Chapter 26
She’s Safe
Enzo to Tess: Papa would kill me if anything happened to you. [undelivered]
Kai
If Nate treats me like a patient one more time, I might actually strangle him.
He’s hovering, fussing over me like some overbearing mother—one I never had, by the way—bringing me soup as if a broken leg is the same as the flu, fluffing my pillows every five minutes, and trying to help me to the bathroom like I’m a toddler just learning to walk.
“Nate!” I snap, slapping his hand away as he reaches for the pillows again. “They’re fine.”
He raises his hands in surrender, but his guilty expression remains. “Sorry. I just… feel useless.”
“You’re more useful than me, stuck here in bed,” I grumble, shifting uncomfortably under the weight of the blanket he just meticulously draped over my legs.
“I know. At least Enzo’s guy on the inside should be getting her out today.”
My head flops back against the pillow with a sigh.
“Yeah,” I mutter, my chest tightening. I need to see Tess with my own eyes, make sure she’s really safe.
But instead of coming here, Enzo’s sending her to some undisclosed location with only one guard.
Which means I’m stuck here while she’s God knows where.
We fought about it. A lot. But in the end, Enzo convinced me—fewer people knowing her location meant fewer risks.
“Do we know who’s going with her?” I ask, watching Nate shuffle around the room like he still doesn’t know what to do with himself.
He waves a hand dismissively. “Some guy called Nico.”
I jolt upright so fast that Nate stumbles back. “Nico?!”
“Uh…” He scratches the back of his neck. “Yeah?”
“He was in the crash with me. How the hell is he even okay enough to do this?”
My voice must be louder than I realise, because Enzo strides into the room, his expression a blank slate. “Nico was practically untouched in the crash,” he says flatly. “Doc checked him out—said it was a miracle.”
I cross my arms and glare. “That doesn’t mean he should be in charge of Tess’s rescue.”
“He’s the best man I’ve got. The only one I trust enough with her right now.”
I grit my teeth but don’t argue. He’s right. And I hate it.
“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be back in the states? That’s where she is, right?” I ask, changing the topic.
“She is. But I can work from anywhere and I needed to make sure Carina was okay. Tess is her friend.” I wince, realising I haven’t been thinking about Carina’s feelings this week, only my own misery.
“Any news?” I ask, tension winding through me.
Enzo starts to answer, but his phone rings. He presses it to his ear, listening intently.
His conversation is too hushed for me to make out.
Then, “She’s safe,” he mouths to me.
I release a breath I didn’t realise I was holding, my shoulders finally losing the tension that’s gripped them all week.
He says something else, then suddenly his expression softens. “Tess?”
My heart slams against my ribs.
“I’m so relieved to hear your voice,” Enzo says, pacing as he listens. “I know, I know. It’s all good.”
I don’t take my eyes off him, reading every flicker of emotion across his face.
“Someday soon, we actually need to sit down and get to know each other, huh?” he laughs. Then his gaze flicks to mine, and he grins. “Yeah, he’s here. I’ll pass you over.”
He extends the phone, and I snatch it from his hands, pressing it to my ear like my life depends on it.
“Tess?” My voice catches in my throat.
Silence. Then a choked, breathless, “Oh, God. Kai.”
A flood of relief crashes through me, leaving me dizzy. “Hey, Hurricane. How are you?”
She sniffles. “I’m okay. Just… I can’t believe I’m hearing your voice. They told me you were dead. Dead, Kai. I knew it couldn’t be true—I thought it was denial, but maybe it was premonition.”
I huff a quiet laugh, warmth curling in my chest at her rambling.
“Can you believe I can add ‘kidnapped’ to my list of fucked-up shit that’s happened this month?” She exhales. “Oh my God. How are you? Nico says you broke your leg. Are you in pain?”
I chuckle. “I’m fine. Just bored out of my mind. Nate’s acting like a mother hen.”
“I bet you’re hating that.”
“You have no idea.”
She sighs, frustrated. “I wish you were here. Is that embarrassing to admit?”
A genuine smile—my first in days—tugs at my lips. “I miss you too. And I’m pissed you’re there with Nico.”
She laughs, the sound so familiar, so her, that it slices right through me. “Nico says to tell you ‘not to worry’ and… no! I’m not saying that, you dick.”
I scowl into the phone. “What did he say?”
She mutters something, but I catch it anyway.
“That he’ll ‘take care of our girl.’”
My jaw clenches. “Tell Nico that if he touches you, he’s dead.”
She laughs again, lighter this time. “Don’t worry. There are a few lamps around here—I’ve got us covered if he tries anything.”
A smirk pulls at my lips. “That’s my girl.” The words are out of my mouth before I can think better of them.
Tess sucks in a breath and I wince. “I just meant—”
“It’s fine.” She dismisses my words and I’m not sure whether to be relieved or pissed off.
Enzo clears his throat, making it clear I need to wrap this up.
“Your brother is getting testy,” I mutter. “Call me when you can, Hurricane.”
“Bye… handsome?”
I grin. “Are you questioning my attractiveness?”
“No!”
“I’m kidding. Bye, gorgeous.” What the fuck?
I can hear the smile in her voice as she says, “Bye.”
As soon as I end the call, Enzo snatches the phone from me.
I glare. “Tell me she’s getting her own phone.”
“I could tell you that…” He shrugs. “But I’d be lying.”
I stare at him in disbelief. “You’re fucking kidding me.”
Enzo drags a hand through his hair. “It’s too dangerous. Less interaction with the outside world the better.”
I sigh, rubbing at my face. Then I glance at Nate, who's hovering near the doorway like he’s waiting to be useful again.
“By the way,” I say, narrowing my eyes at him. “Didn’t Carina tell Tess your spare room belonged to the dog?”
Nate has the audacity to grin. “She did. And yet you’ve been sleeping in here all week. Funny, that.”
“So Cupcake got evicted?”
“It was never his room, man. Carina has him in bed with us. It was just the excuse Carina gave to get Tess to stay at yours.”
I blink. “Wait—what?”
He smirks. “She figured you’d be too stubborn to ask her to stay otherwise. And let’s be honest… she was right.”
I mutter under my breath and glare at the ceiling before turning my attention back to Enzo.
“How long are they staying there?”
“Hopefully no more than a week. Papa is moving against the Russians soon.” His reply sets me on edge. I need to see her.
I mumble curses, but it won’t change anything.
She’s safe. That’s what matters.
For now.