Page 105 of Daniil
Courtney
The next coupleof hours are pure torture.
My head is killing me, but not getting any news about Micah is much more painful.I alternately pace, lie down, and spend time with the twins since none of this is their fault.Lennox is a jittery mess too, pacing, constantly on alert, looking out the windows.There’s a go-bag by the door.In the event of an attack, she’s briefed me on the protocol and where to go.We have two options for tunnels if we have to go that route, and she says it’s better not to use the one in their apartment—anyone who has any inkling of the layout will look there first.
It’s a little frustrating to be in a situation like this again.I truly hoped this trip would be calm, a genuine opportunity to spend time with Daniil.Instead, we’re in the middle of another mess and it’s becoming painfully obvious that this really is his life.The whole reason I didn’t want to tell him about Micah in the first place.
Now someone’s kidnapped my son, Lennox is pregnant and in danger, and I’ve got a cracked skull that’s keeping me from being able to do much of anything.
Natalia has taken Casey and Levi to a safe house, someone picked up the older children from school and transported them there as well.Xander got Elen and the baby to a different safe house in the city, and extended family have all been told to either hunker down at the palace or request transport to another location.Erik refused to leave until the very last minute, running point since Joe is distracted and uneasy.
Lennox is planning to leave too but she’s waiting for Sandor, who won’t go until Erik does.
In her condition, she’s not comfortable taking the twins on her own, and I don’t blame her.Normally, I would help but with my skull fracture, I’m not nearly as astute as I usually am.
When the twins go down for their nap, Lennox sinks onto the couch.
“You okay?”I ask her.
“Apparently, bad things only happen when I’m pregnant, so this is definitely my last pregnancy.”
“I thought that was already the plan?”
“It is.I’m just being silly.”
“Are you scared?”I ask softly.
“No.”She shakes her head.“Not really.I am worried, though.They haven’t been able to find Jesper, so that means he’s on the run.”
“Potentially with my son in tow,” I mutter.
“I don’t believe he’d hurt him,” she says, squeezing my hand.“I mean, he’s using this for leverage, but I refuse to believe he’d actually hurt an innocent baby.”
“But we don’t know for sure.”
“We don’t.”
“I don’t know how you do it,” I admit.“I’m literally crawling out of my skin.I know you love Sandor, but is it worth the risk to your children?”
“He’s worth everything,” she replies.“But as we’ve discussed before, it’s not black and white.”
“You’re pregnant,” I say quietly.“And once again, he’s not with you during a potential attack.”
“I’m not ready to give birth this time,” she says.“That’s our agreement.Once I reach thirty-two weeks, he doesn’t travel, and he doesn’t go more than fifteen minutes away.And even if he’s with Erik, if something were to happen, he would come to me.Erik knows this and for the most part, he can take care of himself.He’s more concerned about Casey and the kids.”
“That still doesn’t keep you safe.”
She sighs.“Look, I know what’s going on now is the worst-case scenario.I’m not going to try and sugarcoat anything.You must be terrified—I would be too.”
“I’m angry,” I admit.“I trusted him and?—”
“And what?He didn’t do this intentionally.”She meets my gaze with a frown.“Iunderstandhow scared you are, so it makes sense you need someone to blame, but this isn’t on him.Deep down, you know that.We can’t control what other people do.And there are always going to be bad people in the world.That’s why we surround ourselves with the people we love and trust.”
“How do I trust a man who’s always involved in…something dangerous.”
“Only you can answer that question.”She jumps as her phone rings and immediately lifts it to her ear.“It’s Sandor—hi!”She listens intently.“They found him…thank fuck… yeah?Okay, good.Keep me posted.”
She disconnects and smiles.“They found Jesper—and it only took Grim about two minutes to make him talk.They know where Micah is, and they’re going to get him.”
