Page 109 of Unbroken

“Is it just us here?”

“Just us for now,” he says. I can tell he hates this, and it isn’t what he wanted. He’s not the type to sit back when he can take the situation in hand himself, but he has to.

My stomach twists.

Probably the adrenaline crash, I guess.

Or the cold.

Or the weight of everything. Or…

I swallow hard and try to push it down.

But it comes back, sour and sharp, right behind my teeth.

I lurch up and make it to the bathroom just in time.

The nausea hits like a wave—one hand on the counter, the other clutching the side of the toilet.

My whole body trembles.

When I’m done, I sit back on the floor and press my head to the cool tile. My heart’s racing, and my skin is clammy.

I hear the floorboards creak.

Vadka’s voice is low. “Ruthie?”

“I’m fine,” I rasp.

He doesn’t believe me. Of course not. But he doesn’t push, just brings me a glass of water and crouches beside me.

“Shit, I didn’t think my cooking wasthatbad.”

I give him a watery smile and sip.

He brushes the damp hair off my forehead and doesn’t speak.

Just waits.

His silence is more tender than words would be.

“Could be a stomach bug,” I mutter.

It’s not. I know it’s not.God.

“Could be.” But his voice is tight now. “Shit timing.” He’s watching me too closely.

My mind starts calculating… counting back.

“Is Zoya coming home?” I ask, trying to keep my voice nonchalant like I didn’t just vomit into the toilet and my period’s late.

“Yeah, Zoya and Rafail will be here soon.”

“I need—I need to make a call.”

“What’s going on? Ruthie?—”

“Please. Just—give me a second.”

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