“Your watch.”
He looked across the fire at her, firelight burnishing her skin to gold. “What?”
“It’s a Vostok, isn’t it?”
She leaned toward him, studying the steel case worn soft at the edges, the scratched crystal catching firelight, the faded dial with its red second hand ticking steadily.
“Komandirskie,” she said. “Soviet military. My dad collects watches. He’s got one just like that.”
“It’s my brother’s.” His hand closed over the watch before his sleeve covered it.
Harper froze, the question she’d been about to ask dissolving behind her teeth.
Neither of them spoke as the fire sank to embers between them.
Pav stared at the glow.
“Pav.” Her voice was quiet. “I’m sorry, did I…”
He stood, feeding the last of the wood into the stove and adjusted the flue without looking at her.
Then he lay down beside her, his body between her and the door. Close enough to block anything that came through it.
The survival blanket crinkled as he pulled it across both of them. “Get some sleep, Harper. We move at first light.”
19
Harper woke cold.
Pav’s warmth was gone. The space behind her was empty. The tarp still held the shape of him.
For one disorienting second?—
A warm hand sealed over her mouth.
“Up.” His voice was low and controlled.
Blood rushed in her ears.
He was dressed, weapon slung, body angled toward the door. He was listening. Every line of him tuned outward. Tracking something she couldn’t hear.
“What—”
“Quiet.” Hardly a sound. More exhale than words. His eyes flicked to the window. The door. Then the trees beyond the cracked glass.
Prickles danced over her skin.What now?
He pulled his hand away. “Boots. Now.”
His tone bypassed debate. She threw back the survival blanket and rammed her feet back into her boots. Pain flared in her blistered feet, but she gritted her teeth and ignored it.
She pulled his jacket on with shaking hands. His hat.
Don’t be the problem. Don’t slow him down.
She threw one glance at the now cold fire, the memory of last night fragile as dust. The man she’d witnessed then was gone now.
“Move.” He caught the back of her jacket and guided her out the door.
