Page 302 of Night's Fall
It seemed all the guests were gone.
Aleksei wasn’t in the suite,Iknew, becauseIcouldn’t feel him.
ButIdidn’t know how much timeIhad before his return, soIdid what something in my heart was telling me to do.
I found my tablet and video commedNata.
She answered immediately.
“Oh my gods, are you okay?” she asked as greeting.
“I’m fine.Everyonein the family is fine.We’re…it’s a lot.Butwe’re fine.”Beforeshe could reply,Iwent on, “Listen,Iknow it’s late, or really early.”
“That’s okay,” she said swiftly. “Iwas up.Icouldn’t sleep.Everyoneis freaking out about what’s happening.”
I didn’t ask her what they were saying, or what she knew, becauseIwasn’t sureIhad time.
“Thanks, but whatIhave to ask you to do might not be okay.”
She didn’t look even mildly wary. “Youcan ask me to do anything,Laura.”
Totally picked right with this gal.
“I need you to comm my father and tell himI’mokay.”
Her face shut down.
Yep.
Picked right with her.
“Okay, getting a little personal here,”Ibegan, “I’mnot sure whereI’mat with him, butIknow he’ll be worried.Thatsaid,Idon’t want to open up a direct line of communication again, becauseI’mnot sureI’mready for what he might assume from that.Youdon’t have to get into detail.Youdon’t even have to video comm him.Justintroduce yourself in a text comm and tell himIasked you to shareIwas fine.”
“I can do that,” she said readily.
“You sure?”
“I’ll be your go between,Laura.Especiallyif it keeps you out of his direct line.”
She was so great.
“Thank you,”Isaid effusively.
“No problem.Tryto get some sleep,” she replied.
I was exhausted.
But…
No way that would happen.NotuntilAlekseiwas doing it at my side.
“Will do.Seeyou.”
“Yeah, see you.”
We disconnected, andIwedged myself in next to my curious cats who were fascinated by the show outside.
I then did whatIhad to do next.
