Page 111 of Gilded Locks

“Because he hurt you.” Her words were the quiet acknowledgement she’d been waiting for.

Marigold nodded, her throat tight. “Yes,” she rasped.

Knowing this nightmare was coming to an end made the emotions that much more intense. It was as if she could finally count her scars and review the damage.

“I’ll never be the same after this,” she realized. “I’ve lost my home, my father…”

“But you’ve found a family in us.” Katya’s hands closed around her arms. “You’re a Volkov now.”

Emotion seemed to tumble out of her in the form of a laugh. “I’ve always wanted a sister.”

“Well, you have one.” She hugged Marigold so tight emotion continued to rattle out of her in laughter and tears.

“Okay, that’s enough,” she said, pulling back and wiping her eyes. “I’ve cried enough tears over these last few months to fill an ocean. We have to focus on the positive.”

Katya dabbed the corner of her eyes and nodded. “That’s a good plan for both of us.”

Marigold let out a breath she felt like she’d been holding for the last year. “I think I’m going to take a long bath and think about what I want the rest of my life to look like, now that I know I’m free and I don’t have to run anymore.”

Katya walked her to the door and twisted the lock, but when she opened it, Cole was on the other side. His expression darkened to a scowl the moment he saw Marigold.

“You.”

“Cole.” She smiled nervously. “You’re out.”

His eyes narrowed. “I came to check on Ms. Volkov .” When he turned his attention to Katya, his gaze softened with concern. “Are you all right, ptichka?”

A smile teased at the corner of Katya’s mouth like a secret. “Yes,” she said, almost breathlessly. “Thank you for checking on me.”

The radio on his belt chirped and a voice crackled from an unknown connection. “Grizzly Bear is heading to The Cave. Polar Bear is close behind. Do you have an update on Little Bird?”

“Safe and sound. Where’s Black Bear?”

“Already with our guest.”

Cole cut off the radio and glanced at Marigold.

She suddenly felt like an intruder. “I’ll talk to you later, Katya.”

She scurried past Cole, wondering what her official security nickname was. Hard to choose when she had three. Depending on her mood and situation, she was sometimes a skittish rabbit, sometimes a clever fox, and sometimes a pampered princess. But today, she felt as powerful as a queen.

When she reached the other end of the hall and looked back, the officer was still standing at Katya’s door, his arm was reaching over the threshold.

Was something more than a security check going on between those two? She wondered if the boys knew anything. On second thought, she decided to keep her suspicions to herself. A secret among sisters.

After her bath, Marigold curled under the fur blankets and dozed off. The fire had gone low, and she awoke to a gentle caress along her cheek. Peeking through her lashes, she made out Stone’s silhouette as he looked down at her, stroking her face softly.

“You were supposed to come to me.” His skin smelled of fresh soap, and his chest was bare.

“I fell asleep.” The snap of kindling drew her attention to the fireplace, where Ash added more wood. Hunter entered and closed the door.

If they were all here, that meant… “Is Jordan?—”

“He’s gone,” Stone said. “For a long, long time.”

“He can’t hurt you now,” Ash said, stripping off his sweater and coming to sit on the other side of the bed.

Hunter flipped the gilded lock on the door, moving toward the bed.