Lila

When the hospital finally released her, Lila realized she didn't know where to go. Her first thought was the Penthouse. But could she do it? Could she be there without him? And would that play deeper into his father's hands, or not? She didn't know.

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She did know that Josh had already reassured her that he'd put Rupert in a fostering cat home that was willing to hold him for a few more days until she had her feet under her again. She was so relieved she almost cried.

Chris was supposed to be coming to get her later that morning, but when Lila's discharge papers came through, she didn't want to wait anymore. She slowly packed the few things Chris and the others had brought her and called the car from the new phone Chris had given her the night before.

After the nurse rolled her out of the hospital in a wheelchair (she felt ridiculous, but they told her it was policy—to make sure she didn't hurt herself on the way out) she almost cheered when she saw the car waiting, and Yosif driving. It hurt leaning down to get in the car, but she gritted her teeth and did it because she was so desperate to get out of there.

"How are you doing Mrs. Daniels?" Yosif asked after helping her into the car, then getting into the driver's seat.

Tears pricked her eyes, but she smiled. "I'm doing a lot better than I was a couple days ago," she said as cheerfully as she could. "How are you? How is everyone holding up?"

"It's been a rough time. Not going to lie. Have you heard anything about when Dane will be back, or… how?"

Lila grimaced. "No, I'm sorry, Yosif, I haven't."

Yosif nodded. He didn't speak until they were at a red light and he could turn to look at her over the seat. "I drove him that morning, you know. I didn't know it, but… he prepped me for what to do if he got you out," he said quietly.

Lila had a role to play. She had to be angry, and uncertain, and disgusted. But this… this touched her and she yearned to hear it. So she didn't meet his eye. An angry wife, even a scared one, would want to know what he'd done, right?

"What happened that morning?" she said to her own hands.

Yosif had to start driving again, but he kept talking. "He took the car normally. I had no blue it was a special job. But when he got out, he made me promise to stay there, and he said if he came out, or if any other staff member came out, I was to take them immediately to the bunker and call a number he gave me—turns out that the was the cop he likes."

Lila took as deep a breath as she could without making her ribs scream. "What's the bunker?" she said, like she was suspicious. Just in case this was being recorded, or it got relayed.

"At the office, there's a basement bunker. It's kept stocked with supplies. It's a safehouse. We've only had to use it for clients a couple times. But Dane keeps it clean and ready. We take people there… when someone's after them…" he trailed off, and looked at her in the rearview mirror.

Lila turned to look out the window and let her sadness show on her face. "Well. I guess it's good we didn't need to use it, huh?"

Yosif nodded. They didn't talk much after that. Lila thanked him when he dropped her off and Josh met them at the parking garage elevator.

"How are you doing?" Josh asked, ushering her into the elevator.

"A little bit like I wish people would stop treating me like I'm breakable," she said.

Josh smiled. "Glad to hear you haven't lost your sass," he said with a wink.

He took her through the Penthouse reception with minimal chatting to the staff there, and got her inside.

As soon as Lila stepped inside the Penthouse, memory and the ache for Dane hit her like a tidal wave. She stopped two steps in, froze in place, bombarded with everything she remembered—and the sick dread that it might all be memories now…

She began to shake. Josh cleared the Penthouse again—though he said the staff had already done it twice that morning, and she just… stood there.

When he was done, he carried her bag into the bedroom then returned to her. She still hadn't moved. Was holding onto control by her fingernails.

When he looked at her with a question, she didn't let him talk. Forced herself to smile and talk normally. "I'm really tired, Josh. Can you… could you leave me in here and just be at the door? I really don't want to talk to anyone until after lunch. I just… need some time."

"Of course. No problem," he said. "Do you need any help getting the bed ready, or anything like that? Could I send Tonya over? Or call someone for you, so you aren't alone?"

"No," she said, her smile watery and fragile. "I'd actually like to be alone. But thank you."

He nodded and said more nice, things, but she didn't take them in. Just waited for him to get through it and get outside the door. When she closed it behind him, she didn't turn away from the door immediately. She had to get ready to face this. Because the wave was coming, and she couldn't stop it.

So she closed her eyes and took a few slow breaths. Reminded herself that they'd known this was possible, and that Dane was the smartest and most capable man she knew.

If anyone could outwit his father, it would be him. And if he couldn't… if he couldn't… Well, she just needed to be even stronger. Because after all the moves were made and the scandals weathered, she needed to make sure that the world knew the kind of man Dane Daniels really was.