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“I have it.”
“Let him lead you in. You trust him, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“And you trust me?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’re going to do as you are told. Follow Nico into the tunnel.”
“Yes, Liam.”
“Let me talk to Nico.” She handed the phone over and Nico spoke quickly before ending the call. Then he gave her a determined look. “Let’s go, pretty girl.”
Nico led her down the stairs. She’d always hated the tunnels. When she was a small child, she and Maxim would play in them. They weren’t supposed to, but that just made it more exciting. But then she’d gotten lost in them, and it had been hours until she’d been found.
Her breath came in harsh pants as they made it to the bottom of the stairs. And then the door above them closed, sending them into darkness.
A sob escaped her. She couldn’t do this. She had to get out. The darkness. She was going to suffocate.
“Lottie, Lottie, you’re fine. I’m here. You’re not going to die. I have you. Hush, pretty girl. You’re killing me here.”
The worry in Nico’s voice broke through her panic. “Sorry. Sorry.”
He turned on the flashlight Gerald had handed him.
“Listen to me. I need you to breathe with me. That’s it. Slow it down. Big breaths. Good girl. I’m sorry, but we have to move. Okay? I need you to walk with me. We can’t risk staying here.”
“I know. I know.”
“Just hold my hand, close your eyes if you need to. I’ll walk you out.”
“But you don’t know where you’re going.”
“I’ll figure it out.”
“No, I have to . . . I have to show you. I can do this. I can.”
I can’t. I can’t.
He cupped her face between his hands. “You can do this. I believe in you. I’m right here. I’m going nowhere.”
He was here. He wasn’t going anywhere. He wouldn’t leave her.
She could do this.
Nico could feel her shaking and it killed him.
He wished he could just pick her up and carry her out of here. But he couldn’t. He needed her to keep it together, so the best thing he could do for her was to be strong.
She led him through the underground tunnels that must have been here for years. It was cold and damp and he had to admit, he fucking hated being in here as well.
Every so often, red eyes glanced out at him, and he heard the scurrying of rats along the ground.
Lottie would let out a small whimper, but she would keep going, her hand wrapped around his. It was a double whammy for her. Leaving the house as well as walking through these fucking awful tunnels.
“You’re doing so good, pretty girl,” he murmured when he heard her breathing speed up. She dug her nails into him, but he didn’t care. Better him than have her hurt herself.
