Dmitri had been right to remind her that this was not a good man. Leaving this operation was not going to be easy. Nothing in comparison with falling into Ganya's trap would ever be simple again.

"What are you doing here, Galina?" Ganya asked, his tone expressionless, when she at last reached the foot of the loading dock.

"I've been trying to reach you," Galina replied, tilting her head back to look up at the man. From her place on the ground, and himself on the stage that put him several feet above her, Ganya looked like a giant. The angle made Galina feel very small and insignificant. As though they hadn't spent the better part of the last few years conspiring together and behaving like friends.

"I've been busy, as you can see," Ganya replied smoothly, motioning to the crew that was loading up the waiting truck precisely and silently.

"I haven't really been keeping in contact with anyone."

"Yes, but this is important," Galina said, her voice raising an octave in urgency. "I've been trying to talk to you for weeks."

"If you've lasted that long, then surely it can wait another day. No?" Ganya asked boredly.

He looked down at the woman situated below him and sighed. His lip curled in the slightest display of sympathy. His untangled his crossed arms and brought his finger up to his mouth in consideration.

"Listen, Galina…" Ganya exhaled another deep breath. In a first human act he walked down the steps from the loading dock so that he could join her on the ground.

"I already know what you want to talk to me about," he said quietly, once he had reached her side.

"You do?" Galina replied softly.

"Of course," Ganya scoffed. "Why do you think I've been keeping such a low profile? This is exactly why you shouldn't be here right now."

"But-"

"You need to go," Ganya said firmly, waving his hand impatiently back towards the street. "Don't try to contact me again. I'll be in touch soon."

Galina's blue eyes widened in horror and confusion. She didn't know exactly what he was referring to and didn't think he actually had an inkling at all about what she'd wanted to discuss. Ganya's mind seemed to be occupied by something much more ominous than one of his most valued team members wanting out.

Ganya didn't give her a chance for rebuttal or to ask him any more questions. With his face cold and devoid of emotion, he turned to go back the way he had come. Up the stairs, Ganya walked across the cement loading dock to the heavy metal doors that men were still carrying boxes of produce out of. He slipped between them gracefully and disappeared into the warehouse.

Fully aware of all the workers' eyes upon her, Galina avoided looking at everyone. There didn't seem to be anything else to do if Ganya refused to speak to her. Clenching her teeth and swallowing back the lump in her throat, Galina walked back towards the street feeling more lost that she had perhaps ever felt in her life. She was very alone.

XXX

Yet, despite wanting nothing more than to go home and pull the covers up over her head, Galina managed to drag herself the rest of the way to Vasily's middle school. She arrived several minutes late and had to stand against the back wall because all the seats were taken. Her eyes surveyed over the scene before her; fidgeting adolescents in the audience, a boy she recognized from Vasily's class at the podium, and her own son sitting in the line-up of chairs at the back of the stage. He was restlessly thumbing through his index cards, a sign that relieved his mother because it meant she hadn't missed his turn.

I need to get that boy a haircut, she noted to herself as she watched him carefully from across the auditorium. His thick dark locks kept falling into his face as he stooped over his index cards, which were balanced on his bouncing knee. It was obvious to his mother that he was nervous. She wished she had managed to make it there in time to catch him before he went up on stage. So that he would at least know she was there for him.

As if on cue, Vasily lifted his head up at that precise moment and scanned the room like he was searching for someone. His eyes combed through the sea of people until they at last landed on her. And when he spotted his mother standing by the door, his face broke out into a genuine smile for an instant. It was obvious that her presence still meant a lot to him and that she had done the right thing by showing up, even if she really hadn't wanted to.

She stood there impatiently though. Her back arched and slumped back against the wall incessantly, while she played with the clasp on her purse with more restlessness than any of the students present. She wasn't even aware of anything that was being said in the gymnasium, pausing her fidgeting long enough only to bring her hands together distractedly a few times whenever she heard the room break out in applause to signify another child had finished. The kids reciting their practiced speeches were nothing more than a muffled backdrop to Galina's own train of thoughts.

It seemed to absurd to be standing so uselessly in a middle school auditorium like a sitting duck when she should be somewhere plotting how she was going to save her life. Things had taken such a dark turn that she probably should have been clever enough to foresee, but which she had conveniently pushed away again and again whilst concentrating on the money she was making and the success she was producing-all for a man who clearly could care less about her.

She was always just a pawn to Ganya. Someone who had conveniently allowed him to place a debt over her head and proved more useful than he had ever dared to dream. They had never been partners though. Whatever she had intentioned or sought for being accepted and valued by a powerful person had always been circumstantial. Ganya was clearly now focused on something he considered to be much more important than reassuring her, and Galina was left out in the dust. Yuri already had drawn the conclusion that she was involved in something quite sinister in the Russian mob. How long before others began to suspect her as well? Getting out painlessly was seeming like a less and less attainable goal, especially when she had already run out of places to turn to for support.

"Ma!"

"What?" Galina exclaimed, snapping out of her daze and staring back into her youngest son's brown eyes, which were currently veiled in a frown. When had he become taller than her? Was the first thought that came to mind. Then it hit her that Vasily wouldn't be at the back of the auditorium with her unless he'd already finished giving his speech on stage. She had been standing there all this time and had still managed to miss the entire thing.

"I had to say your name three times before you even noticed me!" Vasily complained. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Galina said, so quickly that Vasily raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

Galina's cheeks burned slightly in shame. She had never dazed out on anything so important to one of her children before, and Vasily had been rehearsing that speech for weeks. However, considering her current situation, anything and everything that didn't directly involve trying to find a solution to her mammoth of a problem seemed trivial by comparison.

"You did amazing up there," she hurried to change the subject. She just hoped that it was true.

"Meh," Vasily shook his head. "I forgot one of my lines."

"Well, I couldn't tell," Galina assured him. Which was the truth. For all purposes, she might as well have not even bothered to show up.

Fortunately, Vasily didn't seem to recognize how distracted his mother currently was. Turning his focus back to the speaker who was taking her turn at the podium, Vasily watched with a serious look on his face while his mother gazed at him instead.

He was still the picture of innocence and, at fourteen, he hadn't yet begun to suspect that anything out of the ordinary was amiss in his family. How fortunate for him. Galina wanted to do everything she could to spare her son from learning about the painful realities of the world. Most of all, she never wanted her baby to find out anything that would cause him to see her in a different light.

But that was becoming less and less likely. The truth of how completely trapped she was, was making any hope she'd been clinging to seem like a naive fantasy. There were already rumours about her in the neighbourhood, as Yuri had revealed. People were whispering about what Galina Reznikov had gotten herself into. Even Ganya was keeping a deliberate distance from her now.

Galina glanced nervously around the crowded room of the middle school that her youngest son would soon be moving on from. For so many years she'd been an active participant in the goings-on of this institution, always willing to lend a hand in order to be more involved in her children's education. Though as she looked around the space now, drawing out the familiar faces she recognized, Galina couldn't help but wonder who had heard things about her and whether it was too late after all.

"You better go rejoin your class," Galina advised, nudging Vasily gently, while he listened intently to the current speaker on stage.

"Hers is better than mine," Vasily stated gloomily.

"You did fine," Galina said, trying to hide her impatience. The air in the room felt uncomfortably warm and all the other people present were causing a serious case of claustrophobia. Galina tugged at the collar of her shirt while her other clammy hand clenched and unclenched. She knew she was on the verge of a serious panic attack and needed to get out of there before her son became aware of what a rough state she was in.

"I need to get going."

"You're not going to stay to find out who won?" Vasily asked in surprise, looking slightly hurt at the betrayal. His mother had never tried to rush out of any of his events early before. He took in her pale and exhausted looking face. Wondering if maybe she was getting sick.

"I can't," she told him breathlessly, brushing the back of her hand over her forehead which was damp with sweat.

"Ma-"

"Sorry, honey," Galina shook her head. "You know Papa will lose his mind if I leave him alone in the shop for much longer. You know Fridays are a big day for us. And I need-"

"Yeah, but-"

"You can tell me everything I missed at supper tonight," Galina interrupted, eager to pacify her son and make her departure.

"But Ma are you feeling okay?"

"Yes!" Galina exclaimed, nodding her head in urgency. She took a deep calming breath, but only succeeded at making herself feel even more lightheaded.

"I'm fine. I'll even make you a special dinner, tonight," she bribed. "What would you like?"

"Vasily?" she prompted when he continued to just stare at her in astonished disbelief.

"I don't know," Vasily sighed. "Maybe a roast beef and some mashed potatoes?"

"Sure," Galina replied. "Sharlotka for dessert?"

"Yeah," Vasily nodded, though he still looked worried.

Galina took the opportunity to step forward and kiss his cheek. Though she knew he would object, her arms wrapped around her son as she tried to derive as much comfort out of her his slim frame as she could. She knew she was probably only alarming him further though. And the way he pretended to object, wiping her kiss off and glancing around nervously to ensure none of his friends had seen, was clearly for show. Vasily's brown eyes were wrought with concerns that went much deeper than just his mother showing him affection in public as a teenager.

"I love you. I'll see you at home," Galina whispered quietly. Struggling to hide that she was already on the verge of tears.

"Ma-"

"Go join your class," Galina pleaded, backing up and biting down hard on the inside of her cheek as a last attempt at composing herself. "Please…"

Not knowing what else he could do, Vasily gave her a curt nod before turning to go back to where he was supposed to be. He wished Maxim wasn't over at the high school right now. Having a brother around at the moment to tell him what to do and reassure him that their mother wasn't on the verge of losing her mind, would have been an inexplicable comfort. As it was, Vasily sat down in the audience to await the winners announced and didn't even notice when his name was called to come accept his award for second place.

XXX

Galina managed to take a few steps away from the building before she dissolved into the sobs she couldn't possibly have held back for a moment longer. She kept her head bowed and a hand over her quivering lips. She didn't want to stop moving and draw even more attention to herself, though several heads did stop and turn as the crying woman passed them on the street. Going home wasn't going to solve anything, but the only thought currently on her mind was getting back to Dmitri.

Her irritant of a husband who she both regretted and needed like nobody else. Dmitri was the only person who could understand what she was going through and who might actually care, even if it was only because the truth would hurt him as well. Maybe packing up their bags and disappearing in the night to begin a whole new life somewhere new, wasn't the stuff of fantasies like she had labelled it when Dmitri had suggested it. Maybe it was their only chance.

As she turned the corner to walk down the block of her own street, the sight that greeted her was the stuff of nightmares. Her feet came to an instant halt as she took in the display down the street. Police cruisers were blocking off the street, spectators were standing on the sidewalk hoping to get in on the action, and there were at least a dozen officers moving around in sets of two.

What do I do?

The question hung unanswered in Galina's mind as her legs shook threateningly. It was a miracle that she didn't topple over. At least she had already cried out all of her tears on the walk home. The skin around her sensitive eyes felt raw and sore, as she widened them to take in the entire scene.

Instinctively, her first thought was to turn and run away. Walking over there seemed as foolish as stepping into a lion's den. However, there was nowhere else for her to go now. There wasn't really a choice in the matter. Yuri, Maxim, and Vasily would be returning home in a matter of hours. For all she knew, Dmitri was being spoken to as she stood there uselessly on the sidewalk. She already knew Ganya wouldn't help her if she went to him. Though every part of herself felt heavy and resistant, Galina's legs began propelling her forward. Her possibly final choice as a free woman was to surrender.