“It’s not an offer.” I took the bag back. “Pack. We’re leaving.”
“I’m not?—”
I gave the bag to Maisie before Natalie could take it. “Can you pack what you need for a couple of nights?”
Natalie growled, taking the bag back.
“For a sleepover tonight?” Maisie asked.
I nodded.Not just onenight…
“Sergei…” Natalie set Maisie down on the edge of the bed and shook her head. “I can’t let you do this. I don’t know what’s happening and I can’t uproot like this just becauseyousay so. I can’t keep up and know what’s safe and?—”
“I can. I know what’s safest for you.”
She pierced me with an angry glare. “You don’t know me!”
I wanted to. And I intended to. “Grab what you want for the night and let’s go,” I ordered again. “If you don’t, I will.”
Seething and slitting her eyes like she wanted to slap me, she gritted her teeth as she crossed her arms. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me who you are and where you think you can take us.”
I exhaled a deep breath through my nose.
Stubborn looks good on you, darling.
But it wasn’t what I wanted to deal with right now.
I approached her, unafraid to pick her up and carry her out of here if she didn’t surrender.
12
NATALIE
Ilowered the bag. He couldn’t push me like this without any damn answers.
“Mommy, I want to be safe,” Maisie said from the bed. She hadn’t tried to get up, her innocent face frozen with bewilderment.
“Me too,” I told her. All the commotion and fear of the night rocked through my mind, making me stiff and achy in the aftermath of adrenaline. But that was no excuse to let Sergei take charge of my life.
“Then let’s go,” he ordered.
I shook my head. “Not until you explain.” I’d be only a fool to listen to this stranger. Too many questions swirled in my mind. Too much fear and confusion claimed me.
“Later,” he replied curtly as more men entered the room.
I panicked at once, rushing to grab Maisie again. As I moved, Sergei lifted his hand. The two suited men stopped mid-step.
“They’re with me. It’s okay.”
Maisie didn’t tremble in my arms as I scooped her off the bed. “They are good guys too?”
The younger, baby-faced one smirked like he found that funny. The other man had blood streaked on his cheek and I shuddered at how he could’ve been marked like that.
From shooting someone up close.
Just like Sergei had.
Vivid flashbacks returned to me, nauseating me all over again.
