“I want to leave,” I said simply.
She stopped walking toward her computer and turned back toward me. She cocked her head to one side. “Because of what I showed you?”
“Partially, yes.”
“Will you be safe?”
“Yes. I think so.”
She frowned. “Sound more sure.”
“I’ll be safe. My best friend from home told me that my family would take me back. She said they’d let me keep Alexei.”
Louisa frowned but nodded slowly. “Okay. I’ll help you escape.”
“Escape?” I said, laughing. “I’m not a prisoner, am I?”
“Of course you are,” she said. “But don’t worry. This house is mine.”
She walked over to her computer and began typing. That black screen covered in text came back, and she began scrolling through it, typing occasionally.
“Okay,” I said, laughing nervously. “How am I escaping then?”
“In thirty minutes there’s a produce delivery van pulling up next to the kitchen. In forty minutes, you’ll be on that van.”
“That’s too soon,” I said.
“Next shot won’t be until tomorrow.”
I chewed my lip nervously. If I waited until tomorrow, I’d have to spend another night with Vince.
And if I saw him again, I didn’t think I’d be strong enough to leave.
“Okay,” I said. “Let’s do it.”
“The guy that drives the van is an associate of mine,” Louisa said. “He brings things in and out of the house for me. You’ll get into the back of the van and sit down. He will pretend like you don’t exist.”
“Okay,” I said. “Easy.”
“When the van stops and the doors open, you’re free to go.”
“What do I do from there?”
She gave me a look. “Get on a bus.”
I laughed. “Okay. Okay. I’m just nervous.”
“Don’t be,” she said and looked at me directly for the first time since I’d walked into the room. “I’m the most powerful person in this house.”
I nodded and felt strangely better.
She looked away. “The van will be outside the kitchen in twenty-eight minutes. You better hurry.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“Go.”
I turned and walked quickly out of the room.
I practically ran down the halls. I tore into Vince’s room and quickly threw my things into a single bag. I took only what I was going to need and then shoved Alexei’s things into his baby bag.
I threw the stuff onto my back and then walked quickly back out into the hall.
My heart was hammering as I made my way downstairs and toward the kitchens. I knew the way only because I had followed the staff there once when I was out exploring a few days ago. I was worried someone was going to stop me and ask me why I was carrying two bags plus Alexei, but nobody bothered to.
Maybe nobody gave a shit if I left. More likely they assumed I was allowed to do whatever I was doing.
I went out a side door just before I got to the kitchens. It took me a second to orient myself, but quickly I found the road and saw the van parked up ahead.
Nobody was near it. I jogged over to it, threw open the back door, and climbed inside.
Alexei was fussy. “It’s okay, baby,” I whispered. “It’s okay. We’re going home. You’ll be happy to see grandpa again.”
I had no clue how much time passed, but eventually I heard voices coming toward the van. The doors opened and a man with a big, thick mustache looked at me. He nodded once. “Looks good,” he called out. He shut the doors.
I heard him climb into the front seat, start the engine, and then we pulled out.
I couldn’t believe I was doing this. Only a few hours ago I never would have imagined running back to my family, let alone sneaking out in the back of a produce delivery van. But there I was, baby in my arms, getting smuggled out.
The van stopped once and I heard more voices, but nobody opened the doors. A minute later we were off again, and I knew we had passed through the gate.
We were headed back into the city.
I didn’t know what was going to happen next. I was blindly going with this, trusting in Sophie and in Louisa.
I let out a deep sigh of relief though, because I was definitely doing the right thing.
Two busses later, I was standing outside my father’s house.
We lived in a Russian-controlled part of Chicago. Our house was like every other one in the area, nothing special to look at.
But I had grown up in it. As nice as the Barone mansion was, I realized suddenly that I had really missed home.
As I took a step up the stoop, Vince’s face and voice came back to me. I knew he’d be hurt and angry about this, but I hoped he’d understand. I’d written him a little note and signed it “love.” Maybe that would help him.