My entire being ached, my eyes stung, and my throat was sore.
My heart was shattered.
I’d been a fool.
Maybe this had been his plan all along. This was why he didn’t want the Kriolu translator. He knew I was Imre’s daughter. He knew I would want to help him. And he’d told Benedek to give me those papers.Did Benedek even know?Surely, he wouldn’t want his brother risking his life for some fame or adrenaline.
He’d slept with me, flirted with me, told me he loved me —out of pity? To keep me sweet? So I wouldn’t throw him under the bus when this all came out?
Or… to throw me under the bus?
I’d translated the files. I sat up, winced as I wiped at my itchy, wet eyes, and pulled my jacket back on, furious at myself for thinking that the scratches would help me in any way.
I was pathetic.
I checked myself over on my phone, ignoring the ninth call from Everly.
When I finished trying to push my mascara off my face and into my hairline, I checked my notifications. Luca had called me too, so the race was over.
And Zolt.
Thirty-two missed calls.
With a trembling finger, I blocked him. He didn’t get to chase me anymore.
EVERLY: Girly, if you do not reply to me, I am sending a search party.
EVERLY: Fia, I am not kidding right now. Where. Are. You.
EVERLY: WHERE ARE YOU???
One long, steady inhale, and I left my temper-tantrum room and walked the tunnels, trying to find some form of civilisation.
And once I did, I wanted to retreat.
Dr. Sannier stood with Livie, who was frowning and shaking her head. When a finger came out that she wagged the doctor’s way, I knew Livie was not about to back down.
Braxton Hicks and all.
Livie’s eyes caught me, and her face and finger fell. She gave one clipped aside to Sannier and came to me, arms wide, eyes watering.
Her lip wobbled as she approached me in slow motion.
I could count her eyelashes, imagine the vibration of each of her dainty, slided steps before she finally held me, and I squeezed her so tightly, baby Armas between us.
“Fia, are you okay?” she whispered in my hair.
I shook my head into her shoulder.
“I think you should get out of here,” she said quietly. “There are already whispers.”
“Whispers?” I asked, trying to pull away, but she kept me close.
“We need to talk, Fia, and not here. You need to gather your things, and Everly’s going to take you to the hotel. There, grab your stuff and go to your Nana’s for a bit.”
I didn’t let her hold me in place, frowning at her small frame.
“Livie, what is happening?”
