George groaned, sitting back and getting more upright. As he released his arms on Maisie, she turned and wiggled to see me.
She was alive.
I found her.
She was here.
I had her.
Relief streamed through me in such a euphoric rush that I could’ve sagged against the wall and passed out. Bliss would have to wait. I knew Maisie was found and alive, but Natalie didn’t.
I reached up to tug her gag from her small face and used a knife to slice it off.
She didn’t flinch at the blade. She didn’t cower.
Trembling and crying softly, she stared at me like I was the hero she never imagined having her back.
“Sergei!” She cried it out immediately as soon as the gag was gone. Roman hurried to cut the ropes off her wrists. And once she could lift her small arms, she flung herself at me and cinched me in a tug hug.
I pressed my bloody hand on her back and pressed her to me. Only then did I close my eyes and take a full, deep breath. One of relief and joy that I had saved her.
With the sounds of the men around me, checking how many were hit and who needed help getting out, I sighed and wondered if I’d ever be able to let this girl out of my hold again.
“You’re hit,” George said, grunting with pain as Roman and another man helped him more upright.
I scoffed, opening my eyes to get a good eyeful of his appearance. “You’re not looking too pretty yourself.”
Sarcasm and grim humor might have been in poor taste, but it was often what got us through this hell we called life.
He chuckled as I extended my hand to his.
He gripped it and squeezed tightly once. As a handshake. Something. We didn’t need fancy words to express the gratitude and relief we shared. I’d figure out how to thank him, a million times over, for keeping Maisie safe. Hell, he could retire and never have to struggle ever again, but I doubted he’d want that idle lifestyle.
We could discuss it later.
Right now, as I ground my teeth together to bear through the pain, I slowly stood while holding Maisie, ready to bring her home to her mother.
34
NATALIE
Andre burst into the room.
I stiffened, unable to resist flinching and jerking at his abrupt entry. After being this tense and anxious for so long, I feared I’d have a heart attack or stroke out at the stress. More than the night that I’d learned of Fitz’s death, I suffered through the endless panic. My sanity was hanging on by a thin thread as it was, and I couldn’t stomach any more surprises, like his sudden arrival.
Mikhail spun around to face him.
He hadn’t relaxed for one second since we all saw Maisie disappear in the enemy’s hands.
I volleyed my gaze between them. Claire went tense too, suspended with the anticipation of news.
“Did they get them?” Mikhail asked. His face was somber, serious, yet his eyes shone with hope.
Andre nodded. “They’re on their way now.” His throat worked hard to swallow, as if he’d been talking and shouting all morninglong. Facing me, he exhaled a long breath. “Sergei found her, Natalie. Maisie is alive. She’s safe.”
I dropped to the side, hugging Claire tightly. Relief swamped me, dizzying me with the opposite of the peril and fear that I’d succumbed to.
“She’s alive,” Andre repeated.
