Fee uncrosses her legs and opens the car door before I can stop her. The movement pulls at her dress, revealing more of the damage from our escape.
I'm out of the car and around to her side before she can take a step. "Fee."
"I ran on this foot, Anton." She gestures down at the bloodied bandage. "Obviously, I can limp on it."
The gauze is already darkening with fresh blood seeping through. Her weight shifts, and I can see the pain she's trying to hide.
"I'm not going to let you make your injury worse."
Before she can protest again, I slide one arm behind her knees and the other around her back, lifting her against my chest. She'slighter than I expected, all that fierce energy contained in such a small frame.
"Anton, on a different day, I would have loved this. But today? I'm just hating today altogether."
I adjust my hold, making sure she's secure as I head toward the elevator bank. Her head rests against my shoulder, and I can smell her perfume—roses and wine.
"Where are you taking me?"
"We have some apartments in this building. Owned by the Basovs." I press the call button with my elbow. "We use them in cases like this one."
The elevator arrives with a soft ding, and I step inside, Fee still in my arms. Her face is inches from mine.
"I needed space." The words tumble out rushed, desperate. "I'm not like you, Anton. When I have things to say, I need to say them. Being this close to you makes it impossible to think straight."
I press the button for the twentieth floor, feeling the elevator begin its ascent. She shifts against me, trying to create distance that doesn't exist. Brutal honesty wrapped in that soft voice. No games, no manipulation, just Fee being exactly who she is.
She's five feet of beauty and fire. Dangerous for a man who's spent two years convincing himself he doesn't want to feel anything. Too late for that now.
Her hair has come loose, waves of silk falling across her shoulders. Exhaustion shadows those green eyes, but even tired, she's breathtaking. Those lips are pressed tight, probably holding back whatever's burning through that sharp mind.
"Where is this medic that Yuri took them to?" she asks, cutting through my thoughts.
"We have a surgery center in a building close by. Surgeon and doctors on commission. They'll take good care of both Shane and Cillian."
Fee closes her eyes, and I watch as tears finally form at the corners. Her hand moves to her wrist, fingers closing around something small. When I look closer, I see she's holding a small charm from her bracelet.
It looks like a saint of some sort, delicate silver against her pale skin.
The elevator reaches the twentieth floor with a soft ding.
The doors slide open, and Fee opens her eyes, taking in the long hallway with gleaming hardwood floors and subtle lighting. A few doors are spaced along this side of the floor, all looking identical.
Fee stays quiet, still trying to maintain that distance she asked for.
I carry her toward the door at the far end. At the apartment door, I pause. "Hold onto my neck," I tell her, shifting her weight so one arm supports her legs while I reach for my keys with the other.
Her arms tighten around my shoulders, fingers pressing into my jacket as I unlock the door and push it open with my back.
The apartment beyond is exactly what it needs to be: functional, secure, and comfortable enough for extended stays.
Floor-to-ceiling windows dominate the far wall, offering a panoramic view of Manhattan's skyline. The furniture is expensive but minimal: a black leather sectional sofa, a glass coffee table, and a modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances that gleam under recessed lighting.
Everything is clean lines and neutral colors, designed not to distract from the business of staying alive.
I guide Fee through the main living area toward a door I know she hasn't noticed yet. The apartment has more than just comfortable furniture and a view.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Medical room." I push open a heavy door, revealing what looks like a scaled-down emergency room. Stainless steel medical bed with adjustable height, cabinets filled with supplies, and even an IV stand in the corner. "We keep these fully stocked."
