Page 90 of The Promise

Karine couldn’t actualize her past when parts of her still hadn’t come to terms with it in the first place. How was she supposed to expose him to it when she really hadn’t faced it herself?

She expected to hear Roman walking down the hall. Instead, she heard Masha’s voice, intercepting him in the hallway. Their conversation was muffled only slightly, but not enough to hide exactly what was being said between them.

Then, Masha’s tone raised.

“You can’t keep her here forever. This is not the life she deserves to have.”

“What, like the one she had was better? At least, I’m trying to do what’s best for her. I’m going to keep doing exactly that, too. Whatever it takes to keep her safe; whatever she needs.”

“Keep her safe from what? What are you doing to protect her?”

It wasn’t at all like Masha to speak the way she did to Roman. Whatever had been bothering the woman must have finally pushed her to the edge if she was willing to take liberties now that she’d never allowed herself in the past.

Karine stood from the bed, and moved towards the door. She considered stepping outside the room to end the conversation, but Roman’s next words stopped her from doing so.

“I’m not in a position to discuss the details with you or her right now.”

“Sure,” Masha said dryly. “Do you realize you’re doing exactly what they did to her? What you’re pretending to rescue her from is no different than what she’s doing here—the prison and the guards simply have a new look, Mr. Avdonin.”

“They were keeping her captive. I’m protecting her here.”

Masha didn’t sound affected by the harshness of Roman’s reply when she said back, “Hiding her. The reason might be different, but the result is still the same, no?”

He must have pushed past her after this because then there was sudden silence and the beat of footsteps against the hardwood floor. Karine’s heart quickened in her chest, and she struggled to find something to say or think—even if only to settle her feelings—but nothing quite worked.

Not even when Masha eventually stepped into the room. Karine still stood near the door, feeling foolish and looking the same, she imagined. Not that Masha said anything about it.

“I was looking for you everywhere,” Masha said, her tone far more subdued than it had been with Roman in the hall. “I swear, whenever he’s here ... I should already know where to find you, I suppose.”

When Karine didn’t reply, Masha’s stare hardened as she searched her eyes. It didn’t take her long to figure out that Karine had heard everything.

Masha’s nostrils flared, her neck turning a splotchy red in embarrassment, words cracking when she implored, “They tell us nothing, Karine. We know nothing. Don’t you want to know what’s going on?”

Karine shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve spent my whole life not being told anything. I’m used to this—so are you, remember? It never bothered you before.”

Because that was the thing.

Masha seemed to forget it.

• • •

The bottom step of the porch became Karine’s perch as she watched Roman load the trunk of his car with his bag and a few other things. Claire wanted him to take some of the leftovers from last night back to Demyan, but that had been a while ago when she ran back into the lodge to prep the food.

She found it harder to ignore the sinking sensation in her heart while he readied to leave.

The illusion of them being alone was created well—she still wasn’t foolish enough to think they weren’t being watched. A bull keeping an eye on things, or Masha sneaking a peek through the curtains. Maybe even Claire, too.

Not that anyone interrupted.

Roman left the car door open, and returned to where she sat. Karine did her best to hold back the tears threatening to fall when he rested beside her on the step.

“It’s scary.”

“What is?” he asked.

“This ... thing with us. Love. I was so happy yesterday when you came back, and now I’m so sad I can barely feel anything at all. I’m just numb. Way deep down, Roman. Numb. That’s exhausting, isn’t it?”

She certainly thought so.