Jane pulled back slowly, staring up at my mother with wide eyes. “Thank you. You have… a really nice place.”
My mother laughed softly. “You should see the bathroom.”
Jane’s eyes sparkled. “Can I?”
“Of course,” my mother said, linking their arms like they were already friends. “Come, I’ll show you everything.”
Just as they passed through the threshold of her home, she shot a look over her shoulder at me. I hadn’t told her everything, but enough for her to know that I needed somewhere safe for my friends. But now that she knew Jane’s last name, she knew that this wasn’t just friends. She knew Jane’s father. She probably knew the shit he’d been involved in, and now she was obviously wondering what I was involved with as well.
She held my gaze a moment longer, then turned away with Jane, her hand resting gently on the girl’s back as she led her deeper inside.
My mother would keep Jane and Poppy safe. I didn’t doubt that.
But keeping them safe wasn’t the same as forgiving me for bringing this storm to her doorstep, and judging by the look she’d given me… I was about to eat shit for it.
Chapter Forty-Two
Poppy
Silence wrappedaround me in the blacked-out vehicle. The entire time Donovan and I ate dinner, I’d expected him to bring up what would come next. I figured he would want me to come home with him or at least appear to be doing so, but fortunately, he didn’t slide into the car with me. He planted a kiss on my cheek before he closed the door behind me, and I was left alone with my thoughts. The ring caught the dim light from the streets beyond the windows, and I stared down it in horror. For the first time tonight, I allowed myself to truly react to the gaudy, ugly thing.
A quiet, horrified sound escaped my throat. I didn’t even know if it was a laugh or a sob. Maybe both. I turned my hand left and right and watched the stone flash. I hated it. I hated what it meant. I hated what it looked like. I hated the way it made me feel. Ivan’s face flooded my mind so sharply, I muffled a gasp behind my fist.
I didn’t know how I was going to survive this, but Icertainly didn’t know how I was going to survive his reaction to it all. I could put the ring somewhere and hide it, but that would only prolong the inevitable. It would only hurt him more in the long run, and I didn’t want that. He was the last person I wanted to hurt.
All I wanted to do was rip it from my finger and toss it out the window, but that would do nothing but make matters worse.
After about ten minutes, I looked out of the window and didn’t recognize my surroundings. My heart dropped into my stomach. Maybe Donovan changed his mind and was having me delivered to his penthouse?
“Excuse me?”
The driver tilted his head towards me. “Yes, Ms. Fairchild?”
“Are we going to Donovan’s penthouse?”
He shook his head. “No ma’am, I’m taking you to your new home.”
My new home?
“Excuse me?” I said again.
He shrugged. “I’m just following orders. I’m sure you’ll know more soon.”
He was right. Five more minutes passed, and he pulled up in front of a swanky building. Two muscular men took a step forward. One opened my door for me, the other held his hand out to help me from the car. “Miss. Fairchild, the Cristofs have been expecting you. Welcome to Queens.”
I blinked up at the two men and wondered if Ivan had orchestrated this whole thing, and he was going to save us.Was he going to get us out of here and away from Donovan? What did all of this mean?
“We will escort you up to the top floor.”
I nodded as I followed, somewhat in a trance.
The elevator doors slid open almost instantly. One guard stepped inside with me, another turned to face the lobby, hands clasped behind his back.
The elevator rose fast. Too fast, and my ears popped.
My heart pounded as we rose higher and higher.
When the elevator finally slowed, I curled my fingers into a fist until my knuckles ached. I wasn’t ready for this. I wasn’t ready to see Ivan. I wasn’t ready for him to seethis—this monstrosity on my finger. The doors slid open with a soft chime, and warm light spilled into the elevator. Ivan stood in the center of the hallway. His slightly damp hair was curling around his ears; instead of the smart, practical clothes he usually wore, he had on an oversized sweatshirt and joggers.
