Page 87 of Runaway Queen

“I don’t care what he said. My son is gone. My son! If you think I’m going to lie here and rest, eating Jell-O, while they go after him, you’re wrong.”

“You have no choice,” Andrei told me.

That’s what you think.I took a deep breath and tried to calm my racing heart. Panicking wouldn’t get me on the road to New Jersey any faster. I had to be smart.

“I want to see Bran. How is he?”

“Stable. He’s out of surgery and asleep.”

“Take me to see him. I can relax if I see him.”

Andrei stared hard at me, clearly unconvinced.

“Take me to see him, or I’ll scream this place down and tell everyone passing by that you attacked me.”

He blinked at me, sitting back. “I’ll take the chance.”

“Okay, fine. When I see Nikolai next, I’ll tell him you touched me. Explain that to yourpalach.”

A look of unease drifted over Andrei’s blunt features. He sighed.

“Fine. I’ll take you to see the Irishman, but then you have to agree to come back here.”

“Thank you,” I muttered. It would be a cold day in Hell when I thanked a man for controlling me, but Andrei didn’t know that. I was getting out of here and going to Casa Nera, and no one was going to stop me.

I got out of bed. I was still wearing my clothes, thank goodness. I put my sneakers on and walked beside Andrei as he led me to Bran’s floor.

“Are you all right? You’re not dizzy?”

I put a hand to my forehead. “Only a little.” I wasn’t sure how I was going to get away from Andrei, but it seemed best to keep my options open.

He brought an arm up, as though he was going to support me, and then blanched, no doubt remembering my promise to tell Nikolai that he’d touched me. Andrei looked over his shoulder.

“I should get you a wheelchair.”

“No, there’s no need, I can manage. Thank you,” I said, taking his arm and leaning on it. I might be laying it on a little thick, but thankfully this man didn’t know me. He had no idea what my normal looked like.

We got to Bran’s room. A nurse was just coming out.

“Mr. O’Connor can’t have visitors. He’s just out of surgery.”

“Oh, I just wanted to check on him. Can you tell us how it went?”

“It went well. He needs to sleep now, and the doctor will be seeing him soon.”

The nurse looked at the inpatient band on my wrist. “Are you ok? Do you need help getting back to your room?”

Here it was, my opportunity. I swayed a little against Andrei, who looked at me in alarm.

“Maybe. I am a little lightheaded.”

“No problem.” The nurse directed me to a seat. She started up the hall. “If you come with me, I’ll give you a wheelchair to take her up in.” She directed the last to Andrei, who looked torn about leaving me.

I forced a yawn and rested my head back against the wall. “I’m so tired, you’re right. I need to lie down, before I fall down.”

He nodded and seemed to decide I wasn’t a flight risk anymore , taking off after the nurse.

I was up and running toward the elevators as soon as he’d turned the corner. I didn’t know how much time I had until he came looking for me.

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