Page 59 of Killer Love

“It’s okay,” he whispers, careful not to wake Lucian.

I release the armrest and my fingers ache from stiffness. My red skin feels sticky and cold. I can’t stand to look at it, but Luka shows no fear as he takes my hand. Warmth trembles my fingers as he guides me from my seat and leads me toward the back of the plane.

Yuri turns away, forcing his eyes down at the very sight of me. I’m not sure if he’s angry or disgusted or scared or all of the above. If I could feel anything at all right now, I’m sure I wouldn’t fare any better.

My gaze falls on the American. He looks at me without turning away. I study his handsome face. Short, brown hair and big, brown eyes. Soft features, nothing like the sharp Russian ones on the others. He gives me a respectful nod and I blink at the white scar across his cheek.

Luka pushes open the restroom door and motions me inside. I walk into the cramped, airless space as he grabs several hand towels from a cupboard outside. He follows me in and closes the door behind us.

“Sit down,” he tells me.

I do as he says as he wets a towel with water from the tiny sink.

“Who is that man out there?” I ask.

Luka kneels in front of me with the damp towel and takes my hand. “His name is Fox,” he answers, wiping the blood off my wrist.

“Is he a friend of yours?”

“No.”

I watch him work. Each swipe of the towel removes a little more red from my pale skin.

“I wouldn’t get too attached to him, though,” he adds. “He won’t be around for long.”

“Where is he going?”

He glances up at me but doesn’t answer as he moves onto my other hand with a fresh towel. While I am sheltered, I understand silence very well. This kind can only mean one thing, but I’ve seen my fair share of death tonight.

“He helped you save us,” I say.

“There’s more to it than that.”

Of that, I have no doubt. I fall quiet and Luka finishes wiping the blood off my fingers. He looks up and studies my face.

“Hold still,” he says, moving the towel to my cheeks.

I lean into his touch as he cleans me up. I haven’t glanced into a mirror all night. I can only imagine the horror I must look like, but Luka’s eyes show nothing of it. Unlike Yuri, who seems ready to scream at the very sight of me.

Luka lays a red-covered towel into the sink and I cringe as he grabs a fresh one.

There was so much blood…

“You’re going to be okay, Sofia,” Luka whispers at me, his eyes fixed on mine. “You’re both safe now.”

He wipes the towel down my neck, taking his time with a gentle touch. Pink water stains the basin each time he wrings the towel out. I can’t pull my eyes away from it.

“He’ll come looking for me,” I say, my voice shaking.

Luka pauses. “Where we’re going, he’ll need an army to get to you. I won’t let that happen.”

“How long until we land?”

“A few hours.” He looks down. “We’ll find you some clothes when we do.”

I glance at my dress, stained through and ruined.

“Rosalie made this one…” I mutter without thinking. “She really liked sewing…”

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