Page 177 of Dark Night of the Soul

We all did.

When I polished off the pretzels, Ludwig handed me the sleeve of Prinzenrolle, the chocolate already melting in the wrapper. I took it.

“Next step is a shower,” he said. “But one crisis at a time, eh?”

Ulrich lifted his beer. “He’s right. We’re terrible at multitasking during trauma.”

It might have been the beer or the fact I’d eaten a whole sleeve of delicious chocolate cookies, but I heard myself say, “I know we have to move soon.”

They both froze, exchanged a glance. Both of them turned serious. I’d killed all our fun.

Ludwig said, “Soon, yes.”

“When?” I asked, my gaze meeting his. Remembering what the doctor said—that he couldn’t move yet. That it was too dangerous. “And the stairs. How?”

Because a healing gut shot and four flights of stairs didn’t mix. The image made my stomach clench.

“Not confirmed yet,” Ludwig said, using his tactical voice on me.

“Is it safe?” I asked, looking between the two of them. “For him, I mean.”

“It’ll be a challenge,” Ulrich said.

“And am I to assume the two of you will be joining us wherever that is?”

“Yes,” Ludwig said without hesitation. “Both of us.”

I nodded even as my gut clenched. It was hard to ignore the worry gnawing at me. Moving him could kill him. Staying could get us all killed.

“We can’t stay much longer,” Ludwig said. “It’s been over twenty-four hours. If they haven’t found us yet, it will be soon.”

Ulrich reached for my hand resting on top of the table. He gave my fingers a reassuring squeeze. “Do you trust us?”

I looked from him to Ludwig. “Does he?”

Because that mattered more than my own judgment right now.

“Yes,” Ludwig said. “We already talked about it.”

That didn’t surprise me. Likely while I was out. I nodded.

“Then, yes. I trust you.”

Because I needed them. And admitting that didn’t feel like weakness anymore. I couldn’t do this alone. It was the only way we were going to be safe.

I pushed up from the table. “Thanks for the food.”

I decided a shower was in order.

But Ludwig’s voice stopped me.

“Hey, Anna?”

I turned to face him.

“For what it’s worth, we trust you, too.”

The words hit harder than they should have.