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Never.
“Perhaps we will go back someday,malysh,” I say gently, knowing I’m probably lying.
“I wish we could,” he sighs. “I wish Mama could come back.”
“I wish that too, Nikolai.” I reach forward and ruffle his hair. “But for now, it must be enough that I love you. And that I will take care of you. Yes?”
He hesitates before nodding. “Yes, Papa. You’ll take care of me.”
I smile softly as he goes back to his playing. And I pray that I can keep my promise. Because those who are hunting us won’t stop until they’ve painted our world with our own blood.
Or theirs, if I have a say in it.
Chapter 5
Scarlett
My fingers graze the rough motel sheets as I gather my clothes; they seem to be scattered in every corner of the room. The scent of last night’s passion still lingers in the air, sparking vivid memories of a nameless man who made me feel more alive than I ever have before.
“Stupid,” I mutter under my breath, berating myself for letting my guard down like that. But as I pick up my crumpled jeans, something far worse dawns on me.
“Shit! No rubbers!” I stare around, scrubbing a hand over my face. There are no condom wrappers among the discarded clothing. Not a single one. “Damn it!” I curse, furious at myself for being so careless.
Damn it, Scarlett, what is wrong with you?
How can you be so irresponsible?
A thousand thoughts race through my head: pregnancy, disease, a life tied to a stranger whose face I can barely remember. Not that I’d ever contemplate that.
“Get it together, Scarlett,” I mutter to myself. “You know how to fix this, just go and fix it!”
I rush through the sputtering shower, rinsing away the memory of his touch, then quickly get dressed. I’m already calculating the fastest route to the nearest pharmacy. With shaky hands, I grab my purse and check its contents – my stash of cash is growing pitifully slim. A couple of months ago, I’d never have believed I’d be wondering if my budget could stretch to a Morning-After Pill. But every dollar counts when you’re living life on the run.
I’ve considered accessing my accounts, but the risk of the transactions being traced is just too high. Cartwright has enough clout to have a finger in every pie, and I’m sure he’ll have delved into my financial records by now. Every calculated move I’ve made so far could be undone with one slip-up.
“Damn it,” I growl, frustration bubbling over. My fingers twitch towards the small velvet pouch hidden deep within my bag – the diamond. But I know there’s no way I can sell it. It’s my only leverage, my last resort. As soon as the heat is off, I’m getting back in touch with my buyer. Until then, if I don’t find a job, I’ll live lean.
Before I can agonize further, a knock on the door startles me. My heart leaps in my chest, fear prickling down my spine. Nobody should know where I am, aside from the stranger from last night. If he even remembers.
“Scarlett?” Lena’s voice filters through the door, her Texan accent unmistakable. “It’s me, Lena.”
“Shit,” I mutter. Did I mention the motel during one of our brief conversations? More stupidity. I’m starting to get careless.
I hesitate, then unlock the door and crack it open just enough to see her.
“Hey, Lena,” I force a smile, trying to hide my anxiety. “What brings you here?”
“Thought you might need some company,” she replies, concern etched on her face. “Mind if I come in?”
“Uh, sure,” I say, stepping back to let her enter. As she walks in, I remind myself that this woman has been nothing but kind to me. But trust doesn’t come easy, not for someone with my past.
“I was worried about you after you left last night,” she says as she glances around the room. A strawberry-blonde eyebrow lifts over wide brown eyes but she doesn’t say anything about the state of the place. “That guy was…um…” she trails off.
“It’s okay, I’m fine,” I reassure her. “Just…you know…” A steamy hookup? I don’t say it. “I’m fine,” I repeat.
“Glad to hear it,” she says. “We girls gotta stick together, ya know?”
“Thanks, Lena,” I say, genuinely touched by her gesture. “I appreciate it.”
