Hostile Ground (The Arsenal #7) - Cara Carnes Page 0,129

to me,” Addy said. “No one knows I come out here. A couple of the guys tried to follow me a few times, but I spotted them.”

“You don’t want anyone knowing?”

“It’s my sanctuary,” she said, her voice low. She glanced his direction, then returned her focus to the winding road. “No television. No internet. Barely any cell phone reception.”

“Sounds a lot like my cabin.”

“That’s why I thought you might like it out here.” She shrugged.

The rightness of her admission slid deep into his heart and burrowed down. She was giving him a glimpse into her sanctuary—somewhere she’d never shared with anyone else. “I’m honored you’d share this with me. Thank you.”

“The Arsenal can be overwhelming. So many people and everything happening all at once.” She glanced at him again. “I-I just wanted you to know it won’t always be like that. We’d have a sanctuary to retreat to.”

We. She was worried he’d bail if The Arsenal got too intense. “I’m not running or tapping out, Addy. I thought I was pretty clear about that.”

“I know. It’s just…” She gripped the wheel tighter. “Like you said, this is new terrain for us both.”

“We’ll figure it out together.” He touched her knee. “I hope this place is close, because I really want to make love to you right now.”

“We’re close.”

29

Kristof hung back with Addy as Zoey approached the farmhouse. Drones situated within the surrounding trees had picked up their arrival, but they’d already been warned hours ago. The red and white farmhouse sported a new addition toward the back. Toys were strewn about the fenced-in yard. Bicycles sat in front of a closed garage.

It was nothing like the mansion Stacia had grown up in, yet he suspected she was far happier here than she’d ever been in her mother country. She and Gavriil had a rough upbringing—not as harsh as his own, but reprehensible, nonetheless.

Nervousness quaked within his stomach and along his skin. Would she be happy to see him? Angered? Would she blame him for what his father had done? What Olaf had suffered?

Guilt kept him silent as he watched the closed door Zoey had disappeared into. “Should it take this long?”

“It’s only been a few minutes,” Addy whispered. She splayed her hand on his chest.

Awareness arced through him when he severed his gaze with the house and looked at her. For a moment he could pretend everything was okay. The war he’d started two decades ago might be near the end, but it was far, far from done.

“It’ll be okay,” Addy murmured as she glided her lips across his.

He sighed and wound his arms around her. “I’m glad you’re here with me. And in case I didn’t say so before, I really enjoyed your sanctuary.”

“You showed me how much you enjoyed it. Repeatedly.” She grinned at him. “I’m looking forward to sharing it with you often.”

“Good.” He caressed her jawline, then downward past her neck to her collarbone. “I know you’ve been worried about Bree. We’ll be back soon so you can check on her.”

“She has Zoey and Ellie and Mary and Vi and Rhea and Riley and a slew of others,” Addy whispered in his ear. “This is where I wanted to be. With you.”

“I shouldn’t have come,” Kristof said. Panic filled him as he glanced at the car. “Perhaps I should’ve let you and Zoey speak with her first. I don’t want to frighten her.”

“You won’t.” Addy stroked his jaw. “She’s here because of you. She’s safe and happy.”

She would’ve been happier if his father hadn’t sold her into slavery and imprisoned the man she loved. What if she didn’t want to see Olaf? Worry quickened his heartbeat.

Addy kissed his throat and wrapped her arms around him. “I probably shouldn’t share this with you, but I don’t want secrets between us. She and the others refused to be separated when they were rescued. They’d banded together and formed their own little cause. We’re helping them train and learn what they need.”

“What cause?” His voice was soft as the worry increased. He didn’t want Stacia or any of the others in harm’s way. They’d suffered enough.

“They help rescue women like them, but they work with the children more. Remember those kids we found at the auction where we rescued Jade?”

“I remember.” He growled the words as rage burned away the worry. “Packed in a shipping container like animals. Dirty. Hungry. Sick.”

“They’re all here.” Addy rested her head on his shoulder. “A few are about to be adopted into families—Russian