Page 115 of Thorns of Silence

She was perceptive for her age. Maybe one day she’d even rule the world. “Yes, but only because they love you.”

Throwing her hands up, she signed, “First I didn’t have anyone who loved me, and now I have too many people who love me.”

I smiled shakily. “You can never have too many people who love you, sweetheart. We all loved you all along. We just had to find our way to you.” That made her smile real big. “Are you ready to explore the world with me?”

“Let’s go.”

* * *

I purchased a one-way ticket to New York City from Louis Armstrong Airport under Skye’s and my real names, hoping it’d lead the Nikolaev’s in the wrong direction. I hoped it would give us enough time to drive to Baton Rouge Airport and board flights to Greece under our assumed names before they suspected my scheme.

My heart was beating in my throat when I handed the passports to the TSA officer less than two hours later. The woman barely glanced at the photos.

The security guards also didn’t pay us any mind as we found our way to the gate.

I sat us in the closest seats to the gate, our runaway money secured on the seat next to me. I kept checking our surroundings nervously, but nobody showed up. I fought the tears, almost tasting our freedom. Happiness. Love. Adventure. It all awaited us in our new life.

“Are you scared… Mommy?” I lost my fight with the tears and pulled her into a hug. Even if death found me, it would all be worth it now.

“A little bit,” I admitted. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”

“You’re not going to leave me alone, right?” The uncertainty and fear in her eyes gutted me. I slid onto my knees and wrapped my arms around her slim body, still wearing her dress that Tatiana picked out for her—a Dolce & Gabbana white dress with black bows. We looked odd together—me wearing a casual outfit and her wearing D&G.

“Wherever I go, you go,” I signed, making a somber vow. “And wherever you go, I go.You will never be alone again.”

“Promise?”

“Cross my heart,” I signed.

A stranger in a hoodie took the available seat next to us, his eyes glued to the device in his hands. My eyes darted around the waiting area with dozens of empty seats, wondering why he’d sit next to us. But the man was so focused on his screen he probably wasn’t paying attention to us at all.

I returned my attention to my daughter. “Want to know what our first stop is?” She nodded eagerly. “Athens, Greece. We’ll visit the Temple of Poseidon, god of the sea. Maybe we’ll even go for a swim if it’s warm enough. What do you say?”

Her face fell. “I can’t swim.”

“Well, what are moms for? I’ll teach you. Maybe we’ll even run into a few mermaids.”

Her eyes flickered with interest. “Can we get mermaid tails?”

“Hmmm, I don’t know that humans can actually grow one.”

She threw her head back and laughed, the sight making my heart warm in my chest. “It’s like a toy.”

“Oh, in that case, yes.”

Her eyes lit up. “And flippers?” She was giving me those big blue eyes that I just couldn’t resist.

“Of course.”

She smiled real big. “And a mask?”

I couldn’t hold back my laughter. She was already playing me like a fiddle. “Anything you want, baby.” Then, just to ensure she didn’t take it literally, I added, “Within reason.”

A movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention, and for a flicker of a second, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I watched in horror as the man in a hoodie ran away with the backpack that held most of my money, his attention definitely not on his device anymore. My reaction stalled, but I eventually jumped to my feet, my throat vibrating with the sound of my despair.

I made it two steps, fully intent to go after him, when I froze. I couldn’t leave Skye alone.

Going to the police was out of the question. They’d delay our flight and possibly re-examine our travel documents. Not to mention the threat of the Nikolaevs getting to us would be magnified.