His to Take (Wicked Lovers #9)(98)
Author: Shayla Black

She looked at him with wary eyes, like she didn’t quite believe him. And why should she? After everything his sister had said and all he’d admitted, trusting his words would be tough. But he intended to prove himself.

What was he thinking here—something beyond comforting her in this moment? Did he want a girlfriend? A wife? Did he really want to be tied down to one woman?

No, but with Bailey, he didn’t look at it as being tied down as much as connected to someone who made a difference in his life. She brought light. She made him feel again. He didn’t think he could do without her.

“The thing is . . . Viktor Aslanov taught me that nursery rhyme we were puzzling through earlier. Only me. He told me to hide inside while he”—she took a moment to gather herself again, and he cupped her shoulder to lend support—“went inside and shot the rest of his family. Maybe he knew LOSS was sending someone for him.”

Joaquin nodded. “He must have known he couldn’t hide indefinitely with a wife and three children. He probably realized they would employ some terrible tactics to get the information they sought, so rather than making his family suffer or letting them use his loved ones’ suffering to coerce him, he killed them as humanely as he knew how.”

“It seems so surreal. Viktor Aslanov wasn’t a violent man. He laughed. He loved. He . . .” Bailey dissolved into tears.

Joaquin felt helpless to ease her burden, and that frustrated him even more. “He was backed into a corner and he did what he thought he had to do, most likely. He probably died with a lot of regrets, but selling information to LOSS that he couldn’t or wouldn’t deliver had to be the biggest. His last day with all of you must have been so bittersweet.”

“He sang that song to me over and over. He made me sing it with him. He told me never to forget it.”

“It must mean something.”

Bailey nodded, her eyes glassy. She looked so lost. He’d seen similar expressions on people who’d witnessed too much violence or the horrors of war. No wonder she’d had nightmares for so many years.

“I think it must. Sing whatever you can remember to me again.”

She groped around for the ball and handed it to him. He bounced the spongy orb against the dashboard. As he caught it, he listened. Bailey closed her eyes, turned inward, and focused. Joaquin didn’t interrupt her.

“Hickory in the park. The mouse hides in the dark. At the painted fence, jump three steps left. Follow the path to the sign near the dock.” She shrugged. “That’s it. I was confused before, but . . . that’s it.”

“It’s a verbal map.” He ducked from the SUV and looked around the farm. “I don’t see a park, a painted fence, or a dock. If ‘hickory’ means a hickory tree, I’m not seeing one in this yard.”

She scanned her surroundings. “I don’t know where we were when he started teaching me the song. I’m exhausted. Maybe if I get some rest and think about it a bit more . . .”

Joaquin just hoped they had the time before McKeevy caught up to them or Bailey broke down. He knew she’d do her best, but the emotional stress she bore was more than almost anyone could take.

“Do you know of any bodies of water nearby that might have a park with a dock?”

She paused, then shook her head in silent misery. Bailey needed a good meal, a glass of wine, a good night’s sleep—and for him to hold her. As much as he wanted to find all the answers now, she wasn’t trained for missions.

“Let’s go. We’ll find a detailed map of the area online and see if something rings a bell.”

Her shoulders slumped. “I feel like I’m letting you down.”

“Oh, you’re not, baby girl. Far from it. You pushed yourself today to remember so much. It must have been so difficult, but you kept fighting. I’m really proud of you.” He cupped her cheek in his hand. “Let’s go find you some real food and a bed to crash in. How does that sound?”

She blinked up at him, her blue stare clinging. “You’ll stay with me?”

“Absolutely. Every moment you need me—and probably more than you want.” He tucked her into the car, then shut her door and ran to the driver’s side, slipping in beside her. “Just lie back and close your eyes. You deserve a break. Once you’ve rested, we’ll come back to this and look at it with fresh eyes. Maybe we’re missing something obvious or maybe another memory will jump out at you.”

“Maybe.” She sounded distant, tired.

Joaquin grabbed her hand and peeled away from the little house filled with hugely horrific memories. As he did, he dialed Sean, intending to let the man in on Bailey’s revelations. The phone rang, and Joaquin glanced at the quaint farmhouse in the rearview mirror. He sincerely hoped she never had to come here again. If she did, it would definitely be too soon.