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I stood there for a good minute or two letting what had just happened sink in.
I had done it.
I should have felt relieved.
I supposed I did to a point, at least enough for my adrenaline to crash and all my pain to resurface. It hit quicker than I was prepared for, and my strength left my legs. I dropped to the floor on my hands and knees.
Something that tickled slid from my back down and around my side. I reached into my shirt to feel whatever it was. My fingers slid through liquid. I had an idea of what it was, but was still unsettled to see my hand covered in blood when I pulled it from my shirt.
Up until now, I really hadn’t let myself process how badly I had been hurt.
The baby’s cries were turning hoarse.
Now isn’t the time either.I wiped my hand on my jeans before reaching for the basket and scooting back to the post. I felt weak all over and I was shaking uncontrollably. Leaning the edge of my shoulder against the post for a little support, I scooped the baby out of the basket.
“It’s okay,” I said softly as I brought him to my chest and did my best to soothe him. Blood that had spilled on me when I had stabbed the Aryan got on his blanket and his little cheek. Once I calmed him and he fell right back to sleep, I used a wipe to clean the blood from his face. There wasn’t much I could do about the blanket.
I didn’t put him back in his basket right away. For a while, I stared down at him, wondering what was going to happen to him when we got out of here.
I pulled the cell phone from my pocket and powered it on. I began dialing Stefan’s number, then stopped.
Was I even ready to return home?
I was, but on my terms.
I typed in a new number and brought the phone to my ear. It rang a few times before a young voice picked up. “Hello?”
“Brenna, it’s Maura.”
CHAPTERFIVE
Ihad an informative conversation with Brenna on what had been happening at Quinn Manor. Stefan was desperate to find me and get me home, as most fathers would be if their child were taken. He was currently negotiating with Nicoli De Luca to allow our people into New York, AKA De Luca territory, to search for me without causing problems.
Since I’d been taken, my inner circle, which consisted of Dean, Asher, Brenna, Finn, and Vincent, had been watched very closely. Especially Vincent and my goons. I’d had a feeling Stefan would do that. He didn’t want to risk me extending thevacationI’d been on for the past three—no, almost four months now, and assumed if I managed to escape from Buck, one of my goons or Vincent would be who I’d call to help me. Which was why I’d called Brenna instead. Stefan had made the mistake of overlooking her. Most would until they realized how strong she had become.
“Do you think you can slip out?” I asked her.
“Undetected?” she said. “No. But that won’t stop me from getting out of here.”
“Good enough. I’ll let you know where I am as soon as I can.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to call Vincent?” Worry was apparent in her voice. “I don’t have complete confidence in the De Lucas and it makes me nervous that they will know where you are before we do.”
I understood her worry, but it had to be done this way. “I can’t have Stefan come save me. I need to walk back in that house on my own or else it’ll taint everything we’ve accomplished since we’ve been gone.”
“Why?” she asked.
“It’s so I don’t have to relinquish control to Stefan. It’s to prevent people from twisting the story and saying that I ran off, bit off more than I could chew, and Daddy had to come save the day. It’s a show of strength.” Those were just a few of the many reasons why, but they were the biggest. “This world is not easy, Brenna. To survive it, we must play dangerous games, even with those we call family. Respect isn’t given, it’s earned.”
“Hard to win, easy to lose,” she mumbled.
“Especially for a woman,” I added. “The risk of asking Nicoli for a tiny favor is what I’m willing to take.”
She sighed. “Be careful.”
As soon as I hung up with her, I called Nicoli next. He didn’t answer. I waited an hour and tried again.
“Hello?” Nicoli answered.
