Daniil nodded, already knowing that I’d had blood all over myself when Truck Driver had found me. “Just take care of it.” He glanced down at me, his brown eyes soft. “You ran through the woods, right? That’s how your feet were cut up.” Slowly, I nodded, and he glanced around, asking softly, “What else, Beth. Tell me how to get there.”
I sucked in and moved in his arms a little, staring over my shoulder and squinting. But I had walked so far. “A gravel road. I ran all night. There was a gravel road to my left that cars traveled on. Find that, and you’ll find the house.”
Daniil was already walking, keeping me tight against him. “Thank you, my sweet. I know you’re scared, but we need to find it.”
I stayed silent and burrowed into his neck again as he got back into the limo. He kept the door open for me, and when Grigori got inside and shut it, he rolled down the window and moved us closer to it. He ordered to the driver, “The next gravel road, take a left. She ran all night so it will be a few miles.” He glanced down at me, asking quietly, “Did you run past any other houses?”
I shook my head and stared out the window, trying to keep my shaking to a minimum.
Daniil kissed my forehead and rested his chin on top of my head, staring out the window with me as we pulled away from the side of the road. We crossed back into our lane and drove until we turned on the first gravel road. I shivered hard, feeling the crunch under the tires.
Daniil probed, “Do you remember what the house looks like?”
I nodded. I had gotten a good look at it as I had stared at the empty driveway.
“Did you leave anyone living inside? Will there be anyone there?”
I could actually feel everyone inside the car still.
They were silent, not knowing the full story since they had stood back and given Daniil and me our privacy. Daniil knew about the blood all over me. He knew what my injuries were—which were not enough to sustain as much blood as I had arrived at the hospital sporting. The doctor had quietly pointed that out to him as if he didn’t already know this.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
As I watched the trees fly by where I had raced through, I didn’t feel anything but rage against the people who had held me. With an even and calm voice, I stated, “There was only one man there when I escaped. He’s dead. But there was also another man and a woman there at the beginning. They stopped coming around a while ago.” I paused, telling him what I knew to be true. “They were the leaders. When I left, an alarm went off when I opened the door. I would imagine they have either come and left or heard the news already that I’m free. I doubt they would be there.”
Daniil nodded against my head, and stayed silent, watching the trees with me. No condemnation. No soft words. No cheers, either. He was just there. With me. Holding me through this. Helping me through this.
We had driven for at least fifteen minutes before I heard Artur say, “Slow down.” And then, he asked, “Elizabeth, is that the house?”
I tilted my head, and saw a house—The House—come into my view.
My teeth started chattering I shook so badly.
“Pull down the driveway,” Daniil ordered quietly. He knew my answer in my body language.
“I don’t want to go inside,” I whispered as we pulled down the short driveway.
He rubbed my back, kissing my forehead. “You don’t have to.” The limo stopped, and Daniil lifted my body, setting me on Roman’s lap. “Just stay here. You’ll be safe.”
Roman’s arms immediately embraced me, and he balked, feeling my stomach. “You’re still pregnant.” His hold gentled, his hand widening on my stomach hidden under the blankets.
The whole car stilled. Again.
They didn’t know. They hadn’t seen me standing on my own yet.
Only Daniil knew, I realized.
I nodded. “Yes. And they’re all still healthy.”
Daniil leaned down kissing my forehead again, and murmured, “I’ll be right back.” He swung around and jumped out of the limo, leaving the door open for me.
I stared at him as everyone in the limo blinked at Roman’s widespread hand.
Lord help me, but Eva started sniffling. Ember joined in.
“They’re fine,” I stated calmly, settling one of my bandaged hands over Roman’s, making him flinch again. I ignored it, watching Daniil stalk up to the house, going directly toward the door I had raced through last night. It was still open, telling me that no one had come here. He wasn’t taking any chances, though. He placed both hands behind his back and pulled two guns out from under his shirt.
The other limo pulled up behind us just as Daniil went inside.
