It feels like we’ve been walking forever. Really, it’s probably only been twenty minutes or so, but the rhythmic sounds around us are driving me mad. Feet crunching on a bed of dried leaves, the chirp of insects, and the wind whistling in the branches above us.
“So, about my… father,” I say, my voice at normal volume since we’re pretty far from the house.
“What about him?”
“What’s his name?”
“Ivan Belov.”
Doesn’t ring any bells. Searching my deepest memories, I try to think of a time when my mom ever mentioned someone named Ivan, but I come up with nothing. “What’s he like?”
“Russian, bossy, and used to getting his way.”
“Well, if he wanted to see me so badly, why didn’t he just go through the court system like everyone else?”
“The situation is complicated,” Preston says carefully. “And Ivan’s not exactly on the right side of the law.”
“What does that mean?”
“He’s in the mafia.”
“Well, shit.” I didn’t hit the lottery with my parentage. “And how much did he pay you? What am I worth?”
“Fifty thousand dollars.”
“Wow.” Compared to what my mom has stashed away, that’s not a ton, but it’s still a large amount.
“That’s half upfront,” Preston clarifies. “I’ll get the other half if I complete the mission.”
A total of a hundred thousand dollars, and all he has to do is deliver me to some man I’ve never met. Obviously, deception is something Preston is good at. He had me fooled with silly emojis and pictures of a teenage girl. A pretty one, at that.
Who is that girl? She’s someone. Maybe he lifted her pictures from a stranger’s social media. Or maybe it’s an ex-girlfriend.
Jealousy and suspicion cut through the pleasant buzz of my medicine. I glance at our joined hands, then at Preston’s profile.
No one in their right mind would give up an extra fifty thousand dollars for a crazy chick. Worry creeps in, and I start to wonder if I made a huge mistake by accepting his invitation.
“Won’t my father be mad if you don’t take me to him?” I inquire, keeping my tone casual.
“Not your problem,” Preston grunts.
“It’ll be my problem if he comes after you while we’re still together.”
“You let me worry about that, Rosie Doll.”
“I thought you agreed not to call me that anymore.”
“I did no such thing.” He looks over at me. “And so far tonight, you’ve called me a robber-slash-rapist, an old dude, and a liar. And what else? A homicidal ninja?”
True.
I sigh, not liking how we’re dancing around a topic. I’ve never been good at keeping my worries bottled up, and I can’t hold back any longer.
“Am I your prisoner? Are you planning to go through with the job? I wouldn’t blame you if you are. That’s a lot of money to give up for someone. I just want you to tell me so I know what to expect.”
The glow from the flashlight’s aimed at the ground, and it gives just enough light to read Preston’s tender expression as he looks at me. “I’ve made mistakes, Rosalie. Mistakes I can never take back. But one thing I can promise? I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you’re safe. I won’t leave you. In fact, nothing could keep me from you.”
“Not unless I want you to go away, right?”
He works his jaw and agrees, “Not unless you want me to go away.”
What a noble speech. Either this guy’s good with words, or he’s being completely transparent. I just don’t know him well enough to tell the difference, but I want to believe everything he says.
Not just because he’s Jessa—the person I’ve looked forward to talking to every single day. But because he’s the man from outside, the one I’ve lusted over for months.
As we continue on the path, my palm gets sweaty, and I’m kind of glad he’s got gloves on so he can’t feel how clammy I am.
I’m just nervous and excited, and I wonder if I’m the only one feeling the electric tension between us. Our contact keeps sending continuous jolts up my arm, making my heart flutter.
“So what’s the plan, then?” I ask, sounding a bit winded. “Was all that stuff you said about Florida bullshit?”
“No. That really is where I want to take you eventually.”
“You know, I’m pretty sure it’s a federal offense to kidnap someone and take them across state lines.”
Preston gives me a funny look. “You watch too many murder shows. It’s not kidnapping if you’re willing.”
He’s right. And I am willing. Unfortunately, he’s my best bet. I don’t know how to travel or where I’m going. Since Jessa doesn’t exist, I need him for the time being. “You have family down there or something?”
“Nah. We won’t stay there long either. I figure we can take a boat to Costa Rica.”
At the mention of water, I almost trip, but Preston’s there to steady me. “A boat? No. No, we can’t do that.”
“Why not? You can’t stay in the States. It’d be too easy for you to be found. People will be looking for us—”
“No,” I cut him off. It doesn’t matter what his reasons are. Getting on a boat is a hard pass, so I tell him, “I don’t do large bodies of water. Or small ones, for that matter. No, thanks.”
“It’s not optional.”
Out of everything that’s happened since I crawled through that little window, thinking about being on the ocean is the worst. I’d be completely vulnerable.
All my nightmares come rushing in.
Cold water. Suffocation. Flailing helplessly.
“Hey, you’re shaking.” Preston’s deep voice is soft and gentle as he stops and turns toward me. He shines the flashlight up toward my face. “You still cold?”
“No,” I say honestly, leaving out the fact that I’m shivering from fear. I don’t want him to know about my stupid phobia, so I play it off like immediate dangers are my concern. “What if we get attacked by a wolf out here?”
He cocks his head at the sudden change of topic. It’s the only indication that I’ve thrown him for a loop. “I have my fishing knife.”
“You’re going to take on a vicious animal with a fishing knife?”
“I don’t think there are many wolves in this area anyway.”
“Could be a bear. Bobcats can be aggressive.”
“We’ll be alright.” Just like when he was pretending to be Jessa, he doesn’t get deterred from our earlier conversation, because he jumps back to our travel plans. “We need to get as far away from here as possible. Once Loralee realizes we’re both gone, she’ll be looking for us. She has enough money to hire a hundred private investigators. She’ll dig up anything she can on the Preston Walker who’s been working for her, which isn’t much other than the basics that come up during a routine background check.”
I let out a bittersweet laugh because I’m obviously not the only one he’s got fooled. He passed my mother’s requirements, which means he’s really good at what he does. “Who the hell are you?”