Chapter 26
Cullen clawed his way from the darkness, struggling to reach Mia. He didn’t know if she was safe. His aches didn’t matter. The pain he could deal with.
But when his body wouldn’t do as he demanded, that’s when he wanted to bellow with rage.
He fought to open his eyes. The more he struggled, the more it felt as if someone had sealed them shut. Then he heard it. Mia’s voice. It was from a distance, and thankfully, she didn’t sound distressed.
If only he could see her.
If only he could touch her.
He came to again. The throbbing in his shoulder and side were the first things that assaulted him. He began to sink back into unconsciousness when he thought of Mia.
No matter how he strained, he couldn’t hear her. Panic seized him. Was she hurt? Had they taken her? Did she need help?
He fought with everything he had to open his eyes. It was maddening to not be able to control his body as needed. The only other time he’d ever felt so . . . helpless . . . was the day his mother died.
He’d sworn never to be in that predicament again. And yet, here he was.
No!
As if the bellow that reverberated through his head had unlocked something, he managed to open one eye a slit. It was just enough to be blinded by a light, causing his lid to shut instantly.
That small fight cost him dearly as the darkness swallowed him once again.
Cullen didn’t know how long it had been since he’d last regained consciousness. This time, he intended to do whatever it took to open both eyes.
It took a few tries, but finally, his eyelids parted. Once more, the light blinded him. He turned his head to the side, shutting his eyes for a moment to protect them.
Then he opened them again.
His chest heaved with the effort that took. It was several blinks before his eyes began to focus.
As things came into view, he saw a window covered with thick curtains of deep burgundy. In front of the window was a leather wing-backed chair with a small table next to it.
His gaze moved farther down the wall, and he spotted an armoire. Then he saw the thick wood of the four-poster bed at his feet.
Cullen’s eyes slid shut on their own, the weight of them too heavy. But he forced them open again. His head rolled to the other side. He forgot about the room when he looked out the doorway and saw Mia.
She leaned over a table, looking at something sprawled before her. A map? He couldn’t see who she spoke with. The only thing that calmed him was the knowledge that she hadn’t been harmed.
Something moved to block his vision. He attempted to see what it was, but his body had other ideas.
“Easy, Loughman,” said a male voice.
He recognized it, but couldn’t place it.
“She’s safe. For now.”
It was the last thing he heard as he sank into oblivion.
Cullen’s mind was much clearer when he came to again. He remained still, listening. It was quiet. There were no sounds around him, which led him to believe he was alone.
He took stock of his injuries. His shoulder twinged a bit, but the pain was manageable. It was the wound on his side that would make things difficult. Even so, he’d suffered worse.
No longer did he feel so lethargic. Probably due to the pain meds wearing off. It would allow him to move easier without having his reactions dulled. Approaching voices caught his attention. By the sound of footsteps, there were at least three people, possibly four.
His hands itched to have a weapon fitted in his palm. The comforting weight of his pistol would give him security in a situation like this.
“You do not know what you ask,” came a voice with a Russian accent.
Cullen knew that voice. He was sorting through who it could be in his mind when he heard another voice that halted all thoughts. Mia.
“I know exactly what I ask,” she said.
“Dochenka Moya, you just speculate,” Sergei argued.
She blew out a breath. “We’ve been over this for the past two days. I know what I’m doing.”
Cullen’s eyes opened, and his head turned of its own accord toward the sound of her voice. Relief poured through him when his gaze landed on her.
She was in a new set of clothes. The white shirt molded to her full breasts, making his mouth water as he recalled holding them in his hands and teasing her.
Suddenly, her head swung to him. Their eyes met, and a bright smile lit up her face. “Cullen,” she whispered and rushed to him.
The feel of her hand in his when she reached the bed caused him to grin. It felt amazing to be touching her again. He told himself it was because he’d feared she was hurt.
But he knew it meant something far deeper.
“Where I am?” he asked.
She looked over her shoulder as Sergei and Lev walked into the room. When she faced Cullen once again, the smile was still there. “This place is up for foreclosure. Sergei found it and thought it would be a good location to hide us for a bit.”
Cullen’s gaze shifted to the Russian. “Smart thinking. Thank you for the assistance.”
“You needed it,” Sergei said as he moved to stand at the foot of the bed. “If Lev had not arrived when he did, you would have bled out.”
He met Lev’s ice blue eyes. “I owe you thanks, as well.”
“Not at all.” Lev’s mouth said one thing, but his gaze said something else altogether as he crossed his arms over his chest.
A silent exchange passed between them. One day, Lev would call in a favor, and Cullen was honor bound to do whatever he asked.
“How do you feel?” Mia asked.
He was happy to pull his thoughts away from Lev and focus on her face. “Good.”
“That’s all due to Lev. He patched you up on the mountain, but once we were here, he worked his magic.”
Great. Cullen owed him even more. “Thank you,” he said to Lev.
The Brigadier lifted one side of his mouth in a grin. “It was Mia who stitched you.”
Cullen squeezed her hand. “Were you injured?”
“Only minor cuts.”
Sergei made a grunting sound. “You had a concussion.”
“What?” He searched her face, looking for any signs of illness.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m fine. Lev gave me the okay.”
His gaze narrowed on the Brigadier, causing Lev’s smile to grow.
“The seatbelt saved her,” Lev said. “You might want to use one next time.”
“He was shooting at the men chasing us,” she stated in a chilly tone.
Sergei held up his hand, calling for immediate silence. “Mia tells me you both wish to speak to Yuri Markovic.”
“We do,” he confirmed.
“I do not think that is wise.”
“He could be the answer,” Cullen argued. “Yuri was at the base. It’s no accident that he’s here at this time.”
Sergei clasped his hands behind his back. “Mia told me everything the two of you discovered. I agree that Yuri is involved, but I do not know to what extent. You could be walking into a trap.”
“I have to find my dad. That means exploring every lead.”
“Yuri is a powerful man. Even here in America. His ties to your father might only complicate things.”
“No doubt they will,” Cullen agreed. “If you were in my place, looking for your daughter, what would you do?”
Sergei’s blue eyes clouded with sorrow and then admiration. “I would do as you are.”
“Then you’ll set up the meeting with Yuri?” Mia asked, her eyes widening hopefully.
But Cullen knew Sergei’s hesitation. The thought of Mia walking into a potential trap wasn’t something Sergei could condone.
“I go alone,” Cullen announced.
Mia’s angry gaze slid to him. “What? No. We do this together.”
“If something happens to me, then you can pick up where I left off and continue the hunt. But you’ll know Yuri isn’t the key.”
She was shaking her head the entire time. “Stop. I’m going with you. Besides, Yuri knows me. He’ll talk to me before you.”
“He’ll talk to Cullen,” Lev said.
It pained him to see her so upset as all three stood against her. The hurt in her beautiful black eyes tore at his heart, but he would rather she be furious than see her hurt or dead.
“This is bullshit,” she declared.
Sergei put a hand on her shoulder. “It is the right thing.”
She rose and walked from the room.
Cullen fisted his hand, instantly missing her touch. Long after she’d departed, his gaze remained on the doorway. In the short time he’d been with her, he understood why his father had taken such a liking to Mia, and why Sergei protected her as he did.
She was intelligent, strong, and brave. She stood boldly on her own in a world dominated by powerful men. Somehow, she persuaded others to trust her just by being the beautiful, kind, loyal daredevil that she was.
“For a long time, I have wanted to see Mia settled with a good man,” Sergei said softly as he moved to the spot she’d vacated next to the bed.
Cullen looked at Sergei, wondering what the Russian was getting at.
“No one was good enough,” Sergei continued. “And she did not seem interested. She has walked through life mostly on her own, as if she has been unknowingly searching for someone.”
Cullen was locked in a stare with the old man.
Finally, Sergei sighed. “You could be that someone, Cullen Loughman. I see the way she looks at you.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to deny it, but the words wouldn’t pass his lips.
“You look at her the same way,” Sergei said with a knowing look. “She is precious to me. I will not lose her.”
“Then we’re in agreement.”
Sergei smiled. “That we are. I only met your father once, but I liked him instantly. I like you, as well. You are willing to go to extremes to protect Mia. Lev told me of the distance you carried her from the wreckage to the place he found you, all while you were injured.”
Cullen shrugged.
“It showed me to what ends you will go for those you care about. I will set up the meeting with Markovic, but only if Mia remains behind.”
“Deal.”
“How soon will you be ready to travel?”
Cullen sat up and shoved aside the covers before he swung his legs over the side of the bed. Then he got to his feet, not caring that he was naked. “Now.”