Page 73 of Canyon of Deceit

SEVENTY-TWO

THERESE

Major Montoya had requested I drive Alina home. Uneasiness crawled in and refused to leave. Maybe he’d hit the overreaction button with the awkwardness of Blane behind the wheel nursing a concussion and a broken arm. That must be it.

According to the major, Jurg was in surgery. It would be hours before the surgeon offered a report.

Alina had no words from the back seat. She distrusted us and believed her dad might truly be dead. Her emotionless face in the rearview mirror sickened me. Would she ever get past this?

“Are you frightened?” I said to her.

“A little. I want to believe Daddy is fine, but I don’t want to be tricked.”

No amount of persuading would convince Alina until she wrapped her arms around Rurik’s neck. I’d feel the same.

Blane texted Rurik and gave him an approximate time of our arrival.

This promised to be a tearful reunion. I touched Blane’s hand.

We had much to talk about, much to be thankful for, and I needed to tell him something special.

Why wait? Recovering Alina and the Baranov family facing freedom were reasons to celebrate life.

“Blane, I need to say something.”

He whirled my way. “I’m listening.”

In less than a second, my bravado slipped away.

“What is it,” he said. “Are you sick?”

“I’m fine. This sounds weird, like I’m in high school again. I... love you. Not sure how or why.” I shrugged. “But is my confession okay?”

He laughed. “For those words, I’d break my other arm and crack my head again.”

“Sometimes love is an uphill climb.”

“Or a huge fall.”

Alina giggled in the back seat. “She might marry you.”

“I’m going to do my best.” He faced me. “You’ve given me hope. We’ll take it slow, like you said in the mountains.”

His words held more meaning than Alina comprehended. Blane’s past, my past, both scarred with tragedy, but we were survivors. We loved each other, and our ordeal together seemed stamped with God’s blessings. Oh, how I loved happy endings.

—

We turned onto Alina’s street and she gasped. “I want to believe my daddy is okay, but I’m afraid.”

I parked in the driveway and unbuckled my seat belt. “He’s here and he’s excited to see you.”

“Give this old man a moment to grab my bearings. I can manage. Just slow.” He placed his gun in his jeans back waistband. The weapon reminded me of Major Montoya’s warning for me to drive and Blane to keep watch.

Alina stood on the driveway bouncing on her toes. Why hadn’t Rurik rushed out to meet her? Surely he’d been watching for us to pull into the driveway. Alina skipped, and I walked with Blane to the front door.

She turned the door handle. Locked. Alina sighed and rang the doorbell. No response. She knocked and rang the doorbell again.

“I’ll text him.” Blane slipped his phone from his jeans pocket.

I captured his gaze and saw the same concern. “Alina and I will wait in the car.”

“Good idea. I’ll text Sergio.”

“No, Daddy will answer. He must be in his office.”

Please, God, let this not be another tragedy.

The door slowly opened. Rurik attempted a smile at Alina through a bruised and bleeding face.

“Inside,” a female voice said. “Or I open fire on Alina first.”

Alina stiffened. “Daria?”