Despite the early hour, Geneva is fully dressed. She claimed that she’d gotten a few hours of solid sleep, but the dark circles under her eyes give her away.

She’s been pestering me to eat for the last half hour, but she hasn’t touched a single bite of food herself. As soon as she thinks I’m not looking, she lets all the sparkle fade from her eyes.

Like the rest of us, she’s gray on the inside.

Sara takes the chair that Geneva just vacated. “He’ll come back,” she assures me. “And when he does, he’s going to be very irritated to hear that you’ve been starving yourself.”

“If he’s pissed, then at least it means he’s alive. So I won’t care.”

Sara rears back. “He’s not going to die.”

“How do you know?” I press. “Milana seemed invincible, too—until she wasn’t.”

My voice wobbles and wilts. I feel like a raw nerve ending. Even the slightest touch, as well-meaning as it may be, is the worst thing I’ve ever felt.

I shake my head and get to my feet. “I can’t do this. I can’t just sit here and wait.” Geneva and Sara start to protest, but I ignore them and fly out of the kitchen wing towards the front door.

One of his men, someone I don’t recognize, is standing by the door. “Where’s Knox?” I ask.

“He left with the don,” the man replies.

“Bring me a car.”

His eyes go wide. “Pardon, ma’am?”

“There are a dozen cars in the garage. Bring me one,” I say, using the same tone that Kolya uses when he means business.

“Ma’am…” He glances behind me at Sara and Geneva, who are clustered at the doorway. Neither one of them has uttered a word.

“It wasn’t a question. Bring me a car. Now.”

This whole situation is so fucked. A nightmare inside of a nightmare. But I’m done begging and pleading with whoever is in charge of the dreams to make me wake up.

I’m stuck here?

Fine.

I’m going to fucking own it.

The soldier sees some spark or hears some note in me that does the trick. He gulps, nods, and turns to carry out my orders.

Sara steps forward when he’s gone and clutches at my elbow. Her hands are weak and trembling in a way I’ve never seen before. “June, have you thought this through? You don’t even know where he went.”

“He’ll call me when he’s ready and then I’ll know.”

“So what happens now?” she asks. “You’re going to drive around until he calls?”

“No. First, I’m going to go see my father.”

Sara frowns. Behind her, Geneva freezes. “Dad?” she asks as she floats closer to me. “You’re going to Dad?”

“He’s a politician now, isn’t he? A wannabe one, at least. He’s got contacts. People who might be able to help.”

“That’s a long shot,” June,” Sara warns in a measured voice.

“Long shots are all we have left.”

Just then, the car pulls up in the drive. I turn and stride towards it. Both Sara and Geneva trail after me outside. “You’re not going alone,” Sara says firmly. “I’m coming with you.”