Page 20 of Wicked Knight 2

“I’m sorry about that, but now you don’t have to sleep in Maxim’s room.”

“Anything is better than that cell.” I raised my voice. “Fix it.”

“Okay.” She shoved a bundle into my arms. “I brought you some clothes. My room is down the hallway. If you need a shower, the bathroom is across the way.”

“I need to speak to Papa. He can’t keep me in that cell. Maybe I can stay in your room?”

“Yes, Papa already said you could.” She pointed at the clothes. “Tore asked him for you. Papa also asked me to get you clothes.”

“Thank God.” I hugged her.

Belinda’s room was small with a twin bed in the corner and a desk table on the other side. I dropped off the clothes and toiletries she gave me then went across the hallway to take a shower and wash my clothes. The stench from the cell clung to my scrubs and my hair. I couldn’t stand it.

When I finished getting dressed in Belinda’s yellow mini-dress, I lay down on the bed. All day I had dreaded the idea of spending the night in the dungeon. I hadn’t realized how terrified I’d been. I blinked away tears while I stared at my trembling hands. The nightmare was almost over. In two days, I was getting out of this place.

Belinda didn’t return to her room. I could only assume it was because she’d decided to stay with Maxim. I shrugged. She could keep the handsome Maxim. With a sigh, I got under the covers and fell asleep again.

The next morning, a loud knock on the door woke me up. “Breakfast is ready.” Tore hovered over me.

“By all means do come in.” I sat up. “How’s Maxim?”

“Still out.” He pursed his lips. “You’re staying with Galina and her girls today.” He gestured toward the kitchen at the opposite end of the hallway, then left.

“Good talk.” I waved at him. “One more day,” I reminded myself before I trudged across the way to wash up.

When I walked into the kitchen, I was greeted by total chaos. It seemed Galina was responsible for feeding Papa’s small army. On the stove, she had two big pots filled with what looked like porridge. The entire room smelled delicious, the way I’d imagined a real home would.

“The men come and go all morning. They’re always hungry.” Sasha shook her head at the three men seated at the far end of the table. “I saved you a chair over here.” She offered me a spot next to a boy. “This is Alexei. He lives here too.”

“Is he your brother?”

“No. He’s an orphan. Papa took him in.” She ruffled the boy’s hair.

“You’re pretty.” He beamed at me.

“Thank you.” I smiled back.

Sitting here, surrounded by people who treated each other like family, I felt less of a prisoner. At home, I usually ate alone. Since Luca left me, I buried myself in my work. The hospital was my life. I didn’t have time for friends or for Aunt Vittoria, who was my closest relative.

“Kasha.” Irina set a bowl in front of me. “You’ll like it. Try the blinis too.” She pointed at the plate in the center of the table, piled high with what looked to be crepes. When the boy Alexei shot to his feet to grab a thin pancake, Irina slapped his hand. “Ladies first.” She pointed at me.

“Okay.” He rolled his eyes.

“It all looks great. Thank you.”

“There you are.” Belinda rushed into the kitchen with panic written all over her face. “We gotta go.” She pulled at my elbow. “Now.”

“What? Why?” I followed her out of the room. “What happened?”

“Maxim is awake.”

“I thought you had it under control.” My heart raced at the mere thought of having to face Maxim.

“I did. Maybe the dose wasn’t high enough. When I went to give him the next shot, he gripped my wrist and wouldn’t let me give it to him.” She panted a breath. “I think he knows what we were doing. I’d never seen him that mad.”

“What is he going to do?”

“I don’t know. I just ran out of there.” She glanced behind her.

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