“Dimitri’s in here. There’s a house phone inside. Someone will be on the other end when you pick up. One of us will escort you back to your room when you’re done.”
I raise an eyebrow, hope it gives off a pissed-off, snooty vibe. “I don’t need an escort.”
“Boss says otherwise.” The man gives me a hard look and waves me inside. “No wondering, Miss Sera. That’s an order.”
“An order my ass,” I mutter, but the man has already shut the door behind me. My heart sinks when I hear the lock click into place. He’s trapped me in. I guess everyone knows how bad I am at following orders.
Fuck.
I’m losing time I don’t have, but I now I’m here, I can’t not check on Dimitri. I step deeper into the sterile-feeling room and shuffle to the bed. The giant man is asleep, his breathing slow and even. His heart rate is a steady beat on the monitor. I place a tentative hand on his forehead; he’s cool to the touch. Despite all the signs that he’s out of danger, the sight of him confined to a bed and connected to a bunch of wires makes tears burn my eyes.
“Whatever Dr. Ruiz did to fix you, she did it well. I’m so sorry for running into the club like that. I’m so sorry for getting you shot,” I whisper past the lump in my throat. “Thank you so much for saving me.”
Dimitri lays there motionless. No sign he’s heard me. Which, given what I’m about to do, is a good thing. I drop a light kiss to his bald head and force myself to face my next problem—getting out of here. I’m just about to test my lock-picking skills when the handle rattles. I jump back as a woman I’ve never seen comes in. She’s wearing what look like medical scrubs. Not Dr. Ruiz. Perhaps a nurse?
Her eyes sharpen when she sees me. “Excuse me, can I help you?” Her tone is clipped and direct. No nonsense. Definitely a nurse.
I let my shoulders drop and a few tears slip down my face. “I-I, uh…sorry. I just needed to see him.”
She looks pointedly between me and Dimitri. “Youshouldn’t be here. The patient is resting. We told Mr. Valentin no disturbances.”
“Sorry, sorry. Yes. You’re exactly right. I was just so worried.”
“He’s going to make a full recovery. Clean entry and exit wounds, no major internal damage. What he needs now is rest.”
The woman gestures me out of the room and I fall in line. “That’s such a relief. Thank you so much,” I gush, my relief genuine. “I was so worried.”
We reach the hall and I pause, looking around cluelessly. “Do you know if there’s a way to get outside from down here? I’ve been so anxious about Dimitri, and now that I know he’s going to be okay, I feel like everything is hitting me all at once and I really just need some fresh air, you know?”
The woman blows out an exasperated breath and points to the end of the hall, in the opposite direction from where the guard and I came. “Down there, to the left. There’s a door that leads out to the service entrance. Where all us staff have to park every time one of you all get yourselves hurt.” The last bit comes with an eyeroll, and I’d be impressed by her sass if I wasn’t in a rush to escape.
“Down the hall, then left.” I’m already moving in that direction. “Got it, thanks!”
If she responds, I don’t hear her. I’m moving as fast as my slippers allow. I hurry past three nondescript doors before a brightly lit bay opens off to my left. There are two doors: one a garage door that’s large enough to allow an SUV to back into it, the other a heavy metal door for the medical staff to come through. A quick look around confirms I’m alone. I don’t stop to think or check if there are cameras or alarms. I walk through that second door like it was put there just for me and tumble outside so fast I’m not prepared for the wall of icy air that hits me square in the chest.
It’s snowing. Fuck. I fumble to zip up my coat as I scan thearea in front of me. The clouds have blocked out the moon and the night is black and blustery. I can’t waste time standing here. Alik could wake up at any moment, realize I’m not in bed, and mobilize the troops. If that happens, there’s no escaping.
The snow is coming down thick and fast.
I move onto the driveway in front of me and turn to see the marks I’ve made in the snow already starting to vanish. The storm will make it harder to navigate the hill down to the lake but will also conceal my tracks.
A few more steps and I hit grass, pausing to get my bearings. I’m at the back of the mansion, not far from the rear lawn. If I keep the house behind me and follow the slope away from the building, I should walk straight into the lake.
Easier said than done.
The further I get from the house, the more oppressively dark the night becomes. I’m definitely moving in a downward direction, but the snow is slick and I don’t know the terrain here at all. Every once and while I crash into a bush or trip over the snowcapped edge of a path. My slippers are the worst footwear for a snowy escape, and they’re soaked through before I’m even halfway to the lake.
By the time I hear the lap of the water, I can’t feel my feet. It makes me even clumsier as I stumble the last few yards, arms flailing as I careen to the water’s edge. The air is colder here, harsher. I’m panting, every breath throwing steam in front of my face, which I can feel more than see. I shiver, not sure what to do next.
I’m not getting into that water. I can’t run back to the house.
I’m stuck in limbo when I’m blinded by a light. It flashes across my face before pooling at my feet. “Arms up,” the person holding the flashlight barks.
I suck in a startled breath and do as I’m told, no hesitation. The longer I’m on Alik’s property, the more likely he finds me and my entire plan implodes. Fatally.
Arms lifted in the air, I try to stop my teeth chattering as Renzo’s goon unzips my coat and gives me a thorough pat down with his free hand.
He keeps the flashlight’s bright beam in my face, forcing my eyes shut. He lingers too long on my chest and thighs, but when he gets to my ass he grunts, “What the fuck is this?” He yanks the gun from my waistband and taps it against my head, just in case I have any doubts what he’s talking about.
