Page 55

“No,” I say. “I haven’t been hurt.”

“Okay.” I can hear him taking a breath. “Okay, that’s good. Davina, I need you to listen to me. We’ve been working on finding you since you were taken. The agency has been—there have been complications, but we’ve finally narrowed down your location. We know where you are.”

My heart skips a beat. “You know where I am?”

“Yes, and we’re preparing an extraction plan. It’s not ready yet—we need more time to get everything in place—but it’s happening. You’re going to get out of there.”

The relief that floods through me is almost painful in its intensity. For weeks, I’ve been telling myself that someone was coming, that I just had to hold on, that eventually this would end. But somewhere along the way, I stopped believing it. Stopped letting myself hope.

“When?” I ask.

“Soon. Days, maybe. A week at most. We’re just finalizing the logistics, making sure we can get you out safely without escalating the situation.”

“What about Maxim?” The name comes out before I can stop it. “What happens to him?”

There’s a pause on the other end of the line. “We’re prepared for various scenarios. If he cooperates with the extraction, he’ll be taken into custody and processed through the appropriate channels. If he resists—”

“What does that mean?”

“It means we have contingency plans in place.” His voice is careful now, measured. “Davina, I need you to understand something. This man is dangerous. He’s part of a criminal organization that’s responsible for significant harm, and he’s been holding you captive for weeks. We’re not going to let him walk away from this.”

The words should make me feel relieved. They should make me feel safe, protected, like someone is finally looking out for my interests instead of his.

Instead, my stomach twists into a knot.

“What kind of contingency plans?” I ask.

“The kind that ensure your safety, no matter what.” He pauses again, and when he speaks, his voice is lower, more intense. “Davina, I want you to know something. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I’m going to get you out of there, and I’m going to make sure that man can never hurt you or anyone else again. Whatever it takes.”

“Whatever it takes,” I repeat slowly.

“Whatever it takes.” His voice hardens. “If that means removing him permanently, then that’s what we’ll do.”

The words land like stones in my chest. Removing him permanently. It’s a euphemism, of course, a polite way of saying they’re prepared to kill him if he gets in their way.

Why shouldn’t they be? He’s a criminal. He’s part of an organization that does terrible things. He kidnapped me, held me hostage, used me for his own purposes.

He also shielded me with his body when bullets were flying. He held me through the night and whispered mine like it meant something. He looked at me like I was the only person in the world who mattered.

“Davina, are you still there?”

“I’m here.” My voice sounds strange to my own ears. Distant.

“I know this is a lot to take in, but I need you to stay calm, stay safe, and wait for us to come. Can you do that?”

“I can do that.”

“Good. Davina—” He hesitates. “I’m glad you called. I’ve been worried about you.”

“I know. I’m sorry I couldn’t—”

“Don’t apologize. Just stay safe. We’re coming for you.”

The line goes dead, and I’m left sitting in the quiet library, holding a phone that’s no longer connected to anything.

I should feel relieved. I should feel hopeful. The agency knows where I am. They’re coming. In a matter of days, maybe a week, I’ll be out of here. I’ll be free.

Except I don’t feel relieved.