Better.
Much better.
“How is your stomach feeling?”
“Not great.”
His hand runs up and down my back, soothing me as much as he can. But doesn’t he know? His being here, taking care of me, is more than I could have ever hoped for.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
I stiffen for a moment, but relax when I realize that I do. I want to know what he thinks.
“Why do you think he kept me down there?” I finally ask.
His hand freezes before slowly resuming the slow stroke up and down my spine.
“I don’t know, but we will find out.”
“Do you think we’ll find him?”
“I don’t know, umnyashka, but if we do, I promise we will work on him until we find out all the reasons he did what he did to you.”
“I wish I could remember why. But maybe he never told me.”
Georgiy is quiet, and I continue. “Do you think Henry knew I was down there? I mean, he lived there. I literally lived beneath him and Virgin. They had to have known, right?”
“If they did know and did nothing to help you, I will make them suffer even more than I planned.”
That makes me lift slightly and stare down into Georgiy’s eyes.
“We have to find him. I want answers. I want to know why. I need to know.”
“We will get all your answers. I promise.”
I don’t know how he can promise that, but it is enough for me to rest my head on his chest and listen to his heartbeat. It soothes me. So steady and calm. So unlike the frantic pulse hammering away in my neck.
The two of us are different, but we work.
We work so well. I need him, and it seems he needs me.
“When all of this is over, what are we going to do?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.
“What do you mean?”
“You said we would make it work between us, but my home is with the Costellos. I can’t leave them.”
He’s quiet for a moment. “Seems we’ll have to split our time between places then. Whatever makes you happiest.”
“I couldn’t leave them forever.”
“I’d not ask you to.”
I sigh and place my hand against his neck, his skin warm and smooth.
“But if I am connected to Henry, to what’s happened to them, maybe they won’t want me anymore. Maybe Ishouldmove in with you.”
Georgiy huffs. “I guarantee you Anthony would not let that happen. He would want you to stay at his place as often as you could.”
