Page 42 of Dark Embers

“Sabrina!” I roar, pounding on the door until it gives way.

When I break into the room I find Sabrina huddled in the corner, shielding Elena with her body. The woman is gone, obviously out the window.

“You okay?” I ask, racing to her.

She nods shakily, and I pull them into my arms.

She doesn’t resist, Sabrina leans into me for a few moments as if absorbing my strength. “What the hell is going on, Oleksi?” she whispers.

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “But I’m getting you out of here. Tonight. Tomorrow, you and I will look for answers—together.”

Her eyes meet mine and she nods, her eyes are shining bright with unshed tears and fear.

I know right then and there, I would burn down hell if it meant keeping Sabrina and Elena safe.

CHAPTER 17

Sabrina

I don't say much as Oleksi carries the last of my packed things down to the car. I’ve got Elena cradled against my shoulder, and every step I take toward that car feels like I'm surrendering a piece of control I’ve fought hard to hold onto.

It’s ridiculous. I should be furious—hell, I am furious. I feel like Oleksi has somehow won. After my spectacular take down of him earlier, now I’m like a dog with its tail between its legs needing his protection! Jesus—now I know why no one wins against him—even fucking fate is on his side.

I watch him secure Elena’s seat into the car seat frame before he turns and holds his big hands out for her and another feeling starts to burn beneath my skin, one I refuse to name.Because while my brain is busy listing all the reasons why moving in with Oleksi Mirochin is a terrible idea, my body hums with a kind of twisted comfort at the idea.

As I hand Elena to him I can’t help but feel relief as he gently takes her and places her in the seat, securing her. His hands are gentle, practiced—like this isn’t the first time he’s done this kind of thing. He checks the belt, runs his hand along the strap to make sure it’s not twisted.

I know without a shadow of a doubt my baby girl will be safe with him and that thought both relieves and pisses me off. But the truth is, I’ve never been more terrified in my life than I was when those men broke into my apartment. Not for myself. For Elena. My baby. My little girl.

The thought of them hurting her—touching her—finding her in that tiny panic space Sam built into the wall of my room… It makes my blood run cold even now. Thank God for those soundproof earmuffs Sam thought to include in the tight space. I don’t know what I would’ve done if she’d woken up and cried.

She’s still sleeping soundly, her soft baby breath puffing up her little chest as Oleksi pulls her blankie over her and my heartstrings pull tight at how natural he is with her. But I quickly shake off the feeling of how right it feels with all of them together—like a family.

No. No. No, Sabrina push that fucking stupid thought from your mind. He is not family.I give myself a hard mental shake but can’t ignore the little voice shouting—oh but he is.Shut up stupid conscience.

I stalk around the front of the car, yanking open the passenger side. “Let’s go.”

Oleksi doesn’t say a word. He slides in beside me and starts the engine of my car as if we do this every day . I fold my arms over my chest and quietly seethe, knowing I’m being an ungrateful bitch, but it seems I haven’t quite shaken the Sabrina that emerged earlier today and relished taking Oleksi down. Now here we are with him rushing to save Elena and me.

Agh!I want to hit something but then he’ll see how this is getting to me. So I take a deep breath, calm myself and in a steady voice say, “Thank you.”

He glances at me, his brows furrowed in confusion.

“For saving Elena…” I swallow. “For saving us.”

His eyes meet mine and I can see the astonishment in them before he smiles. “Of course.” He looks at the road. “You know I’m always here, Sabrina.” His eyes seek mine again. “No matter what.”

Irrational anger spears through me at his soft words.Fucking bastard. How dare he make me feel so small? I swallow it and breathe it away.Don’t be a bitch Sabrina.But as we drive past the turning of my family home a thought slams into me like a punch to the chest.

“Shit.”

He glances over. “What?”

“My mom,” I breathe. “I need to go to her house.”

“I’ll take you in the morning.” He frowns. “It’s almost two a.m. I’m sure Carla and Mark will be asleep right now.”

“I don’t care.” I twist in my seat to look at him, panic rising again. “If they targeted my place, they could target the familyhome, too. Tara stored boxes of her shit there, Oleksi. Important stuff. Her journals. Personal things.”

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