Page 166 of What He Keeps

I watch her go.

“Why didn't you kill her?” Maggie asks softly from behind me.

I turn toward her. “Because Roman never misses,” I say.

Roman's gaze meets mine. “A quick death is too good for her.”

A silent understanding passes between us.

Maggie throws herself into my arms, and I hold her with both hands, cradling the back of her head. Her entire body shakes against mine.

“You came for me,” she whispers against my chest.

I cup her face between my hands and brush tears from her cheeks with my thumbs. “There’s nowhere on this earth I wouldn’t go for you.”

Fresh tears spill down her face. “I was so scared.”

“I know,” I murmur, resting my forehead against hers.

“I thought...” Her voice breaks.

I kiss her before she can finish. When I finally pull back, she gives a watery laugh.

“That was very dramatic.”

“You were kidnapped,” I remind her.

She sniffles and nods. “Fair point.”

Three weeks later

I cry before we even pull into the parking lot.

I try not to. I really do. But the moment the rebuilt shelter comes into view through the windshield, tears sting my eyes so quickly that I have to turn toward the window and pretend I'm suddenly fascinated by Savannah traffic.

Beside me, Alexei notices immediately. Of course he does.

His large hand settles over mine, where it rests against my thigh. “Maggie,” he says quietly.

I scrub at my eyes with my free hand. “I'm fine,” I lie.

He studies me, his blue eyes far too perceptive for my peace of mind. “You’re crying.”

“I'm emotionally invested,” I mutter.

His thumb brushes across my knuckles. “I rebuilt a building. You are acting as though I cured cancer.”

A watery laugh escapes me. “You didn't just rebuild a building.”

No. He rebuilt hope.

The new sign comes into view.

SECOND CHANCE SAVANNAH

The words stretch proudly across a beautiful white entrance sign surrounded by flower beds bursting with bright yellow daisies and purple salvia. Fresh paint gleams beneath the warm spring sunshine. New fencing surrounds the play yards, and colorful banners announcing the grand reopening flutter in the breeze.

The shelter looks beautiful. Better than before.