Page 26 of Fight

It was probably exactly that. I doubted I was the first person to show up here—wherever here happened to be—with someone who belonged. So this would be the spot where visitors waited while business was being conducted.

Funny, but that actually calmed me more than anything.

If there was a special room designated for visitors, it meant they weren’t uncommon and I wouldn’t have to worry about someone overreacting or freaking out because I was here.

That strangely comforting thought thawed me from the spot where I had been standing frozen, and I began to pace, nervous for more reasons than I could even identify.

And the nerves were more than justified.

The chain of events that had brought me to this moment where still hard to believe, almost as hard to believe as what could only be called affection for the man whom I’d just left.

I should be using this time to think, to plan how I was going to get away from all these people and maybe get to living my life again.

But I didn’t. All I could think of was how much I missed Ioan, and how I hoped he was all right.

I had to have a concussion.

There was no other explanation, not one that made any sense. So what that he’d saved me? That being with him gave me the hope of finally escaping Markov?

I couldn’t trust that, couldn’t believe in it, couldn’t let myself forget that he was a criminal, and I absolutely could not let myself care for him.

To do so would be foolish, more reckless than I’d ever been—

“Hello?”

I jumped, turned toward the voice, and my gaze landed on the short black woman who’d opened the door.

Money.

That was the first thought that ran through my head. Everything about her looked like money, screamed it, from the diamonds in her ears that sparkled in the light with a dull glow that told me they were real, to her manicured nails that probably cost more than an entire night’s wages, to the elegant day dress that fit her curvy figure perfectly.

I reached up and smoothed a hand over my hair self-consciously, knowing it wouldn’t make a difference but doing it anyway. I’d almost forgotten how much of a disaster I looked, but seeing this woman was a stark reminder.

Still, she smiled at me like she didn’t notice. “Hello,” she said again, looking at me warmly.

“H-Hi,” I finally responded.

“They left you in here?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Did they check you?”

“For weapons?” I asked.

The woman nodded.

“Yes.”

“Good. You look harmless enough. Why don’t we join you?” she said.

“Um…”

Ioan had told me to stay put, which I certainly planned to do, but he hadn’t said what to do in this situation. “I, uh…”

“Just wait right here,” she said.

“Okay,” I stammered.

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