She’s out there somewhere. Alone and vulnerable.
Jesus, she doesn’t understand the gravity of the situation.
Or maybe she does.
And she would rather take her chances out there than in here with me.
I grab my phone and dial Dmitri.
"She’s gone," I say before he can speak. "I need to fucking find her now."
31
HOLLY
The truck bounces along the snow-covered road, and I stare out the window at the white landscape blurring past. My eyes are swollen from crying. My throat is raw. But at least I'm away from the lodge. Away from the insanity of Nikolai’s world and the shattered remains of what I thought was the truth.
At least now I can breathe.
"Thank you for coming," I say quietly. "I didn't know who else to call."
“It’s okay, I’m pleased you did.”
I don’t know if it’s because I feel shattered about everything that’s happened, or if I’m imagining things because I feel emotional. But there is something different about Andrei this morning. He doesn’t seem as lighthearted and sweet as the boy in Katya’s kitchen.
He could barely make eye contact with me when we met at the end of the driveway.
Didn’t ask questions or seem to want to talk when I climbed in the car.
He’s probably just tired.
Or maybe I am.
“I hope I didn’t interrupt your sleep. I know it’s early.”
Andrei doesn't respond.
I glance over at him. His hands are tight on the steering wheel, his knuckles white. His jaw is clenched, and he's staring straight ahead at the road with an intensity that makes something cold curl in my stomach.
“And I appreciate you driving all the way out here to pick me up.”
Again, Andrei says nothing. And the unease in my stomach spreads.
"I just need you to take me to a hotel in town," I say. "Somewhere I can think. Figure out what to do next."
Finally, Andrei breaks his silence.
"I can't do that." His voice is flat and empty. "I'm sorry, Holly."
My heart skips a beat.
"What do you mean you can't?"
He doesn't look at me. Just keeps staring at the road, his body rigid with tension.
"Andrei." I sit up straighter, my heart starting to pound. "Please. I can't go back to Nikolai."
"I'm not taking you to Nikolai."
