Page 40 of Girl Anonymous

“Wouldn’t,” Octavia corrected.

Maarja continued, “—talk to the cops. Anyway, all of them thought she was crazy.”

Dante was fascinated to see that while they spoke, Maarja had relaxed. She still dripped the occasional tear, and she glanced down at the passing scenery as if urging them speed, but she joined the conversation without her previous distance. He had no doubt if he reached out to her now, she’d slap him away again, but he also knew she’d think about what he’d said and perhaps let loose a little of her disdain for him. “Four daughters,” he said. “All teens?”

“All within two years of each other. One week, three of them had their first periods.” Octavia used her voice of doom.

Maarja made a protesting sound.

“Dear, the man knows about periods!” Octavia said to her.

“I have some experience, although not with girls of that age.” If their mission hadn’t been so dire, Dante would be enjoying himself. “I’ll bet that was a difficult week.”

“Emma was so thin it took her another two years to catch up. Then I had four girls cycling together. Everyfourthweek was a difficult week.”

Maarja closed her eyes as if she couldn’t bear to look at him. Nope, even with the dire situation, he was enjoying himself. “Tell me about it. How did you handle sudden parenthood? My mother always said the reason God presents your child to you when they’re a baby is because if you got them as a teenager, with all their smirking and smart mouths, you’d lose faith in the goodness of the Lord.”

“Not my girls. It was the opposite. I used to wonder—why were they all so silent? Why did they defy the tropes? Why would four adolescent girls be silent?” Obviously rhetorical questions.

“Will Chrispin and Emma hold vigil at Alex’s side, too?” He needed to know, to arrange lodgings, to prepare protection for them all.

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. Emma is in the military, on assignment somewhere doing something she doesn’t tell us about. Chrispin left to find her roots and we…haven’t heard from her lately.” Octavia’s voice broke.

Maarja shot him an angry glance as if he’d deliberately caused Octavia upset. Nothing could be further from the truth. This lady deserved to be coddled and cared for; he didn’t yet know her whole story, but he suspected she had taken care of herself for her whole life. She needed him just as Maarja needed him. Neither woman yet realized how much their lives had changed.

He looked sideways at Maarja. Although she had begun to comprehend. All she needed was time and space. He hoped he could give it to her.

Octavia’s watch gave a buzz and she straightened. “We’re close.”

“We’re over Sacramento,” Dante confirmed.

The true atmosphere revealed itself. Octavia reached out her hand to Maarja, who grasped it tightly. “She’ll survive, Mommy.”

“She’s a fighter.” Octavia’s voice quavered.

That’s when Dante realized Octavia worried Alex would not survive. Yet she’d been so willing to chat, to tell him about her girls, he hadn’t realized… And Maarja had suffered a brief breakdown in his office, but other women he knew—Béatrice, Fedelma—wept loudly as if to offer proof of their grief. Maarja dripped brave and silent tears, and that reminded him of…his mother. Of Raine Arundel of honored memory, whose funeral had been prearranged right down to the hymns and the flowers. Not too much longer to wait, and that last duty would be done, and his beloved mother would be free at last.

The helicopter had to wait to land; Life Flight had right-of-way and the hospital’s helipad was busy. But at last they walked the corridors toward intensive care where they washed up, gowned up, consulted with the doctors, and finally stood beside Alex’s bed.

Maarja leaned forward to speak into Alex’s ear. “Mommy and I are here.” She put Octavia’s hand in Alex’s. “That’s Mom’s hand you’re holding, and she’s giving you all her strength. You know what that means. It means you’re plugged into a light socket and the power of the universe is yours to draw on.” Maarja questioned Octavia with her gaze.

Octavia shook her head. No press of the fingers, no response at all.

Maarja continued, “We talked to the doctors. We know your condition. Do you know? You’ve undergone emergency surgery for internal bleeding. That was simply for your survival. You need more surgeries, but your condition has to stabilize. Mom and I want you to work on that first.”

Octavia shook her head again.

“Now I’m going to tell Mom about you. What I see—” Maarja got a little choked, then steadied her voice “—and what I think right now. So…”

Maarja told Octavia about Alex’s face, so broken it was unrecognizable. She told her about the tube down Alex’s throatthat allowed her to breathe past the swelling, the fluids and the drugs that gave her sustenance and pain relief, the bruises and the cuts from boots that kicked and knives that slashed. The broken bones the doctors had already explained, and how only a strong will, skillful surgeries, and the correct physical therapy would get Alex on her feet again. If the villains had shot her, they would have killed her, but Serene and her crew had enjoyed their savagery too much to make Alex’s death easy or painless.

Dante had many times seen swift and violent death, but this…this was hate and vengeance incorporated, and Alex’s survival was a testament to gritty determination. Seeing Maarja’s grief made him realize Alex was not a sister of the blood, she was a sister of the heart.

Stepping out into the corridor, he pulled out his phone and made the first and most important call to his first and most important advisor. “Who is Serene?” For she was the key. She was the unexpected player, and why? What was her stake?

The answer shouldn’t have surprised him, and when it did, it left him cold with contempt. “All right,” he said. “The game has changed. You know what to do.” When he hung up, he straightened his jacket and returned to Alex’s bedside.

With this theft, an unforeseen move had been made on the playing field. And if he could be said to be riding a horse named Fate, his enemies would soon realize—he held the reins, and this game of fortune favored the ruthless.

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