Page 38 of Cruel Promise

“Just doing what I would for any girl. I would’ve wanted someone to help me like that.”

“You don’t understand. I haven’t had much kindness in my life recently. You’ve helped me so much.”

We share a smile.

But my smile doesn’t last long when I see Nikolai appear in the doorway.

“How did you find me?” I ask, barely feeling my lips move.

His eyes flick to Rosemary then back to me. “You really thought you could run again? I own this city, Ava. I have guards stationed across the street from our house. They followed you and told me where you were. When they said the hospital, I was concerned. But now I see you’re not hurt.”

“Was this the one?” Rosemary asks.The one I was running fromwas left unsaid.

I nod, and she takes my hand and squeezes.

“So, what are you doing here, Ava?” he asks.

“Helping Rosemary. She got hurt, and I wanted to make sure she was safe.”

His eyes soften just a moment, then he shakes his head, frowning. “I’m confused. You could have gotten farther than the hospital. I pegged you for returning to Yale. Why help her? Who is she to you?”

“I just met her today. But she saved me from these two men.”

“Men?” he asks, straightening up.

“Rosemary sprayed them with pepper spray.”

“Just the one,” she explains. “You punched the other.”

“I did.” I almost forgot I punched John in the face. Honestly, it felt kind of good.

“Ava, let me speak to you alone,” Nikolai instructs.

“I’ll be ok,” I tell Rosemary when she doesn’t let go of my hand, and she nods, releasing me. I follow Nikolai into the hallway. “I know. I shouldn’t have run. But I did. So, punish me or whatever you’re going to do to me.”

“You helped that woman. When you didn’t have to. Why?”

“Because she helped me. It was only fair.”

“No. Something tells me you would have helped her even if she hadn’t helped you. Am I right, or am I wrong?”

“No, you’re right,” I say. “I would’ve always helped her.”

“You’re good,” he says almost under his breath. I’m not sure if I was supposed to hear it or not. “Too good.”

“What’s going to happen now?”

“Now, you come back home.”

“But Rosemary?—”

“Will be fine.” He pauses then says, “I can keep a guard here, and he’ll report back to me if anything bad happens.”

“You would do that?” To say I’m surprised is an understatement.

“You could be out of the city by now. Far away from me. But you chose to stay to help that woman. I’ve never seen that kind of selflessness before.”

“There’s a first time for everything.”

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