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He was coming back for her. But to do it, he’d have to commit, well,treasonwas the word that came to mind. Because he couldn’t steal caesium-137, nuclear waste, and give it to Russians without being called a traitor, right?
And last time she checked, treason was punishable by…execution.
I love you, but—
She hadn’t finished her sentence.But don’t come back.
She was finished with people dying to rescue her, to set her free.
What had he said about her not being unlucky?
Whatever.
However, shewasangry. Very angry.
And as they formed ranks and walked down the stairway, as she sat down next to Judah, who glanced at her with a look of worry, she knew one thing.
She very much intended on staying alive. No matter what it took.
Because she was leaving this place. With or without Ned.
“Are you okay?” Judah leaned over to her.
“Yep,” she said and climbed onto the boat. She sat on the bench, and Judah sat beside her.
“I thought—”
“We were betrayed.” She stared at Vikka, who met her gaze, until finally Vikka looked away.
“Shae, don’t be afraid.”
“I’m not.” She looked at Judah. He looked rough, his beating showing on his terribly purpled, swollen cheek. It ran all the way to his eyes.
But those eyes looked at her with such concern she sighed. “How soon before your…pillow is ready for use?”
He blinked at her, frowned. “The time has not yet come.”
“Hurry up,” she said, and looked away. “Because I’m going to help you get off this ship.”
The boat pulled up to the dock, and she got out, stood in line, then filed into the truck.
Again, Judah sat beside her. “Is Ned—”
“He’s alive. But Sasha is dead, and maybe also Fraser, his brother. And probably Pavel.”
“I see,” he said quietly as the truck bumped them along rutted roads.
She tucked her hands between her knees, warming them. She’d lost her rags for her hands, but they were tougher now, so maybe she didn’t need them.
“Tell me how I can help get what you need,” she said to Judah before they exited the truck.
He just looked at her, his mouth a grim line.
She grabbed a shovel from the pile and started for the pit. Spotted Vikka and didn’t know why, but something just swept through her and, in a moment, she’d stepped in front of her, turning.
She brought her shovel down hard an inch from Vikka’s foot and met her eyes.
Vikka recoiled, frowned. Then her eyes narrowed.
