Page 137 of Betrayal and Vows

"She used to play this every night.”

I notice there are some black marks on it. I rub my thumb across the smudges but they don’t come off.

“My mother must have taken these things from the ruins of your home,” I say.

“She’s had this stuff for thirty years,” he says. “I don’t understand.”

Neither did I.

I take the photos from his hand and place them back in the box.

“We need to sleep.”

“You sleep. I’ll be here.”

The couch isn’t big enough for the both of us. I slowly get up and pull the various quilts from around the room and create a bed for us.

“I need you beside me, Anton. Please. Hold me. We’re safe. You said so yourself.”

He looks reluctant but finally takes off his boots and stretches out beside me.

His strong arms hold me close.

We’re both battered and bruised, but I feel whole in his arms.

This is where I was always supposed to be.

Chapter 23

Anton

It's been three days since we arrived at Luda's cabin.

I should feel safer than I do.

The wound above my eye has scabbed over, my ribs no longer scream with every breath, and Lena's arm is healing cleanly.

But safety is an illusion I can't afford to believe in.

Vadim is a powerful man.

Even in the far corners of Russia, his influence can be felt.

We have to leave soon.

But we are still working on the details of our escape.

This was not the way I planned.

My guilt is eating me up.

Lena deserves so much more than I can give her.

I watch her through the small kitchen window as she sits on the wooden steps outside, her face tilted toward the weak spring sun.

She's wearing one of Luda's old sweaters, far too big for her small frame.

She looks peaceful for the first time since this nightmare began.