Page 6

“Honey, come here tonight. Both of you.”

Part of me wants to say yes. I want Mama’s kitchen and her soft quilts and the smell of coffee brewing before sunrise. I want something normal after tonight ripped the world sideways. But Ivy clings tighter with every step I take.

“Mama,” I whisper shakily, “I think I need to stay with Ivy tonight at her house.”

There’s a pause before Mama sighs slowly. “Then that’s where you stay.”

Emotion clogs my throat.

“But I wanna see you first,” she says firmly. “I’m not lettin’ you disappear to some billionaire mansion before I put eyes on you myself.”

“Good.” I can hear the worry she’s trying to hold together and the forced calm in her voice. “And Maggie?”

“Yeah?”

“You let that man keep you safe tonight.”

My eyes sting again. I nod even though she can’t see me. “I love you.”

“I love you too, sweetheart.”

Alexei continues guiding me across the parking lot before carefully lifting Ivy into his arms when her steps start dragging from exhaustion. She barely protests, only curls against him and rests her head on his shoulder while one small hand reaches toward me. By the time we reach the black SUV, Luka is already there holding the back door open for us.

I climb into the backseat first while Alexei lowers Ivy beside me. She looks half asleep already, her cheek still against his shoulder until he gently brushes her curls back and fastens her seat belt for her.

“Stay next to Maggie, solnyshko,” he says.

Ivy reaches for my hand the minute he steps back.

Alexei shuts the door firmly behind us before circling the SUV and sliding into the front passenger seat beside Luka while answering another phone call.

The drive to my apartment feels endless. When we finally pull in front of my building, Mama’s car is already parked outside waiting. Luka barely has the SUV in park before Mama climbs out so fast she barely shuts her driver’s-side door.

“Maggie.”

As soon as I step out of the vehicle, she wraps both arms around me carefully, like she’s trying not to hurt me and hold me together at the same time. The familiar smell of vanilla lotion and coffee clings to her sweater, and I nearly break apart right there in the parking lot.

“Oh, sweetheart.”

“I’m okay,” I whisper automatically, even though we both know that’s a lie.

Mama pulls back just enough to cup my face between both hands. Her eyes move over the dried blood staining my shirt and jeans before filling with horror all over again.

“Oh my God.”

“I tried to wipe it off,” I say weakly.

Alexei lifts Ivy out of the SUV when Luka opens the door. She curls against him again, exhausted and pale beneath the parking lot lights, while one tiny hand grips the front of his shirt.

Mama’s eyes go straight to her.

“Oh, baby,” she whispers.

Mama studies him before looking back at me.

“He stayin’ with y’all?”

I nod.