“And you’ve always had this safety deposit box?”
I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea.Normal people like me, who lived largely paycheck to paycheck, didn’t have secret boxes in foreign vaults crammed with goodness only knew what wealth.
“Not always.”He smirked.“But for a while.”
“Why?”My head was spinning.“Why would a man who held such an eminent position, and until recently, had the ear of the president, need something like that?”
“Good question, little girl.”He patted the back of my hand gently with that same large palm that had been the architect of both my pleasure and pain.My gaze flitted to that palm, briefly recalling some of those delectable highs and terrible lows.“I guess I was never truly immersed in the whole BTP regime and propaganda.The box has always been my insurance policy in case I ever needed to get out.I just never imagined it being so...”He paused, as though searching for the right words.
“Theatrical?”I offered, recollecting the commanders we’d sedated before we released scores of women.
“Passionate.”His fingers tightened around mine.“You’ve given me something to live for.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
Gazing into his eyes, it was difficult to reconcile the sense of hope swelling in my chest.After so long living with none, with nothing except the threat of starvation and violence, the possibility of happiness with a man like Harper still seemed unattainable.
Unforgivable.I swallowed back the snide conclusion, not wanting to hear its judgment.What would Fern, Jean, Linda, and the others think if they saw me now?
“What is it?”His brows furrowed.“I can see you overthinking again.”
Smiling at his shrewd assessment, my laughter was dry.“You know me too well, Sir.”
“Not too well.”He edged along the bed, his hand loosening from mine to snake around my shoulders.“I’m going to know you a whole lot better yet.So?”His tone was suddenly expectant.“What’s on your mind?”
Shaking my head, I allowed my eyes to flutter closed.“I was just thinking about the other women I knew in Gamma.I hope they’re okay.”
The images of their faces burst behind my lids while I replied, dreadful memories of the things Mitchell had done blending with the surprise and joy I’d seen in their eyes when I’d opened the doors to the appalling block and set the remaining inhabitants free.
“You gave them the best possible chance.”His pensive tone drew my eyes back open.“I’m proud of you for suggesting we free them and ashamed that I never came up with the idea.”
“You’ve done everything you could since we—"
A loud thud on the door splintered my sentence, and our attention turned in time to see it open.
“Sorry to interrupt.”Andrew looked sheepish as he edged into the compartment as though he knew what we’d been doing.“We’re here.My guys are unloading our catch as I speak.”
“Thanks.”Harper rose to greet the captain.“Do you know if your truck driver acquaintance is here?”
“Aye.”Andrew nodded.“Hans is waiting on the other side of the dock.He hauls fresh produce across the continent, so it’s a better vehicle for you and your lady than the temperature-controlled vehicles that take our fish.”
“We really appreciate what you’re doing for us.”I climbed to my feet, but I was still a foot shorter than both men.“Thank you, Captain.”
“Aye, well...”If I didn’t know better, I’d have sworn a blush crept along his beard-covered face.“Don’t get me wrong, the commander general’s stack of cash helped talk me into it, but you’re welcome.”
“You deserve the money.”Harper’s lips curled as he took my hand.“Caroline’s right.We’d have been stuck without you.”
“I’m just trying to do the right thing.”Andrew’s expression hardened.“Can’t say I agree with all that’s been going on there, to be honest.”
“Can’t say I do, either,” I concurred.“Will you be okay?I mean, won’t you be in trouble when you go back?”
I had no idea why the thought had abruptly occurred to me, but I despised the idea of anything awful happening to him because of us.Too many people had already been lost.It was time for the suffering to end.
“I have my European citizenship, lassie.”Andrew smiled.“I’ll be fine.Here.”He thrust the garments he’d been holding toward me.“Take this.It gets cold in the back of trucks, even if they’re not chilled.”
“Thank you.”Allowing the fabric to unravel, I found two of the overcoats his crew had donned while working earlier.They looked drab and smelt far worse, but I was grateful for the gesture.No doubt we’d be glad of his thoughtfulness later, on our journey to Zurich, though a part of me still couldn’t believe we were heading to Switzerland in the back of a lorry.
“And these.”Andrew pushed a bottle of water and what looked like a packet of cookies in Harper’s direction.“I don’t have anything else, I’m afraid.”
