Page 30 of Broken Embers

I take the phone, and before I can ask what’s going on, the screen clicks on, and I see her. She looks disheveled and confused and it’s the best sight I’ve seen all fucking week.

Sabrina.

* * *

SABRINA

I wake with a hand over my mouth and a shadow leaning over me.

Panic hits me like a gunshot. My limbs jerk before my brain catches up. Then I hear it—a soft female voice. My eyes widen to find eyes boring into mine, sharp and focused.

“Don’t scream,” she whispers. “It’s me, Valeska.” She watches me intently. “Please nod to say you understand. Sabrina, if you scream, the guards will come and you’ll ruin everything.”

My muscles freeze, breath stuttering beneath her hand. I nod.

“What is going on?” My breath is labored, and my heart is pounding like a trapped bird.

She pulls back, not giving me a direct answer. “We don’t have long. My girlfriend’s arranged to help get us out here.”

“What?” I blink at her. My brain is still fuzzy from sleep, and I’m still not sure if I’m dreaming. “Who is your girlfriend, and why would she want to help me?” My voice cracks.

“I don’t have time to get into all this right now,” Valeska says again, quietly but with a steel edge. “I promise you I’ll explain everything later. Right now, we need to move.”

I narrow my eyes as the sleep fog finally clears and my mind catches up. “How do I know this isn’t another test? Some loyalty trap from your daddy?”

She doesn’t argue or even get defensive. She just sighs like she expected this. Then reaches behind her back and pulls out a phone.

“I figured you’d need proof.”

Valeska presses a button. The screen lights up—and my heart stumbles.

“Oleksi?” His name tumbles from lips poured out from my heart.

His face fills the screen; his eyes squint to see me in the dim cell light. He looks like he hasn’t slept in days. “Jesus. Sabrina… baby, it’s good to see you.”

My throat burns. And then, out of fucking nowhere, my eyes sting. My nose runs and before I can stop them tears are streaming down my face like my eyes sprung a fucking leak. Jesus—No! I never cry. I’m not that girl.

But right now, I am.

“No, baby,” Oleksi breathes into the phone. I see his face crumple with concern as he reaches out to the screen. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. Valeska’s there to get you out. Go with her. We’re waiting just outside to take you home. I love you.”

The line cuts right then leaving me stunned.

Did he just say I love you? I can’t breathe. My chest squeezes like someone wrung out my heart with bare hands.

“First time?” Valeska asks softly beside me.

I blink at her. “What?”

“First time he said it?” She gives me a little smile. “You know the first time he said I love you?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

“Then come on. Let’s get you out of here so you can say it back properly.”

Valeska helps me up, leans down, and picks up a pair of sturdy boots. “Get these on. And this.” She pulls a warm coat from the bottom of the bed and helps me up while I swipe at the waterworks dampening my cheeks.

“Sorry… I don’t know why I?—”

---