Page 42 of Red Waters

“What?”

“I was his teacher.”

I stared at Yury’s uncle, realizing God truly does work in mysterious ways.

Would this story have become a happy ending to hear that Kirill overcame the evil embedded in his soul to help others? Maybe. But it is was not to be.

He picked up the fallen gun.

Yury stepped in front of me. “Do not do this.”

Kirill sounded absolutely destroyed. “Will you make sure she is buried?”

Yury’s shoulders eased. “I will.”

I jumped as another shot rang through the air, and again when I heard Kirill’s body hit the floor. He killed himself. There are no words to describe how many mixed emotions blew through me watching another life ending. Kirill’s blood seeped toward my bare toes.

Shared battle blood.

* * *

Do we always get to learn why certain things happen? I don’t know, but the quieter I allow my mind to be, the more understanding I find. Can you heal after rape? I refuse to speak for all victims, but my answer is yes. Does it take time and steps in the wrong direction? Definitely so, but to let the rape determine the woman inside me was to let the rapist win and let other victims down.

There was a battle to come and a heart to mend. There was a soul to heal and a man to love. But first, it was time for goodbye.

The private jet ride was quiet. Needless to say, Yury and I were exhausted. We had rushed from the mansion and drove to a private airport. Still in the black robe, I slept for the beginning of the flight while Yury texted on his cell phone.

Sitting in the seat next to the aisle, I asked, “Do you think Grey Eyes made it?”

Yury stared out the window and into the darkness. “If anyone had a chance, it would be him. He was the smartest slave I had ever tried to train.”

I didn’t miss the word ‘tried’ and didn’t ask for an explanation. All that mattered was knowing where I was headed. Yury teased me with the reply, “Hawaii.”

I doubted he was telling the truth. “Will you stay with me?”

“After tonight, my Fire...” his voice lowered, “you will not see me again.”

So deep, I had been so deep with him in our treacherous connection. “Why does that make me so sad?”

“Because I trained you to believe you need me.” He pointed to the To Go box in my lap. “You don’t even know how to feed yourself anymore.”

A tear slipped down my cheek. He was right. And it hurt. “I’m not hungry.”

He opened the box and scooped food onto his fingers. “Open your mouth.”

On his command, I obeyed, but first I unbuckled my seatbelt and slid from my seat. Kneeling between his legs, more tears fell. He cried, too, as he placed food on my tongue. We had fallen so far, I wasn’t sure how I would rise again.

Chewing around more tears, I laid my head on his lap, rubbing my cheek to his thigh.

Choking on his own tears, he said, “Thank you for saving me, Fire.”

A burst of emotions escaped me before I regained composure enough to talk. “Thank you for setting me free—” I stopped because I didn’t know what to call him.

“Bogdan.”

I peered up, so surprised he’d just told me his real name.

Bogdan caressed my face. “It means ‘God has rendered. To cause or become’.”