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I need to tell Tabitha, but more importantly, I need to know if the father of my child is alive. My thoughts are dark, morose, until Tabitha interrupts them.
“The fridge is fully stocked with all your favorite things, even stuff from that list the doctor gave you. Lots of protein!” Tabitha exclaims. “And I bought a bunch of bath products from that place you really like. Soaps and bubble bath and shampoo bars. Candles, too! Everything you need for a nice long soak. Oh, and I convinced Rachel to let me borrow her Netflix password, so we can create an account and watch all the movies and television shows you want.”
“Thank you,” I mumble. I really do appreciate the effort my little sister’s put in, but my mind and heart aren’t in it. My thoughts are a million miles away, and I don’t know how to come back to reality.
“Is there anything I can get you?” she asks, her brows furrowing. “Anything at all. It’s really no trouble, sis.”
My stomach lurches. I swallow my nausea.
What I really want right now is a moment to think, a little peace and quiet, but the last thing I want is to hurt Tabitha’s feelings. My disappearance had a huge impact on her, too. For all she knew, I was dead in a ditch somewhere. I can’t imagine what Tabitha must have gone through while I was away, so I’m not going to fault her for her over eagerness.
“How about we order a pizza?” I suggest softly. My exhaustion is clear in my voice, my words heavy and thick with stress. “And then we can curl up and watch your favorite Disney movies.”
She arches a brow at me. “Is that whatyouwant? Because this isn’t about me, Dani. I want to make sure you’re looked after.”
“Oh, sweetie, I’m…” My eyes brim with tears. It’s been an emotional couple of days. “You don’t have to worry about me, Tabitha.”
She gives me a pointed look, but it quickly softens. “Dani, you’ve taken care of me my whole life. There’s nothing wrong with being taken care of for a change. I’m not going to pretend to know what happened to you, what those people did. But please know you’re not alone, alright?”
I manage a small smile. “Thank you, Tabitha.”
“Do you really want pizza and a Disney marathon?”
“Yeah, I really do.”
“Okay. I’ll be back in a sec. I left my phone in my room.”
Tabitha walks down the hall, giving me the chance to stew in my own silence. The busy noise of ever-present traffic can be heard on the other side of the apartment windows, a reminder I’m back in New York and not in that hell hole. I used to hate the constant ruckus, but now it’s more welcome than ever—anything so I don’t have to listen to the jarring silence in my head.
Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I slowly reach into my jacket pocket. Tabitha scoured through my closet to get me something clean to wear. Everything at the hospital was covered in dirt and shredded within an inch of its life. I run the tip of my finger over the hard edge of the phone. After a few minutes, I pull out the black Nokia flip phone Mikhail Antonov gave me at the hospital.
The Antonov brothers couldn’t stay long, and for good reason. Between the heavy police presence, the reporters just outside, and the constant threat of being targeted by The Trinity, they made their proposal simple and to the point.
Help us find our brother.
I wanted to say yes.Of courseI wanted to say yes. But I don’t agree with their means to an end. It’s more than obvious that the Antonovs won’t allow The Trinity to walk away from this alive—and that’s where I have to draw a line.
No matter how much hate I hold in my heart for them, I will never condone murder. Because at the end of the day, that’s exactly what they’re suggesting. I’m still technically an officer of the law. A freaking FBI agent. Just because I have a personal vendetta against Konstantin and The Trinity doesn’t mean I’m going to allow the Antonovs to go in guns blazing.
Self-defense is one thing. Actively planning on killing someone out of revenge is another matter entirely.
If you change your mind, give us a call. We’ll give you forty-eight hours. There’s a number listed in the contacts. Once time is up, the number will be disconnected.
I turn the phone over and over in my hands, thinking. I should have handed this to Peterson before I was discharged from the hospital. Hell, I should have called for security straight away. Mikhail, Dimitri, and Pyotr Antonov wereright there. All three of them are persons of interest and I let them walk away the same way they came in—as free men, freecriminals.
But I’m carrying their niece or nephew. Of course, I didn’t tell them. I don’t want to tell anyone until I know where Luka is and if he’s okay.
My stomach lurches again, but this time, I can’t keep the feeling down. I spring to my feet and run to the bathroom, making it just in time to throw up in the toilet.
“Dani?” Tabitha exclaims. I hear her knocking things around in her haste to get to me. She forces her way in, wedging her wheelchair between the door and the frame to keep me from closing it. “Oh my God, what’s wrong? Are you alright?”
I wipe my mouth clean on the back of my sleeve. “Y-yes, I’m fine. Sorry.”
“Do you think it’s the meds the doctor gave you? They said it could make your stomach upset.”
“Maybe pizza tonight isn’t a good idea.”
“You’re probably right.”
