Page 5 of What He Keeps

“What happened?” I ask.

Alexei drags a hand down his face before lowering his voice enough that only I can hear it. “The attacker we captured is dead.”

My stomach drops. “What?”

“Roman said he bit down on a cyanide capsule before they could question him.”

Fear slides through me all over again. “Sweet Jesus.”

Alexei’s eyes lock onto mine. “Whoever sent those men made sure none of them would talk.”

Jules reappears beside the ambulance, carrying my purse and apartment keys.

“I found these in the office,” he says quietly.

“Thank you.”

Before I can say anything else, he pulls me into another tight hug, careful of Ivy still clinging to me while his hand cups the back of my head. The gesture nearly undoes me all over again.

When we finally pull apart, Alexei steps closer and rests his hand against my arm. “We’re leaving now.”

The firm look in his eyes makes it clear he’s not asking.

I rub my trembling hand slowly over Ivy’s back. “I need clothes and…” My thoughts feel tangled and slow before I blink hard. “And I need to call my mama.”

Alexei watches me before giving a single nod. “We’ll stop at your apartment long enough to get clothes and anything else you need.”

Relief starts to loosen something inside me until he speaks again. “But you’re not staying there tonight.”

My stomach tightens. “Alexei⁠—”

“You’re coming home with me.” His hand remains against my arm while those ice-blue eyes lock onto mine. “I’m not leaving you alone after what happened tonight.”

The stubborn part of me wants to argue. Wants my own apartment, my own bed, my own space to fall apart privately for a few hours.

But then my mind flashes to Irina bleeding out on the shelter floor. To Ivy, screaming. To the man in the baseball cap who was smiling at me days ago. To Roman’s men dragging the other attacker into a black SUV. And worst of all, to the awful truth that the thought of walking into my apartment alone tonight suddenly feels unbearable.

I hate that Alexei already seems to know it.

“I have to call Mama,” I murmur.

I pull out my phone with shaking fingers as Alexei guides Ivy and me across the parking lot toward one of the black SUVs waiting near the curb. It takes three tries before I finally unlock the phone.

Mama answers on the second ring. “Maggie?”

As soon as I hear her voice, fresh tears sting my eyes. “Mama.”

Fear floods her tone. “Honey, what happened?”

I glance down at Ivy pressed tightly against me before lowering my voice. “There was an attack at the shelter.”

“Oh my God.”

“I’m okay,” I rush out. “I’m okay, but…” I choke on the next words anyway. “Irina died.”

Mama gasps. “Oh sweet heaven.”

“And Ivy…” I look down at the little girl trembling against me. “She won’t let go of me.”