Page 125 of Scarlet Promise

“You can make up for it when we’re home. They’ll let me out tomorrow, and Albert and I are coming home to you, okay?”

I nod, hoping I can hold up the promise. If we don’t get this done and my place isn’t safe in all the ways it needs to be, then she’ll be back at Demyan’s.

But I’m not about to say that. “Okay.”

Now I’m even more determined to get this done.

With Demyan coming around to the new reality of our lives, I want nothing more than to wipe Melor off the face of the earth and take care of Simonov and perhaps his entire operation.

The sooner all that’s gone, the sooner I can focus on what’s important: Alina and our baby.

She glances at the door, and I do, too. Demyan is there, on his phone.

Alina looks back at me. “So you two worked things out? That wasn’t an act, right? It didn’t feel like an act.”

“Demyan promised me pain and death if I ever hurt you. So, no act, and things worked out.”

She shudders but smiles. “Thank goodness.”

“Demyan’s actually going to help me take care of a few things?—”

“With Santo?”

“With Santo’s help.” I kiss her again and straighten up, taking my phone from her. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Hurry?”

“I will,” I promise.

And I hope it’s one I can keep.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

ALINA

“Do you want the good news?”the doctor says later when he comes by to check on me.

I look him up and down. Isla’s on her way over to see me, so if there’s another side to the good news, she’ll be here to pick up the pieces.

Her number is the only one I know by heart. When we were teens, we made sure we had each other’s numbers locked tight in the memory vault in case of trouble.

Though the doctor doesn’t have the air of a man with grave news, my stupid heart starts a rapid beat.

“It depends,” I say, aiming for humor, “if there’s a ‘but’ attached.”

He laughs. “Only if you consider waiting for your final set of results a ‘but.’ No, I came to tell you most of the results that came back are glowing. You’re in great health, and you even have a rosy glow about you. We just want the last few results in before we send you home.”

A small squeal breaks free. “I can go home.”

“When our results come in. It might not be me with them, unless they’re bad…” He winks. Actually winks.

The man’s probably about sixty, if he’s a day, and he’s got a slight air of grandfather about him, so I don’t take offense at the wink.

It makes me feel like I’m about five, though.

“It’s just some of your blood tests to make sure you’re in tip-top shape. Since you’re here, we ran the whole lot.”

I breathe out. “And then I can go?”