AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That’s a good question,” I said slowly.
Brien massaged the bridge of his nose. “Gods, I wish we knew more. I hate flying blind like this. But maybe we should move the search to the mainland.”
I jerked my head in assent. “Now. Before we sleep.”
“We’ll have Aidan take point on that,” Brien agreed with a yawn. He scrubbed a hand over his face. “We all need to get to bed—and soon.”
“Ten minutes,” said Twilight. “Maybe less.”
Cain took out his phone, saying, “I’ll have Aiden meet me at my apartment.”
The four of us set off at a fast pace for our respective quarters. Aiden jogged up as Cain and I turned down our corridor. The two of us brought the lean, dark-haired dhampir up to date.
“If you find her,” I added, “don’t wait for us to wake up. Get her the fuck out of there unless you think it would put her in more danger.”
“Will do.” Aiden squared his shoulders. “And I just want to say, I appreciate your trust in me. I won’t let you down.”
“I know,” I said and watched as he strode back in the direction of the war room.
Cain touched my back. “Go to bed. We’ll find her—or they’ll contact us. One way or the other, we’ll know more soon.”
“Yeah.” I nodded and went into my apartment. For a beat, I slumped against the closed door. Gods, I was exhausted. And hungry. It had been too many nights since I’d had fresh blood.
But I’d run out of time. I headed into my bedroom, yawning and shedding clothes as I went. As I set my phone on the nightstand, my phone buzzed.
A message from Eden.
My stomach lurched. I snatched the phone up, but my eyes had already closed.
I fought the day sleep with everything I had but my body was shutting down. The phone dropped back to the nightstand, and I fell sideways onto my mattress like a goddamned tree in a windstorm.
31
Eden
Esposito took the phone back and the two men left. A door opened, and before it closed again, I got a look at my new quarters. The cellar was larger than I’d realized, about the size of a small basement, and sparse—concrete block walls and a dirt floor.
I needed to pee. I scrambled to my feet a little too fast and the darkness spun around me. I leaned against the wall, breathing through my nose, until the dizziness passed. Then I felt my way around outside of the cellar, one hand on the wall, until I reached the exit.
The door was locked, the thick wood reinforced with metal bands, probably silver. Confirmation (if I needed it) that I was in a vampire lair. That heavy, silver-reinforced door wasn’t to keep vampires out—it was to keep vampires in. A prison.
I gave an involuntary shudder. But really, what difference did it make? Silver bands or not, I couldn’t bust through a thick wood door.
“Help!” I jiggled the handle one more time. Banged my fist on the wood. “Somebody, please help. I need to use the washroom. Please.”
I yelled until I was hoarse, then leaned my forehead against the door. Had they sent Talon the video yet? I pictured him watching it, how pissed off he’d be. Would he believe I was working with these assholes?
A tear trickled down my face. Then another and another, and then I was crying—deep, wracking sobs. I slid to the dirt floor, my back to the wall, and gave into them until I had no more tears left.
Digging out a tissue, I blew my nose and hugged my knees to my chest, thighs wide to make space for my pregnant belly. Drained and feeling more alone than I’d ever been in my life.
The baby shifted and kicked, protesting the cramped space.
With a shaky laugh, I relaxed my grip on my knees. “Trust me, I want out of here as bad as you do.”
Still, knowing he was awake and moving around settled me.
You’re not alone.
