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I knew what that kind of toughness meant.

It wasn’t strength by choice.

It was survival.

Dr. Lewis reached for his tools, and as soon as he started scraping away at the hoof, the mare tensed. Her muscles coiled beneath my hand, and she let out a low, uneasy snort and shifted her weight. She was hurting. Hoping to comfort her, I pressed my forehead against her neck and whispered, “Shh, sweetheart. I know it hurts, but he’s going to make it better. Just a little longer.”

My hand drifted to my wrist, and I ran the tips of my fingers over the old, knotted break. The ache was faint, but it would never fully go away. I closed my eyes for just a second, and suddenly, I was twenty years old again, standing in the kitchen with Dimitri towering over me.

"You will do as you are told!"

His voice had been calm, but the rage in his eyes had me taking a step back. I knew better. I should’ve never questioned him, and now, it was going to cost me. I hadn’t even seen his hand move before the pain shattered through my arm. It was white-hot and all-consuming.

I crumpled to the floor, and I immediately started crying as I clutched my wrist. He showed me no mercy. No comfort. He just gave me a cold, dead stare as he ordered,"Get up."

There would be no doctor.

There would be no x-ray or splint.

Just a scarf that the maid wrapped around it, and not another word. It wasn’t that he didn’t want anyone to know what he’d done. He did. He was proud of his cruelty. It was what led people to fear him, and it worked. No one crossed him—ever.

The mare shifted again and pulled me back to the present. I inhaled a deep breath and tried to push the memory down. It was over. Dimitri was dead, and I was here, free. But freedom came with ghosts, and some days, they felt all too real.

“Got as much as I can for today.” Dr. Lewis stood upright as he said, “She’ll be sore, but it should help.”

“Okay. Good.”

He met my gaze. “You alright?”

“Better now.” I gave the mare another stroke of the neck as I said, “You did good, sweet girl. We’re one step closer to getting you all better.”

“She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s one lucky girl.” Dr. Lewis gave me a soft smile. “The foal, too.”

“I just want to give them a fair chance.”

“Well, they definitely have that. They all do.” He started out of her stall as he said, “I’ll go get started on the others.”

“Thanks, Dr. Lewis.”

“No need to thank me. That’s what I’m here for.”

He gave me a wink, then disappeared into the next stall. I stayed with Faith for a little longer, just stroking her and whispering soft reassurances, and it wasn’t long before she started leaning into my touch. The poor girl was exhausted. “It’s okay. You get some rest, and I’ll be back to check on you in a bit.”

I gave her one last pat, then stepped out of the stall and into the next. Dr. Lewis was already there working on the tall bay. He was nothing but skin and bones, and his long legs were too thin for his frame. I slipped into the stall and placed my hand on his shoulder. “Easy there, big fella. It’s just gonna hurt for a second.”

Dr. Lewis moved quickly and gave him the first shot. The horse stiffened, but I kept my hand steady against him, whispering soft reassurances.

"One more," Dr. Lewis muttered as he switched syringes.

The bay jerked when the second needle went in, but it was done. We moved through the barn, tending to each horse one by one. While he was there, he did his rounds with the thoroughbreds, making sure they were still on track and maintaining. It was slow work, but I didn’t mind. I could spend every minute of every day in the barn with my beauties.

By the time we finished, I was exhausted and ready for a cold drink. I thanked Dr. Lewis for his time, then made my way back up to the main house. I’d barely made it to the front porch when I heard Sergei’s voice. It was loud and angry, but I had no idea why.

Curious, I continued inside, and that’s when I heard him yell,"What the fuck were you thinking?”

I felt my stomach tighten.

"It was necessary,"Nikolai answered. His voice was quieter but firm. And he wasn’t backing down. “You’ve got all these big plans and no way to make them happen.”