Chapter 23
The next hour was one of the most stressful in Adelaide’s life, and that was taking into account everything she’d been through with her dad and Hydra. After Vincent’s parents left, nobody would tell them anything about her friend. She got several encouraging messages from her family, and Tony said that once he was able to be moved, Vincent was more than welcome to be sent to the Tower’s Infirmary for the duration of his recovery. That had gotten him a promise of two weeks of shawarma. Her phone rang all of a sudden, and she stepped out to answer it. “Hello?”
“Hey, Addie.”
“Cooper?”
“Yep. Who else? Did you even check your caller ID?”
“No. It’s been kinda hectic over here.”
“Yeah, that’s what Dad said. This is your ex, right? The one who cheated?”
“Cooper,” she groaned.
“What? I’ve known you since we were kids! We practically grew up together. I think I’m entitled to be a bit upset.” She huffed a laugh and rolled her eyes. “Don’t roll your eyes at me! I will come through this phone and beat you up!”
“Or try to, at least,” Addie replied, laughing a bit more.
“I can beat you, and you know it.”
“Sure, Coop. Sure you can.”
“Look, I’m here for you if you need me, okay? I can be on the next plane to New York in two hours.”
“Thanks, Cooper,” Adelaide said, smiling happily. “It means a lot to me. You don’t have to, though. I think I’ll be okay.”
“Alright, but I want you to come visit me soon, alright? It’s been entirely too long since I could tease you to your face.”
“You mean since I beat you at Battleship in front of your whole family,” she corrected.
“I still don’t know how you do that! Are you sure you don’t cheat?”
“Cooper, I swear on my life I have never cheated at Battleship. You’re just entirely too predictable.”
“See you, Addie-bear.”
“Bye, Deuce Coop.” She hung up and stepped back inside, smiling at her dad and friends as she sat back down. Rachel’s phone went off, and she looked down before standing up and facing them.
“It’s my dad. He said I need to get home before it gets too dark outside. I’ll be back tomorrow.” Hugs were exchanged, and she left. Ten minutes later, Vincent’s dad stepped into the room.
“How is he?” Killian asked, standing up.
“He’s stable, for now,” Mr. Samuel answered. “Addie, this is for you.” He held out a folded piece of paper to her. “They found it on him. I got it from the doctor, and my curiosity is killing me, but nobody’s read it, I promise.” Adelaide nodded and stood up, taking the paper from him with a small smile. She flipped it over to see her name on it and ripped open the tape holding it closed. She opened it and read what was on it, feeling her whole world stop. An icy bolt of fear ripped down her spine, and she dropped the paper to the floor.
“Addie? Addie, what’s wrong?” Lilly asked.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Killian said. Bucky stood up and took her hand.
“Kotenok?” Her eyes snapped up to his, and he saw pure, unbridled fear in her eyes, a look he’d never seen before on her. “What did it say?” She shook her head and pulled away from him.
“Ya idu domoy,” she said shakily before sprinting out of the room.
“Addie!” Bucky called after her, running out of the room to follow her. Killian bent down and picked up the letter, seeing one line written on it, but he couldn’t read it. It was in Russian.
Vam nravitsya vashe nastoyashcheye, domashneye zhivotnoye delat'?