Page 145 of Inked Adonis

“Good,” Hope announces when I don’t respond. “Then we’re in agreement. Over the river and through the woods, to Hope’s parents’ vacation house, we go. Try to rest. You look like you haven’t slept in days.”

She’s not wrong. I lean my head against the cool window, watching trees blur past. But every time my eyes drift closed, I see Ilya’s savage smile. Hear his whispered threats about what his brother will do to me.

Sleep isn’t safe anymore. Nothing is.

I didn’t meanto doze off, but there’s drool on my chin and an indentation of the lock button on my cheek.

“Yuck.” Hope leans forward to peer down the endless dirt road stretching in front of us. Trees line the path on either side. There’s no hint of any cabins anywhere, but there are enough mosquitos to kill an elephant. “I know this is a far cry from the tropical sexcation Samuil took you on, but?—”

The look on my face is enough to make Hope trail off. She pinches the bridge of her nose. “There was no sexcation, was there?”

“Sorry.” I wince.

She shakes her head. “You know what? I don’t want to know. The less I know, the better, right? That’s what you said, and I’m starting to agree.”

“I wish I could tell you everything, but it’s not safe, Hope. You shouldn’t even be here right now. Actually—” I point to the side of the road. “Pull over here. I’ll walk the rest of the way.”

She snorts. “You’re on crutches, NoNo. You can barely walk on pavement. How are you going to hike through this mud?”

“I made my way through the woods before. I’ll be fine. And I don’t want you any closer to this mess than you already are.” I gently pull on the wheel, steering us to the shoulder. “Please, Hope.”

She relents with a sigh. “Fine, but only because the next turn takes you to the cabin.” She pulls a key and a cheap flip phone out of the glove compartment and presses both into my hand. “Stay as long as you need to, okay?”

I reach across the front seat and pull her into a hug. “Thank you, Hope. Seriously.”

“Anytime, anywhere, babe. Always.” Her voice is thick as she squeezes back. Then she pushes me towards the door. “Now, you better get going if you’re gonna hobble to the cabin before nightfall.”

I almost smile at that. Almost.

Then I climb out of the car and watch her pull away.

51

NOVA

In another life, this could be a relaxing hike. A nice place to walk the dogs.

Sunlight dapples the damp, packed dirt path along the road, and I can see it all perfectly: Rufus straining at the leash to chase after the dozens of squirrels darting up the trees… Ruby, always a good girl at my side, would sniff at the wildflowers scattered across the ditch and nudge my leg every few minutes for a scratch behind the ears…

Samuil would…

My throat tightens. Tears prick the backs of my eyes at the thought of him gently taking Rufus’s leash from my hand and jogging the hyperactive menace down the road and back a few times to tire him out. Then they’d saunter back to us, panting, Rufus with his tongue lolling out of his mouth. Samuil would smirk at me, one eye squinting against the sunrise like the fact he’s heading my way isn’t a miracle.

But this isn’t another life.

There aren’t any miracles here.

There’s no one else here, either. It’s just me.

The image scatters like sunlight in the mist. Vicious reality is there when it’s gone. The dew clinging to the grass soaks into my bandages and the rubber grip on my crutch slips against the slick ground with every step.

I bite the inside of my lip until I taste blood, trying not to scream. The unlabeled meds Hope dug out of her purse haven’t touched my pain. I’m not sure anything ever will.

Sam hates me.

If I’m lucky—which, historically, I’m not—he’ll let me explain. Maybe he’ll hold off on murder long enough for me to tell him I hand-delivered his property to his enemies as a way tohelphim. Not to hurt him.

I wanted to help him.

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