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When it’s over, Cora rolls to face me. “Thank you for saving me.”
“You’re the one who stabbed that motherfucker in the neck. You saved yourself.”
She shakes her head. “No. No, I—You gave me hope. With the phone call that showed me you weren’t an enemy. The bathroom. The texting. The necklace. Everything you did was a little ray of light. I needed all of it.”
“Anything for you,” I whisper back. “I’ll always be there for you.”
It’s a lie. Or, it should be.
Tomorrow, I’m going to let her go.
Tomorrow, I’m going to set her free.
But for tonight, let me lie.
Cora nestles her head against my chest and closes her eyes. Her breathing slows and evens out quickly, but I don’t let go. I hold her while she’s asleep, delaying the moment I have to let her go for as long as I can.
But dawn comes too quickly. Birds sing outside the window. The sun cuts through the shades. Time marches on and reality invades dreams.
Gently, I disentangle myself from Cora limb by limb. As I go, I take my heart with me.
Our time together is done. Soon, she’ll understand why it had to be that way.
40
CORA
I smell him before I open my eyes. Woodsy, musky, pure Ivan. I roll over and swipe an arm across the silky soft sheets…
But he isn’t there.
The bed is cold.
Slowly, I peel my eyes open. Golden morning light streams through the white curtains. The room looks like a dream.
But if this was a dream, Ivan would be here.
“Ivan?” My voice is raspy. I tug the sheet around my naked body and sit up. “Ivan?”
He steps silently into the doorway. There’s a look in his face I can’t figure out. Something unsettled. Raw.
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
Was last night not good for him? I came over and over and over again. More times than I thought was humanly possible. I’m still buzzing with the afterglow.
“Fine.” His mouth turns upwards, but the mask doesn’t reach his eyes. “You should get up. We have a lot to do.”
I pull the sheet up to my collarbone. I wish I was dressed right now. I feel far too vulnerable. “Like what?”
“You can change into these.” Ivan lays a bundle of clothes on the dresser next to the door. I didn’t even realize he was holding anything.
“Why?” I sigh. “I mean, I know why I need clothes. It’s not like I can walk around naked all day.”
Except I could. If he wanted. All it would take is one look from him and I’d stay in this bed all day. All week. For the rest of time.
“What do we have to do?” I ask again.
“I spoke to Yasha this morning and everything has been quiet as far as the Sokolovs and your stepfather are concerned. We figure this is the best time to get you out of the city.”
