28. Chapter 28
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I glance at the screen, my brow furrowing. A message from Alina”s daughter, Yara.
My gut twists.
This can”t be good.
I read her plea for help, anger simmering in my veins.
That bastard Gerald has gone too far this time.
My jaw tightens. I”ll get them out of this, no matter what it takes.
But I have to be smart. Gerald is dangerous. One wrong move could make this whole thing blow up.
I type out a reply.
Morello: Thank you for reaching out, Yara. I”m here for you both. We”ll figure this out. Delete this message and your other ones as soon as you get this, and sit tight.
Alina
I hum tunelessly as I tidy Yara”s room. I scoop up a pile of clothes, revealing Yara”s phone underneath, only ever not attached to her when she”s taking a shower or asleep. The screen lights up with a new message.
My blood runs cold as I recognize the number from the card handed to me just the other day. A text from Agent Morello? No. It couldn”t be. This isn”t happening.
”Yara!” I shout, storming into the bathroom where steam swirls around the room. ”What the hell is this?”
I brandish the phone, hands shaking with anger. Yara peeks her head around the shower curtain and pales as she sees the object in my hand.
”I can explain—”
”Explain? How could you do this?” My voice breaks.
Fear, disbelief and rage battle within me. I trusted her. We discussed never keeping secrets. And yet, here she is, risking everything by texting with this man we don”t even know we can trust.
”I had to!” Yara yells, turning the shower off and grabbing the fluffy towel on the top of the shower casing to wrap around herself. ”I won”t let you let Gerald hurt us anymore!”
I reel like I”ve been slapped. Let Gerald hurt us? Is that what Yara thinks? That I”m letting this happen?
”Yara, no, I would neve—” I reached for my daughter”s hand.
Yara yanks it away. ”Don”t touch me! I don”t know who you are anymore!”
The words pierce my heart. What have I become?
I sink to the couch, head in my hands.
Yara is right. I”ve failed my daughter. Again.
”I”m so sorry,” I whisper. ”You”re right. I”ve made awful choices, especially when it comes to men. But no more.”
I meet Yara”s eyes, fierce determination in my gaze.
”I hear you. We”ll let Morello help. No matter what it takes, I”ll get us out of this.”
Yara stares back, her eyes glistening. Then she rushes into my arms.
We hold each other tight, both trembling.
The road ahead is uncertain, but we”ll walk it together. And we can deal with the blame and resentment later.
I stroke her hair, my heart breaking. How could I have let things get this bad? Yara is my whole world, yet I”ve exposed her to danger again and again.
No more. It ends now.
I cup Yara”s face, wiping away her tears. ”I promise you, I will fix this. Gerald will never lay a hand on you, and neither will Luchenko.”
She searches my eyes, looking so young and vulnerable. ”How can you stop him? He”s too strong. Both of them are. And do you think that Morello is really strong enough to stop either one of them?”
Rage flares in me, white-hot. A twelve-year-old shouldn”t have to worry about such things.
Nobody should.
I picture Gerald”s smug face and want to smash it in. My hand twitches with the urge to slap, to punish...
No! I catch myself, horrified. What am I thinking?
I take a shaky breath. ”Violence won”t solve this. But we will find a way, together.”
Yara nods, but I see the doubt in her eyes. I don”t blame my daughter for losing faith. I”ve failed her too many times.
But not this time. I”ll prove myself worthy of her trust.
Gently, I tilt her chin up. ”I know I”ve made mistakes, my butterfly. All I can do is promise to protect you now. Can you believe in me one more time?”
Yara hesitates. Then, slowly, she leans into her my embrace.
”I”ll try, Mama,” she whispers.
I kiss the top of her head, a bittersweet ache in my heart. It”s a start. This time, I will not fail my little girl.
I hold Yara for a long moment, taking comfort in the familiar scent of my daughter”s hair. I know this reprieve is only temporary. We”re safe for this very moment in this palatial mansion, locked away in a bedroom. But soon we”ll have to face the bleak reality of our situation.
But I push those thoughts away, determined to savor this moment. Right now, it”s just the two of us. Mother and daughter. A sacred bond that no one can break.
Finally she pulls back, her expression serious. ”What will we do about Mr. Agent Morello? If Gerald finds out...”
I nod grimly. Yara has acted rashly, contacting Morello behind my back. But we”re out of options and I can”t blame her in the slightest.
She did what I wasn”t brave enough to do.
”We”ll meet with him. Discreetly,” I say. ”He has the most chance of being able to help us get away safely.”
A spark of hope flickers across Yara”s face. Then hesitation. ”But what if—”
I squeeze her hand. ”No more ”what ifs,” my love,” I say. ”I”ll handle Gerald. You just stay strong for me. Can you do that?”
After a moment, Yara lifts her chin. ”I can.”
Pride swells in my chest. When did my little girl grow so brave? I pull Yara close again, cherishing the trust between us.
”Then we”re going to make it,” I whisper. ”I promise you, Yara. We”re going to be free.”