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“I untied the rowboat and sent it toward them,” Donovan said. “No reason for all of us to risk a run in with alligators.”
“Crocodiles,” I corrected. “In particular this giant iguana-eating one named Carl.”
At that, Donovan’s brows drew together.
“It’s kind of a long story,” I admitted.
“You gonna let me hear it?” he asked. “‘Cause I’d understand if you want nothing to do with me after all of this.”
“If anything, I think I want you more after all of this,” I admitted, forcing myself to keep eye contact when I would normally duck my head.
“You sure you didn’t hit your head?” Donovan asked, looking in my eyes like he was going to find something wrong with my pupils or something.
It was right then that I heard footsteps outside, making me turn in time to see Huck, McCoy, and Che walk in.
“We already told your sister that you’re okay,” Huck told me, gaze moving over me, looking for injuries.
“Oh, thank you,” I said, feeling a little guilty about not thinking of her first. “Is Alaric okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, he’s with Ama, but he’s fine,” Huck said.
“I told you,” Natalya said.
“Hey, no,” Huck snapped moving in front of me. “You’re not talking to her anymore. You’re talking to me.”
“Lucky me,” Natalya drawled and I actually had to fight back a smile at her attitude, at her spirit. Not even being outnumbered and bound could shake her. It was admirable.
“Take the airboat and get Maeve home,” Huck said.
“Wait, no. You’re not going to…” I trailed off, not wanting even to say it, to imply that Huck or the others were capable.
“Hurt her? No,” Huck said.
“I would rather that than all the fucking talking,” Natalya grumbled.
“Tough shit,” Huck said, grabbing the other chair, and turning it to sit on it backward in front of her.
That was the last thing I saw before Donovan was carefully, but firmly, pushing me out of the door.
We didn’t speak as we made our way down the stairs, or even as we shuffled onto the airboat, then made our way across the water.
“Are your ribs okay?” I asked when he winced a bit as he reached down for me.
“Don’t worry about me,” he said.
“Well… too bad. I’ve been worrying about you for hours because her plan was to lure you here to kill you.”
“I believe it.”
“She was going to let me go.”
“I don’t quite believe that,” he said, reaching down to take my hand as we made our way down the crunching gravel path.
“No, she meant it. I mean she threatened Triss if I said anything.”
“So… she told you the whole story then?” he asked as we got to the car.
“What about everyone else?” I asked, glancing back.
“They can all crush into the SUV,” he said, gently pushing me into the passenger seat.
“And, yeah,” I said when he got into the car. “She told me the whole story. Well, her side of things, I guess. Her logic was faulty, but I think she’s… had a really rough life. And losing Iosif has been really traumatic for her.”
“Look at you, sympathizing with your kidnapper,” he said, giving me a soft smile.
“I think she’s never had someone do that for her before,” I said. “It’s probably why she is the way she is.”
“Yeah, you’re right about that,” Donovan agreed. “So what do you mean that you guys had a therapy session?” he asked.
“She just said some things that made me think is all.”
“Care to share with the class?”
“She just said that maybe my shyness is less about not being interested in experiencing life and more about fear. Which is probably pretty true.”
“I thought something similar,” he agreed. “What did you therapize her about?” he asked.
“Just that it really didn’t seem like her issue was with you, I guess,” I said, shrugging.
There was silence after that for a while, both of us lost in our own thoughts.
“What do you think about all of it?” he asked.
“All of what?”
“My past,” he clarified.
“Oh, that,” I said, exhaling hard. “I mean… it wasn’t like I expected that you’d been a Boy Scout,” I said, shrugging. “I actually thought it sounded ridiculous when Natalya told me,” I admitted. “It was all just so… much.”
“It was a lot even at the time, but looking back, yeah, I have to agree.”
“How badly were you hurt? When the Russians found you out?”
“They meant to kill me,” he said. “They almost did. Spent a lot of time in the hospital and then rehab. It was why Tony let me out of my work with the mafia.”
“That’s who you met with today, right?”
“Yeah.”
“How did that go?”
“It was… amiable,” he said. “He invited us to come to the restaurant. I understand if you don’t… what?” he asked when I smiled.
“If you think I am going to miss out on the chance to have a meal in a real-life mafia restaurant, you are out of your mind. Triss would kill me if I even suggested turning down that offer.”
