Page 35 of Revenge

He holds out his hand for me.

“What are you doing here?” I look around, confused. I don’t see anyone else

The two men are on the ground, not moving.

“Come on. Let’s get you out of here.” He leads me to a parked SUV I hadn’t noticed before. Someone inside is on a cell. My heart stops. Viktor is here. He found me and came to rescue me. Then the door opens and reveals it isn’t him.

“I called. He’s pissed.” The man tells Marco.

“What were his instructions?”

Whose instructions? Who was he talking to?

“Take her to the safe house.”

I’m listening to them but have no idea what’s happening.

“Get in the car Ms. O’Brien, before the cops come,” Marco commands.

“Marco, I’m not going anywhere. Who were those men?” I ask, looking back at their lifeless bodies. “Are you taking orders from Viktor?” I turn back to him.

“No.”

“Then who?” I ask, confused. Who else would it be?

“He’ll explain when we get there.”

“I’m not going anywhere. Who is he?” I stomp my foot, determined not to move, but then I hear the sirens. Marco looks at me, pleading for me to get inside the SUV. “Fine.”

I get in the car with a million questions. Who were those men, and what did they want with me? If they aren’t Viktor’s men, then whose? I hold my belly, protecting my baby. We could have both died. This is my worst nightmare.

We drive in silence. I look out the window, trying to piece everything together, and come up with a logical explanation. But nothing. My stomach feels queasy. I can barely catch my breath.

“Pull over,” I yell.

“We can’t, Ms. O’Brien.”

“I have to puke.” The car barely stops when I open my door, emptying the content of my stomach. I’m sweating cold.

“Here.” Marco hands me a handkerchief and a bottle of water. He’s unaffected by the sight of my puke, which makes me laugh. “What?”

“Most people would heave at the sight of someone’s puke.” I take a gulp of water, gargle and spit.

“I’m not most people, Ms. O’Brien. Better? We really need to get going.”

“Where are you taking me exactly?”

“To a safe house. That’s all I can tell you.” I see the apology in his eyes as he closes my door.

Twenty minutes later, we’re in a neighborhood I don’t recognize. It’s one of the quiet ones where all the houses look the same. The lawns are well-manicured, and all the houses are painted the same color. I feel like I stepped into Pleasantville. All it’s missing is a Stepford wife walking out one of the doors while waving her hand with a big fake smile.

The driver pulls into a driveway and parks behind a car that’s already there. Marco and the guy exchange looks like whoever is waiting inside isn’t happy. Who can it be? Who cares enough about me to send Marco to me?

“Better not keep him waiting,” says the driver.

I open my door and start walking. Marco and the driver sandwich me between them. Marco opens the door to the house and enters first. I take a deep breath and follow, bracing myself. I’m sure Viktor is waiting inside. It’s the only logical person.

Chapter Nineteen

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