Seated on a tufted velvet sofa, Ivy regaled her story to the captive audience gathered around her, ending with being taken captive in Moscow. “Tarasov and his men dumped me in that alley thinking they were leaving me to die. But I beat the odds. The paramedics managed to keep me alive on the way to the hospital, and apparently they took me straight into surgery.”
She let out a breath, pushing aside the terrible memories. “It took several transfusions, three more surgeries and two weeks in the ICU before I regained consciousness.”
“But there was an official death certificate,” Amber said.
She nodded. “I forged it right after I escaped the ICU. Then I went to ground in a place I found outside of Kiev. It took months for me to recover enough to come out of hiding. I siphoned some money from Tarasov and found a plastic surgeon to repair the damage.” Gesturing to her face, she smirked. “Had him take off a few years while he was at it. After I recovered, I stayed off grid and started working on my plan.”
“To kill Tarasov,” Amber said.
“Yes, but something else just as important.” She looked around the circle of faces before her. “I didn’t know until now whether it was safe to resurface. I knew Zoya and Hannah had sold me out to Tarasov and his crew, but I didn’t know if it went farther than that, or whether some or all of you were involved too. So I started tracking all of you to find out. Not that you made it easy,” she added with a wry grin that made everyone smile.
“So you were testing us,” Kiyomi said. “You sent us the intel on Tarasov and the kidnapping ring to see whether we would go after him. And ever since, you’ve been watching us, trying to decide whether you could trust us enough to come out of hiding.”
“Yes.” She clasped her hands in her lap, looking from Kiyomi to all the others. “I’m sorry I put you all at such risk.” She focused back on Kiyomi, nodded at her sling. “And for the damage I’ve caused. Truly.”
“Taking out Tarasov was my pleasure,” Kiyomi said. “He’ll never be a free man again.”
“Be surprised if he lived more than a few weeks in the clink,” Jesse said, his arm around Amber’s shoulders. “Convicts hate rich, arrogant assholes like him.”
Ivy sighed and rubbed her palms on the skirt of her dress, shaking her head. She wasn’t sure she deserved their understanding or forgiveness, especially since Kiyomi and Heath had been injured so badly because of her. “I was so envious of what you all did after banding together to kill The Architect. That you all made it out alive and were able to make new lives for yourselves.”
“Rycroft’s going to want to meet you,” Trinity said.
Ivy hedged. “I’m not sure I…” She was so close to having the chance she’d been dreaming of. Gambling it by talking to Rycroft about everything seemed too big a risk.
“His bark is way worse than his bite. And we should know. We’ve put that man in a lot of awkward positions, and he’s come through for us every time.” Kiyomi smiled at her. “You can trust him.”
Briar nodded. “You really can. And us, though I understand why it’ll take you time to get there.”
The tension in her belly eased. “It feels so surreal to think that I might have the chance at a future now.”
“Welcome back,” Kiyomi told her with a grin.
Ivy returned it, wanting to pinch herself. Against all odds, she was finally, truly alive again.
Because she was free.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Incredibly, they had gained another sister through this whole ordeal.
It still seemed unbelievable as Trinity lounged in the library that evening with the other Valkyries. She had fulfilled her obligation with assisting Rycroft with the cleanup efforts, and was due to fly out the following afternoon. She was anxious to get home to start the next phase of her life.
Ivy was understandably still a bit guarded, and seemed most comfortable with Kiyomi. The two of them were cozied up on a loveseat in the corner, laughing about something.
Hearing that happy, carefree sound and looking at the women around her, Trinity’s heart swelled. The threat that had been hanging over them all this time was gone, and Tarasov’s network dismantled.
Five of the missing women had been located and rescued across the world, thanks to intel Amber had sent to Scotland Yard and MI5. Sadly, two had been killed before their whereabouts were known. But at least their kidnappers were all being brought to justice.
Eden walked into the room with an eager look on her face. “Hey, guys, Chloe and Heath are here.”
Everyone except Ivy jumped up and followed her to the door. Kiyomi paused on the way to alert the guys, all gathered in Marcus’s study for brandy and cigars, then opened the front door.
Chloe was partway up the steps with Heath, holding his hand. “Hey. Heard there was a party going on, and we didn’t want to miss it,” she said cheerfully.
Poor Heath didn’t look nearly as chipper. He was bent forward at the waist, jaw set and his lips compressed into a thin line as he struggled up the steps toward them. Trinity and Eden grabbed their bags for them and carried everything up to their room on the second floor.
Upstairs, Heath lowered himself gingerly to the bed, face white, a pained groan coming from between his clenched teeth. After a moment he opened his eyes and blinked when he saw the crowd of people standing in the bedroom doorway. “Hey,” he said with a wan smile. “Glad to be home.”
Chloe helped him lie down flat, and within minutes people had brought up food and drinks for them both. After tucking him in and covering his face with kisses, Chloe shut off the light and stepped out into the hallway. “Poor guy. He needs to sleep. The doctors weren’t thrilled about discharging him this early but he insisted, and it was a rough trip from the hospital.” Facing them, she raised her eyebrows expectantly. “Heard we have a new family member I need to meet?”
Trinity and Kiyomi looked at each other. Awkward. Chloe could be unpredictable at the best of times, and Ivy had ultimately been responsible for putting Heath in harm’s way.
“Oh, come on, I’m not gonna shoot her or anything,” Chloe said in annoyance.
“All right, but don’t spook her,” Trinity warned, taking her by the arm and leading her downstairs. “She’s still trying to adjust to all of this, and all of us. I don’t want you scaring her away.”
Chloe snorted. “Please, I’m like, the least intimidating one of all of us.”
She probably believed that, too.
Trinity led her to the library. Ivy looked up, saw Chloe and stiffened, her expression shuttering like a switch had been flipped.
Yep. Awkward.
Trinity put on a reassuring smile and squeezed Chloe’s arm in warning. “Chloe, this is Ivy.” She could feel the others behind them, almost holding their breaths.
Chloe didn’t move, staring at the newcomer for a few tense seconds. “Hey,” she said finally, expression unreadable.
“Hi.” Ivy shifted slightly, her only outward betrayal of nervousness. “I don’t know what to say to you except that I’m glad Heath is going to be okay. And I’m really sorry about what happened to him. I didn’t mean for any of you to get hurt.”