Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“Sweetheart, you listen to me,” Shadow said, leaning forward to really get the child’s attention. “You don’t want to be on your own, you ain’t gotta be. Ever.”
“Even when I’m grown up?”
“Nope. Not even then. You can’t find someone on your own to be with you, I know three whole clubs of men who’ll go on a hunt to find you exactly the right one.”
“No one wants to do that.” She sounded small and vulnerable, and it tore at Shadow. He rubbed his chest, trying to relieve the ache. Which was when Millie put her other hand over his hand holding hers.
“Baby, believe me. Those men are all gonna put you under their protection. Just like they have several other girls who’ve been through rough patches. That means, they’re gonna have to approve any guy you want to be with in the first place. You can’t choose? They’ll be happy to choose for you. And why are we even talkin’ ’bout this!” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “You’re too young to date. Or have a man of your own. Or to think about kissing!”
That got her to giggle a little, before she sobered once more. “You were protecting Millie. Down there. In woods outside maze.”
There was no way to hide his wince. “Yeah, sweetheart. I was protecting Millie. And you. I’m sorry if I scared you.”
“Oh, you didn’t,” she said adamantly, shaking her head, her eyes round and wide. “You killed bad guys. They were trying to put me back in maze. Victor said he was gonna give me to someone. He said I had to be good and do what man said or I’d get hurt.”
“Ain’t no one gonna hurt you now.”
“Do you swear?”
Shadow smiled. “Yeah, baby. Me and your sisters will always keep you safe.”
Millie sniffled. Venus didn’t even try to hide that she was wiping tears from under her eyes.
“I left you once,” Venus said, taking a shuddering breath. “Was biggest mistake of my life. Second was not letting your sister talk me into going back for you.” When Katya gasped and looked up at Venus with hurt in her eyes, Venus carried on. “I tell you this now because I don’t want you thinking Lyudmila had anything to do with it. She tried to get me to go back for you, but I was afraid if I did, I’d lose both of you.” Venus looked at Millie, stark pain etched on her ethereal face.
“I could have tried to go back for you at any time after that,” Millie said softly. “I didn’t because I was afraid I couldn’t do it by myself. Then everyone who died trying to help us get out would have died in vain. After that, I was too caught up in hating Venus to figure out how to make it right and get you out.” Millie undid her seat belt and slid to the floor at Katya’s feet. She took her younger sister’s hands in hers, squeezing tightly. “I was wrong. I came when Venus found me so hopefully that helps make up for it. But understand, I’ll never let anything more happen to you. Victor will die someday, and I hope to have a hand in it.”
“Victor’s gone home,” Katya said softly. “Back to Russia. Is why there was party going on. His new girlfriend missed being center of attention.” She wrinkled her nose delicately. “I heard her and Victor arguing right before he put me in maze. She wanted me gone, and Victor agreed to give me away now, so Sasha didn’t have to put up with me. He put me in maze because I tried to run after I heard them.”
“We’ll still get him,” Shadow said seriously. “Maybe not right away, but he’ll pop his head up soon. When he does, we’ll be ready.”
“Absolutely we will.” Millie pulled the girl into her arms, hugging her fiercely. “Never again, mladshaya sestra. I’ll never leave you again.”
“Ya tebya lyublyu, Lyudmila,” Katya said, hugging her sister as hard as Millie hugged her. “Spasibo for coming for me.” She turned to Shadow. “Spasibo.”
“You’re welcome, little one.”
Once the plane leveled off and Venus had Katya settled into the movie Frozen, Shadow snagged Millie’s hand and pulled her back to the cabin in the back of the plane. Inside, there was a small bed and a private lavatory.
“Bed?” Millie giggled. “Am I about to join mile-high club?”
“Absolutely. Can’t havin’ you thinkin’ I can actually keep my hands off you.”
The second the door was closed, Shadow pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Millie melted against him, smiling as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I can’t keep my hands off you either,” she admitted. “After everything we went through down there, I need you, Shadow.”
Shadow shivered in her arms, his hold on her tightening, afraid someone would try to take her away from him again. “I can’t think about that right now, baby. Not now. Later.”