He just smiled that cold smile again. “Home is where family is, child. And I am your family.”
I curled into the corner of the seat, making myself as small as possible. Mom had always told me that if I was ever in danger, I should stay calm and look for ways to escape. But the car doors were locked, and the driver and another man sat in the front, blocking any way out.
My only hope was that someone would wake up and find me missing before the plane took off. Mom would look for me. Jake would look for me. My dad even. He wasn’t like this scary man, who was hisfather, who would find me too.
They had to.
As the car sped through the night, I closed my eyes and whispered a silent promise to myself. No matter where this man took me, no matter how far away, I would find a way back home. To Mom. To everyone who really loved me. I just didn’t know how.
The car drove for what felt like hours. I glanced at the clock displayed on the screen between the two men sitting in the front and sat there counting on my fingers as to how long ago we had left Jake’s ranch. It had only been forty minutes since we left. The driver turned off the main road onto a narrow, bumpy track through a forest. My grandfather barely looked at me, busy typing on his phone the entire time.
Finally, we broke through the trees into a clearing where a small airplane waited, its engines already running. Several men with guns stood around it.
“We’re behind schedule,” my grandfather said as the car stopped. “Get her on board immediately.”
The door opened, and cold air rushed in. The same man who had held the car door grabbed my arm and pulled me out. I tried to resist, but my legs were numb from sitting so long.
“Please,” I said, looking around desperately for anyone who might help. “I want to call my mom. Justone call.”
No one answered me. I was half-dragged, half-carried to the airplane steps.
“Up,” ordered the man holding me.
I climbed slowly, hoping to delay as long as possible. The inside of the plane was fancy, with leather seats and polished wood tables. It didn’t look like the regular airplanes I’d seen in movies.
“Sit,” the man commanded, pointing to a seat by the window. “Buckle in.”
I did as I was told. There had to be a way to let someone know where I was. If I could get to a phone, or leave some kind of message...
My grandfather boarded, and the door closed with a heavy thump, making my stomach sink. This was really happening. They were really taking me away.
“It’s a long flight to Moscow,” my grandfather said, settling into a seat across from me. “Almost twelve hours. You should try to sleep.”
“I’m not tired,” I lied, even though I was exhausted.
He shrugged. “As you wish.” He turned to one of his men. “Bring the child some food and water.”
I looked out the window, hoping to see lights from Uncle Declan’s truck or my mom’s SUV, but all I saw was darkness.
I turned to look at my grandfather and asked, “When are we leaving?”
“When the pilot is ready to.”
I let out a shaky breath and sat there, tears slipping down my cheeks.
The pilot came over the speaker and said something in Russian just as the plane jerked. It picked up speed, racing down the short runway. I pressed my face to the window, watching Canada disappear beneath me as we lifted into the air. Somewhere down there was my mom, probably still sleeping, not knowing I was gone.
A flight attendant brought me a sandwich and a bottle of water. I wasn’t hungry, but I took a few bites anyway. Mom always said it was important to keep your strength up in tough situations.
“You have your father’s eyes,” my grandfather said suddenly, studying me over the rim of his glass. “But the shape of your face, that’s your mother’s.”
I didn’t answer, just stared back at him.
“You’re a stubborn one,” he continued, almost approvingly. “Good. The Petrova blood runs strong in you. You’ll need that strength in Moscow.”
“My dad will come for me,” I said, finding my voice again. “He’ll find me.”
My grandfather laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Your father? The son who betrayed me? Who faked his own death to escape his responsibilities?”He leaned forward. “Let me tell you something about your father, child. He is a coward. Always has been.”
