Page 121 of Nine Months to Love
“I don’t know if that’s true anymore.”
“It is. I can hear it in the way you talk about him. He loves you, Olivia. And you love him. That kind of love can bridge even the widest gaps.”
My throat threatens to close up. I keep glancing at the door, praying that Stefan doesn’t suddenly barge in and catch me stabbing him in the back red-handed. “What if you’re wrong? What if showing him the truth just makes things worse?”
“Then at least we tried. At least I got to see my son one more time before...”
“Before what?”
“Before this war destroys us all.”
A chill runs down my spine. “What do you mean? Are you threatening me?”
“No, dear, I’m warning you. There are forces at play here that are bigger than any of us. And if we don’t find a way to work together, we’re all going to lose.”
I stand and pace to the window. “This is insane. How do I know I can trust you?”
“You don’t. But what choice do you have?”
I press my forehead against the cool glass. “If I help you set up a meeting with Stefan, you have to promise me something.”
“What?”
“That you won’t try to hurt him. That this is really about reconciliation and not revenge.”
“I promise. I swear on my grandson’s life.”
“Could be your granddaughter,” I correct automatically. “We don’t know yet.”
“Either way. I swear.”
I take a shaky breath. “There’s something else you should know.”
“What?”
“It’s about Mikayla. Stefan has her in the basement.”
The silence that follows gives me enough time to wonder if I’ve made a terrible mistake. I’m not even sure why I said it; it just felt important at the moment. And if my gut is the only thing I have left to guide me through this nightmare, I have to believe it’s pointing me in the right direction.
“He’s keeping her prisoner?” Natalia asks finally. “And he hasn’t killed her?”
“Not yet.”
“That’s interesting.” I can almost hear her thinking. “Very interesting.”
“Why?”
“Because it means he’s changing. The old Stefan would have put a bullet in her head without a second thought.”
“Maybe he’s trying to be better.”
“Or maybe you’re making him that way.” Her voice softens. “Thank you for telling me about Mikayla. That changes things.”
“How?”
“It means there’s hope. If Stefan can show mercy to someone who betrayed him, maybe he can show mercy to me, too.”
I’m not sure that logic tracks, but I don’t argue. “So what happens now?” I ask.
