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Eilizaveta, no Ivy now, cradled me in her arms, holding my head and soothing me by running her fingers through my hair.
“Ya tebya lyublyu,” she murmured, singing the lullaby our mother always did.
“I love you too.”
Brushing off my tears and trying to get a grip, I remembered the time crunch for Markus, and I didn’t want her to miss his death.
“Sestra,” I said, making sure to look in her golden eyes. They were a carbon copy of our father’s, and it was painful to do so, but I reminded myself this was Eili.
“I have our cousin. The traitor.”
Her eyes lit up, a spark igniting and making them. They looked like molten lava. “Take me to him,” she demanded, her frail body swinging over the side.
“I will,” I promised. “But then I have to bring you back.” I looked out the window to her room. The pretty boy cop was still asleep. “Your guard dog will bite me if I don’t.”
She smacked my arm, her eyes rolled, and I thought her cheeks looked rosier. It could be the exertion from the long year she had.
“The Porthos aren’t bad,” she shrugged, and that was all I was going to get.
Going over and slipping on a nice red dress, she smiled. My sister always was a debutant. Her being able to have simple things again, like pretty dresses, made me smile.
“A pretty cop lady gave it to me,” she said, smiling.
I didn’t like cops, but I guess this one was okay.
“Get a paper and pen, too, brät,” she ordered.
Confused, I said, “Why?”
“Because he needs to tell you where he put the other girl before I end him.”
Ismiled. Quinn seemed really happy. He said the prisoner from the warehouse was a lot happier. Her resilience astounded me.
“You seem pretty happy yourself there, detective.” I teased. I could practically see his blush through the phone.
“Yes, well, it’s nice seeing a civilian bounce back,” he huffed.
I smiled wider. “Yes, of course. Especially a beautiful Russian model one.”
“Ella,” he chided. “Stop playing Cupid.”
I was about to comment on another dumb joke. But then he got serious. “I am worried someone is after her. Maybe the people who tortured and kidnapped her. I’m not sure, but I woke up in a chair. I never sleep on the job. I always protect my mark.”
I frowned. That was a scary thought, but Quinn was so tired it was possible he might have fallen asleep. I didn’t say as much. Instead, I asked if he wanted to grab some ice cream or something.
“I can’t. Sorry. I really need to keep an eye on Ivy.”
I nodded, agreeing.
“Okay?” he said, concern lacing his gruff tone. “I would if I could, Elle, but I just have a weird feeling.”
I realized I hadn’t spoken and nodded to a phone like a dumbass, so I said aloud this time. “Yes, I completely understand. You’re a good man, Micah. Penelope would be proud of who you are.”
He was quiet for so long that I thought he’d hung up. But then, I heard him barely whisper, “Maybe.”
There was so much pain and hope in one word.
I felt that deep in my soul.
