FOURTY-TWO
Water began filling their coffin. Or what The Wolf—Volkov, Jess had learned from Ondrej—intended to be their coffin. It was now dark inside, the only light coming from down the hall through the open grate door, but they could hear the rain outside and water slowly trickling in. The temperature had dropped drastically, and Gracie wasn’t dressed for such weather. She was shivering, and Jess could do nothing but encourage her to keep moving and stay awake.
“The cameras are not infrared,” Ondrej said. “No one can see what you are doing now.”
“Yeah, including me,” Jess snapped.
Jess began to work on the bolts. Fifteen minutes later, she'd gotten one free. The water had nearly reached the top of the platform it was bolted to, and she still had six more to go.
Jess sang to Gracie and encouraged her to dance. When her voice threatened to give out, Ondrej told Gracie stories. An hour later, Jess had just gotten the fifth bolt loose when there was a noise from the top of the stairwell, and a single dim light switched on overhead. After being in the dark for so long, it made Jess's eyes ache.
“How are we all doing down here?” Volkov stood in the hallway where the water was still shallow.
Nina started begging to be released.
“My daughter needs a blanket.” Jess motioned to Gracie. Now that she could see her, she realized how cold she was. Her little lips had a blue tinge to them. In fact, her entire body did, and she'd quit shivering.
Volkov gave her an icy smile. “Not necessary. She won't be alive that much longer. It seems Krysin's wife turned on him and alerted the authorities. He's been picked up in customs. As such, I'll be taking my leave. I just wanted to say goodbye. It's a shame I won't be around to watch you all die, it would have been such a delight, but what's that saying? Live to fight another day.”
“Please let Gracie out of the cage. Let me hold her. She can't go anywhere without me, she's too little.”
“No. When they find the recordings in the house, I want your husband to hear your screams as you watched his child die. I want him to hear yours when you go next. Who knows,” —he turned to Nina— “he might even shed a tear for his dear, sweet mother.” Volkov laughed as he turned and walked away, ignoring Nina's screams.
“How far are you?” Ondrej asked the moment Volkov was out of hearing range. He picked up the large rock he'd been using to pound on the eye-bolt that held his chains and started pounding again.
Jess was about to answer when the sound of rushing water reached her, and she looked up to see it pouring down the stairs. Oh God. “I have two more left.”
The bolts would not come lose. Jess tried and tried, and her fingers were bloody, and they still wouldn't break free. The water had risen a good four inches into the cage. Gracie was shivering violently and crying. Jess grabbed the cage, braced her feet, and pulled, trying to bend it out of the way. It took another ten minutes to get the side bent enough that Jess could plant her feet and pull, holding it open enough for Gracie to squeeze through. The water had risen to within a foot of the top by the time Gracie climbed free of the cage.
God, she'd never been so happy to be able to hold one of her children.
“Good job.” Ondrej nodded.
Jess did feel pretty proud of herself. Now all she had to do was get Gracie warm. She wasn't sure how to do that, since she was wet and cold herself.
“Bring her over here,” Ondrej ordered. “My chest is still dry, and I generate more body heat than you.”
Okay, that was probably true. She didn't entirely trust him, but she didn't have a choice. Gracie needed to get warm. It wasn't until she was up close to Ondrej, and he put his arms around both of them, that she realized how cold she was too.
“Hey, don't cry. He'll be here soon,” Ondrej said softly.
“Who?” Jess whispered.
“Your husband. I'd burn this world to the ground searching for you, if you were mine.”
That made her cry harder. God she missed Kayne.