Page 138 of Queen’s Gambit

“Mylo, take her,” he said.

I collapsed on the snowy bank, even with Mylo holding me. My legs were so cold that I couldn’t feel them.

“Get her up here and in the vehicle,” Dimitri yelled.

“No, I can’t leave her,” I said as Mylo picked me up. “Mylo, please.”

“Let Vlad help Lilya,” he said.

When he turned, I caught sight of Vlad pulling Lilya from inside the car and lying her down on the bank.

“No, my baby, no, no, no.” I reached out toward them, tears blocking my view as he cut open her jacket. “God, please,” I mumbled over and over as Mylo put me in the back of an SUV.

People were talking and pulling at my clothes, but none of it mattered. All I wanted was my daughter. Blankets were wrapped around my body, and I shivered as I watched for any sign of Vlad.

“Please,” I begged on repeat and couldn’t have said how long I was in that truck when Vlad opened the door with Lilya in his arms.

“She’s alive. I got her breathing, but she needs to get warmed up,” Vlad said, handing her to Mylo.

I reached for her, but Dimitri grabbed my arm.

“Don’t, you’re still too cold. Let Mylo help her.”

Mylo removed her wet clothes and wrapped her in a silver blanket before handing her to Dimitri. He seemed to be moving faster than what was humanly possible as he took off his sweater and then took Lilya back, holding her against his body.

“Let’s go,” Dimitri ordered.

Reaching out, I moved her long hair away from her face.

“Mommy,” she whispered, and I broke down in sobs.

“I’m here, baby. I’m here,” I said as exhaustion overtook me.

I jerked awake as we came to a stop. Looking around, I realized we were in the hangar.

“Let’s move. We have a small window to take off before the storm gets worse,” Dimitri ordered.

Chaos was the best way to describe what was happening. Doors opened, people were talking and yelling back and forth, and the plane idled in the background. I reached for the handle, but the door was jerked open, and Vlad was there. He lifted me out and carried me to the plane.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “I can never repay you for all you’ve done for me.”

“Oh, I plan on ordering the biggest steak meal on your tab, don’t worry,” he teased. I gave a little laugh that broke into tears. “It’s going to be okay, Yuli.”

“Thank God, I was so worried,” Frida said as Vlad sat me down beside her, and she pulled me into a hug. I was still shivering, and she ran her arms up and down mine. Mylo sat down on my other side, still holding Lilya and a bit of relief washed over me as she opened her eyes and smiled.

“I need everyone to buckle up,” the captain yelled from the cockpit as he fired up the engines.

“Uncle Dimitri?” He walked over and kneeled in front of me. “We can’t go to Italy.”

“Where do you want to go?”

I shook my head, not having any idea.

“Somewhere, Father won’t look for us. Somewhere, Lilya can grow up in a safe environment,” I said.

He nodded. “Alright. Good thing I planned for an emergency.” Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out a handful of passports. “Each of these has a new identity, background check, family history, and school or work experience to go with them. Memorize who you are now. There is no going back.”

Dimitri stood and handed out the new names to each of us.