It's hard to walk away from her, but this was the beginning of the end, and I know when she wakes up, she will demand to be taken home. Her real home. Not the imaginary home I built here for her.
All afternoon, I wait downstairs with anxiety bubbling in my chest like poison. I wait for her.
It's late, the sun is already setting, when she comes down.
Kita looks sleepy with her hair a mess and her clothes crumpled. She walks into the living room and stands at the window, taking a deep breath. I can see she's too weak to deal with everything. I should give her time to properly heal. I'm sure she will ask to go as soon as she's ready.
"Are you feeling stronger?" I ask quietly.
She ignores my remark.
"I called Talia. And Valery. That's how I arranged the whole thing. We made plans behind your back to get everyone in the same place at the same time," she explains. "The market too. I invited Talia there to meet us… "
My jaw clenches. My muscles pull tight across my face. She went behind my back and betrayed me. She acted sweet and got closer to me. She faked everything.
Just like everyone else I've ever trusted.
She's the same as them. People who use me and pretend to be close to me.
I shake my head and close my eyes because it hurts to look at her.
Instead of challenging her betrayal, I accept the inevitable and decide not to fight it.
I already set her free at the intervention she put together. It's not my fault she passed out, and I had to take her with me. She's free. Maybe she thinks I kidnapped her again?
Well, when she's strong enough, she'll try to escape again, and I'll make sure she gets it right. She can go home. We can be done with each other.
"Can I make you something to eat?" I ask, standing up.
She looks at me with a puzzled expression.
"Yes, please," she murmurs.
With a heavy sigh, I head toward the kitchen. I'm only delaying my own destruction by letting her stay longer. I should force her to leave now instead of prolonging it.
But it wouldn't be fair if she isn't feeling well.
After an early dinner, Nikita falls asleep on the sofa in front of the TV. I flick the movie off and scoop her into my arms to carry her to bed. For the second time today, I tuck her in and walk away from her with my chest tight and aching.
Over the next few days, I am quiet and withdrawn. I'm waiting.
I'm waiting for her to make her escape. I've left doors unlocked and car keys out in the open. The guards have been told to leave her alone, and the route is completely clear for her whenever she takes the chance.
But she doesn't.
It starts to become a horrible suspense. A moment I begin to dread because it's taking too long, and the longer it takes, the more I dare to hope it isn't going to happen.
But I know it will.
Soon.
At the end of the second day, I couldn't bear it for another second, so I confronted her.
She's just finished her dinner and is sitting quietly opposite me at the table.
I set my cutlery down and let out an angry, frustrated breath.
"You should leave, Nikita. I will have one of the men drive you home. Or you can call your brother to fetch you," I snap.
