There were more voices suddenly. Strangers. Bright light in her eyes and someone asking her questions. She nodded in response to something, but she couldn’t remember what had been asked. There was a tight sensation of a tube being pulled from her throat, and she gagged.
She tried to blink the world into focus, but she couldn’t make her eyes move. She couldn’t move beyond her head rolling from side to side.
“Darling?”
The word was a song guiding her through the fog. Though far away, it seemed so near at the same time.
“Natalya?” She wasn’t sure she said it out loud. It may just have been a thought. Then warm hands touched her face. It cleared the fog further.
“Yes, darling. It’s me.” Natalya’s voice, so confident and commanding normally, was shaky. “I’m right here.”
“You are?” Maybe Evie’s eyes were still closed. Maybe she was dreaming.
Then Natalya’s gentle fingers ran over Evie’s face. It let her body feel more. Feel brighter. It let her open her eyes.
She was in a bed in a hospital room. A nurse was next to her, inspecting her vitals on a screen. In the door were Drago and Sam, both looking concerned.
And leaning over her, holding her face gently, was Natalya.
Her eyes were shining violet, and her cheeks were wet from tears. There was worry in her beautiful features, but it was overtaken by relief when Evie’s eyes found hers.
“Hi…” Evie had meant to say something more, but she forgot what it was. She would rather look at Natalya than speak.
“Hi, darling.” Natalya’s voice broke halfway through the sentence.
“Are you okay?” Evie asked. It made Natalya laugh, though it came out sounding like sobs.
“Yes, Evie. You don’t need to worry about me. I’m fine.”
“I thought you didn’t like that word.” Speaking was easier now. The world was coming into focus, and Evie smiled. Or maybe she’d been smiling the entire time and only realized she was doing it then. “We’re okay? We’re safe?”
The questions looked like they broke a dam inside Natalya. She drew in a shuddering breath, and her eyes filled with tears. She leaned in, so carefully, and put her face against Evie’s shoulder.
“We’re safe,” Natalya said. “You’re safe.”
She repeated it, like a mantra to herself, as she cried silently against Evie. Though it took untold effort, she raised her arms and put them around Natalya in a loose embrace. Evie sighed, leaning against her and breathing in her lavender scent.
“You came for me,” Natalya whispered. “You stupid woman. Why would you do that?”
Evie held onto her tighter. “You needed me.”
A single sob raked through Natalya at the words, and then it turned into sorrowful chuckling.
“You’re my everything.” Natalya’s voice was barely audible. “I love you, darling. I love you more than freedom.”
She sat down on the bed, partially lying on top of Evie, though she didn’t put any weight on her at all. She was so careful. This woman who’d said so many times she was made to bring nothing but destruction. That she wasn’t made to be gentle.
It was pure bliss to feel her warm body this close. To be safe with her. To have Natalya be safe. The relief of that, more than anything, made Evie start crying too.
Chapter 50
The restaurant was quiet, empty, and dark. Just like Natalya said it would be. There was no noise beyond the music playing on the speakers and the light swooshing of fabric against fabric as Evie moved into the dining room.
She would have felt out of her depth under different circumstances. Her green dress was tailor-fitted and expensive, and the restaurant looked like it usually served guests many tax brackets above what she could ever hope to achieve. It wasn’t a place she was at home or comfortable in.
Luckily, she wasn’t there for the place. She was there for the beautiful, violet-eyed woman sitting alone at a table in the dining room, waiting for her.
Natalya had gotten there early. She’d said it was to make sure everything was perfect for when Evie showed up, but Evie had a feeling there was more to it than that. It was evening, and though they were within Chains territory, Natalya knew Evie wasn’t comfortable with the dark yet. Evie guessed Natalya had spentthe past few hours making sure they were as alone as they could be. For tonight, the restaurant was theirs and theirs alone.
