Chapter 33 - Katie

I woke up in a moving car again. At first, I thought the whole terrible ordeal had been a nightmare, and it was only just beginning. But there was no burlap sack over my head, and when I frantically jerked my arms, my hands were free.

"Hush, we're almost there," a familiar voice said, low and comforting.

A cool hand swept across my brow, and I opened my eyes to find that I was cradled in Aleks's lap. Was this the dream, and was I still huddled in the corner of that shack? I didn't understand why he looked so worried if he'd found me, but his brow was creased with concern. His blue eyes searched my face as he brushed a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Everything's fine now," he murmured.

I shut my eyes again, feeling myself drifting away from him, even though I wanted to stay.

He held me closer, his cheek rough against mine. "I'm so sorry, Katie. I'm so, so very sorry."

What was he apologizing for? I moved my lips to speak, but they were too dry. My throat no longer worked properly. I could only slip back into unconsciousness, hoping this part was real.

The next time I opened my eyes, overhead lights were glaring down on me. I squeezed them shut against the brightness. There was no longer hard concrete digging into my bones, but the mattress I lay on wasn't exactly comfortable either. Cool air wafted down on me, and when I took a breath, it didn't reek like sweaty men, whiskey, or dry rot anymore. A bit antiseptic, and now that I was slowly coming to my senses bit by bit, I heard soft beeping noises and a low hum of strange voices in the distance.

Rolling to the side, I opened my eyes again. A thin, scratchy sheet covered my arms and when I pulled them out, my injured wrist was tightly wrapped. A tube ran into my other arm, connected to a bag of clear liquid.

At my slight motion, Aleks appeared at my side. He pulled the sheet snugly around me and smoothed my hair as I tried a smile. The side of my face hurt, and my head began to throb now that I was awake, but the sight of him made it all bearable.

"This is real," I said, just to make sure. I wanted to shake my head to clear away the last of the cobwebs that still clung to my brain but knew it would start an avalanche of pain.

He stroked my hair again, carefully avoiding the tender area where I'd been punched. He smiled back at me, but his eyes were strained.

"Are you all right? Are you comfortable enough?" He looked around, suppressing a sigh. "We got you to the nearest hospital. I don't know how good it is."

I wasn't comfortable. I was stiff, sore, and confused, but none of that mattered. I was so happy to see his face and know I wasn't dreaming that I reached for him, pulling him down for a long overdue kiss. It seemed like years ago that I was upset with him, but he'd found me when I needed him most. His daring rescue mission replayed in my head as I clung to him.

Bits and pieces still seemed like I'd imagined them. Had I seen his brother Lev and a bunch of other men running toward the shack, waving guns? The scenes worked backwards in my mind, coming in broken clips, all the way to the point where Sergei was still alive.

I whimpered against Aleks's mouth, feeling a tear leak out of my eyes. I felt like a sponge that had been left in the hot sun, shriveled and parched. My heart wanted to sob for my dead guard, but there were no more tears available.

Aleks pulled away, a haunted look in his eyes. "I need to tell you something," he said in a constricted voice, full of sorrow.

I looked away. "I know about Sergei," I said. "I saw them kill him."

Smoothing my blanket aside, he sat next to me on the bed. I'd never seen him look so somber, almost fearful. That wasn't like Aleks at all, and I gripped his hand, anxious there was worse news to come.

"What is it?" I asked, frowning when he pulled his hand out of mine. What was so wrong he suddenly didn't want to touch me?

"Katie," he started. "I—"

A jovial doctor burst into the room, a big smile on his rosy-cheeked face. He had about four strands of white hair, neatly combed across his shiny head, and carried an old-fashioned clipboard. Aleks jumped up as the doctor looked over his notes.

"Is she okay?"

"Looks like it," he said. "Sprained wrist, mild concussion, and some minor bruises. Your main problem, young lady, was how severely dehydrated you were."

I wondered if I should apologize, he looked so disappointed, but his face immediately transformed back into a cheery smile, the apples of his cheeks rising into the wrinkles around his eyes.

"But congratulations are in order, I think." He paused, rising up on his toes in excitement. "You're pregnant."

I was so stunned that my jaw dropped halfway to my chest. I shouldn't have been shocked by the way Aleks and I had been going at it so wildly. It was in the contract, after all. But so soon? A glance at Aleks showed he was similarly befuddled, and the news hadn't erased the haunted look from his eyes. If anything, it increased it.

Neither of us said anything for long seconds, and the doctor cleared his throat, which was red all the way down to his crisp lab coat. "Ah, well, I'll leave you two alone," he said, slinking backward out the door.

Sitting up, I leaned against the stack of pillows behind me and looked down at my waistline. Was it really going to start expanding soon? When would I feel our baby kicking?

Our baby.

I should have felt trapped, not so happy I could float around the room. How was I going to get my quickie divorce now?

The answer came instantly. There wasn't going to be a quickie divorce or a divorce of any kind. I had been lying to myself about that for weeks. In truth, I was all in. Delighted to start a family with Aleks, which meant staying with him forever. No running away. I put my hands on my stomach, unable to stop the smile that took over my face.

Was I scared of what might come because of this? Yes. Terrified. But there was no way I'd choose any other path.

It was like I'd been given a second chance after that harrowing experience, and I wasn't about to waste it because of my fears. I turned to Aleks, who still stood rooted to the spot he'd been in when the doctor awkwardly blurted out the news. His face was frozen in a stony grimace, eyes dark with something I didn't understand.

"Are you happy?" I asked.

Why wasn't he jumping for joy, hugging me, and showering me with kisses? This was what he wanted. His main stipulation for our marriage. I foolishly believed it wouldn't happen so soon, that I'd leave him behind before things became permanent. Was he secretly hoping the same all along?

"Aleks?"

He sat beside me, pulling me close, and burying his face against my neck. "I'm delirious," he said raggedly. "I'm just still in shock. I thought I might have lost you."

I pulled away to grip his shoulders. "But you found me, and I'm okay. Better than okay."

His face softened, and he rested his forehead against mine. "That's the only thing that matters."

Well, it wasn't the only thing. I leaned back on the pillow mound and took his hand. "What did you want to tell me before the doctor changed our lives with that news?"

I wanted him to laugh, but his forced smile faded, and once again, he looked like he had ghosts at his heels.

"It can wait until you're home and more comfortable," he said. "It may not matter by then. Either way, it's nothing for you to worry about."

Didn't he know how much I'd studied his handsome face these last two months? I knew every expression, every flicker in his eyes. He told me there was nothing to worry about, so why did he look so worried?

He handed me a hospital cup with a straw and told me to take small sips. The ice water felt heavenly going down, and I ignored his advice, greedily slurping until it was gone. With a wry smile, he said he'd get me a refill and see when I could leave.

I was already feeling stronger and still giddy about learning I was pregnant. As much as I kept trying to make myself see how this was going to be the end of my longest friendship, I still couldn't be anything but thrilled.

Our baby. A tiny replica of Aleks, who liked to cook with me. Or a mini-me with auburn hair and a steel trap mind for business like her papa. My head whirled with possibilities, but every time I closed my eyes, flashes of the kidnapping came back.

I was probably still somewhat in shock, just like Aleks. I'd had the worst day of my life, seemingly stuck in the lowest ravine, then whisked out like I was soaring in a hot air balloon with the news of the pregnancy. It was a lot to process, and it would probably take a while to be able to simply be happy and start planning.

I should have believed Aleks when he said danger might surround me. I was going to believe him now when he said there was nothing to worry about.

I closed my eyes, and this time, there was no shouting, no raised fists, no violence or ugliness of any kind. This time, visions of frilly cribs and baby shoes filled my thoughts as I waited for Aleks to take me home.

Our home. Where I meant to stay.