Page 60 of Wicked Knight 2

Papa was already beginning to suspect that I might know more than I let on. Was the whole Pakhan deal a test? A chance for Maxim to prove his loyalty? Nothing made sense. The only thing I knew for sure was that I couldn’t stay. I needed help to rescue Maxim. If he ever told Papa that he was starting to remember, that he felt like he’d met me before, his life would be in danger.

“Are you okay?” Belinda patted my shoulder.

“I am.” I slowly sat back. When I met her gaze, I realized what I had to do. I had to leave Maxim. “I need your help.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I know what you’re thinking. I can’t. Maxim knows I tried to help you escape. I can’t do that again. He would be so mad at me.”

“That’s why we can’t fail this time. I promise you. He won’t know it was you who helped me.” I took both her hands in mine. “If I stay, I’ll have to tell him the truth. All of it.”

She glanced upward. Her tear-stained cheeks made her look so young. For a second, I considered asking her to run away with me. But the compound was her home. She would never be happy in my world, surrounded by strangers. I would know.

“Is the delivery truck back on schedule?”

“It is.” She bit her lip. “Galina complained to Papa. He didn’t know why Maxim had changed the drop-off location. So he just told her she could have her deliveries back. I thought Maxim would tell Papa why he’d done it. But he didn’t. I guess he didn’t want to get us in trouble.”

“Believe me. I got in trouble.” I met her gaze. “Are you going to help me?”

“Okay.”

“Great. First, I’m going to need pen and paper.”

CHAPTER21

A Not-So-Great Escape

Donata

Just because our plan to escape hadn’t worked the last time, it didn’t mean it wouldn’t work this time around. More than my freedom was at stake. Before I left Belinda’s bedroom last night, we agreed that the best way to leave the compound would be to hide inside the delivery van. The driver had a thing for Belinda. She assured me she’d be able to distract him long enough for me to climb in the back.

The last thing to work out was to say goodbye to Maxim. Every time I thought of leaving him, my chest hurt. I didn’t want to be apart from him for a single day. But things had really gotten out of hand with Papa. I was sure he was planning something. I didn’t buy for a second that he was dying, or that he wanted to leave it all to Maxim, who wasn’t his son or Russian.

I got the sense that Ivan wasn’t happy about Papa’s pet project, but he didn’t dare disagree with his dad. I couldn’t blame him for that. Papa was terrifying. The cruelty in his eyes sent a cold shiver down my spine every time he looked at me. What did he want with me? Why make me marry Maxim when he knew Maxim wasn’t one of their own? His plan didn’t make sense at all.

Maxim stirred in his sleep. For once, he didn’t seem to be having a nightmare. I hoped that whatever he was dreaming about was a good memory. I scooted to his side of the bed and pressed my body to his. With a deep breath, he shifted toward me and gathered me into his arms. I belonged with him. Always. I hated that we couldn’t be like this forever.

I glanced at the clock on his bedside table. When I realized it was almost time to go, I wrapped my arm around his waist and kissed his chest. If he woke up now and remembered everything, we could escape together.

“I love you,” I whispered on his warm skin. “So much.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks as a sense of dread washed over me.It’s not goodbye.I repeated those words over and over in my head. One day soon, I’d never have to see him go again. My eyes fluttered closed as I breathed in his scent. I wanted to leave here with this moment tattooed on my soul.

I kissed his lips then slowly slipped away from him and out of bed. From between the mattress and the box spring, I retrieved the letter I’d written to him last night in Belinda’s room. She’d offered to give it to him, but I didn’t trust that once I left, she would change her mind about helping me. As stealthy as I could, I placed the note inside Maxim’s book. With a bit of luck, he’d find it tonight after I was gone. He had to believe I was doing this for us.

When he stirred again, I backed away and padded to the bathroom to get dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. According to the plan, Belinda would wait for me in her room at four in the morning, then help me hide in the pantry before Galina showed up at half past the hour to receive the weekly delivery. Belinda was expected to be there to help as usual. She assured me Galina and her daughters wouldn’t suspect a thing. Her plan was solid and well thought-out but also dangerous.

With one last look at Maxim’s sleeping form, I opened the bedroom door slowly, then shut it behind me. My heart thrashed in my ears while I silently tiptoed down the stairs and across the living room. As soon as I reached Belinda’s room, her door cracked opened.

“Put it on.” She shoved a sweatshirt into my arms, then took me by the hand and pulled me to the kitchen.

In all the times I’d been here, I’d never seen a way out. But that was only because I’d never been inside the massive pantry. I’d assumed the room would be small with a few shelves, but it was almost as big as Maxim’s suite.

“I had no idea,” I whispered, staring at the floor-to-ceiling shelving units lining the walls.

“Galina has to feed an army every day. Where do you think all the food comes from?” She moved a bin out of the way and pointed at the rolling door across the way. “The van will back in over there. Don’t come out until I tell you to.” She gestured for me to crawl into a small nook behind a bunch of boxes.

The minute she turned off the lights and left me all alone, panic set in. My chest tightened painfully as the minutes ticked away. For a moment, I considered going back upstairs and staying with Maxim. But I’d come this far, I couldn’t chicken out just because I didn’t like the dark. I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand and thought of Luca. I pictured him up on stage teaching his Ethics class, and all the time his gaze would cut to me as he paced back and forth. I wanted that Luca back.

“He’s late again.” Galina’s voice broke the silence a second before the lights came on.

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